We all know the feeling: you walk into a room in a good hotel and suddenly everything invites you to rest. The immaculate bed, the soft light, the silence, that clean scent. It is not magic or a question of budget: it is a series of simple decisions you can bring into your own home.
In this guide from Pino & Jacaranda we explain how to create a hotel bedroom at home with a Mediterranean spirit: how to layer the bed, which headboard to choose, how to approach bedside tables and lighting, which colours work and which small details make all the difference.
In this article
1. The bed, the star of the room, dressed in layers
The secret of a hotel bed does not lie in a single piece, but in the layers. Each one has a purpose and, together, they create that plump, orderly look we love so much. Start with the base and build up:
The layers of a hotel bed
- Mattress protector: invisible, but it extends the life of the mattress and improves hygiene.
- Fitted and flat sheet: in good quality cotton or linen, always in white or ecru tones.
- Duvet: the layer that adds volume. In autumn, a light, breathable filling.
- Throw at the foot of the bed: folded over the bottom third of the bed, it adds texture and colour.
- Pillows and cushions: two pillows per person and two or three decorative cushions, no more.
For the filling, the Velfont Premium Duvet, in extra soft cotton with a down-like fibre, gives exactly that light hotel volume. And at the foot of the bed, a fine throw such as the Winter Plaid Linen adds warmth without weighing things down.
Key idea: a hotel bed is made every morning and smoothed out well. Tucking in the top sheet and shaking out the duvet takes a minute and completely changes the look of the bedroom.
2. A headboard with presence
In boutique hotels, the headboard is almost always the piece that defines the room. It makes the bed look "finished", frames the composition and adds warmth to the wall. In a Mediterranean bedroom, natural fibre headboards such as rattan, bamboo or cane work especially well, as do linen upholstered ones in ecru tones.
As a general rule, the headboard should be as wide as the bed or slightly wider, and it should rise at least 40-50 cm above the pillows. For a more enveloping, hotel feel, a tall upholstered headboard like the made-to-measure Santa Clara Upholstered Headboard is a safe bet.
3. Symmetrical bedside tables and a light for every moment
Hotels almost always go for symmetry: a bedside table and a lamp on each side of the bed. It conveys order and balance, and it is practical for two. Bedside tables should sit at mattress height or a few centimetres above, so you can reach your glass or book effortlessly.
As for lighting, think in layers, just like the bed: soft general light, never a cold ceiling light; bedside lamps with fabric or fibre shades for reading; and, if you can, a dimmer to lower the intensity before sleep. Warm light bulbs, 2,700 K or lower, are the ones that most invite rest. We explain it in detail in our guide to lighting for every room.
The measurements worth remembering
4. Colours that invite sleep
Hotel bedrooms steer clear of strong contrasts. They opt for a light, neutral base and one or two soft colours repeated in cushions, throws and curtains. In a Mediterranean key, these are the combinations that work best:
Linen cushions are the easiest way to introduce colour without commitment. The Gavema cushion cover, in natural linen, goes with any of these palettes.
5. Order, silence and darkness
What you notice most in a hotel room is what is not there: no clothes on the chair, no cables on show, no piles of objects on the bedside tables. That emptiness is what conveys calm. As we said in the new calm at home, less but better chosen.
How to achieve a serene bedroom
- Clear surfaces: on each bedside table, a lamp, a book and little else.
- Closed storage: a chest of drawers, wardrobe or lidded baskets so nothing is left on show.
- Double-layer curtains: linen sheers for the day and blackout curtains to sleep in the dark.
- A rug at the foot of the bed: it dampens noise and is the first thing you step on when you get up.
- No screens: if you can, keep the television out of the bedroom.
If your bedroom is small, these ideas matter even more; you will find more tricks in how to make a small bedroom look elegant.
6. The details that change everything
Finally, the small gestures that make a hotel room memorable. None of them is expensive and all of them show:
Boutique hotel details
- A tray on the bedside table: with a water jug and a glass.
- Fresh flowers or branches: a small vase with olive, lavender or wheat.
- A signature scent: a pillow spray or diffuser with lavender, clean linen or orange blossom.
- A bench or armchair: at the foot of the bed or by the window, for reading or leaving the throw.
- A picture above the headboard: a serene landscape, hung 20-25 cm above it.
If you decide on a picture, we explain the measurements in how to hang pictures, and to choose a scent, take a look at our article on aromatherapy and wellbeing.
Checklist for your hotel bedroom
- Dress the bed in layers: fitted sheet, flat sheet, duvet, throw and cushions.
- Bedding in white or ecru tones, in cotton or linen.
- A headboard rising 40-50 cm above the pillows.
- Symmetrical bedside tables and lamps, at mattress height.
- Warm light, 2,700 K or lower, and dimmable if possible.
- Clear surfaces and closed storage.
- Curtains that darken the room and a rug at the foot of the bed.
- A scent, fresh flowers and a water jug.
Frequently asked questions about the hotel bedroom
How do you make a bed like in a hotel?
In layers: mattress protector, a well-smoothed fitted sheet, a tucked-in flat sheet, a duvet, a throw folded at the foot and two pillows per person with two or three cushions in front. Make it every morning and smooth out each layer.
What colour bedding do hotels use?
Almost always white or ecru. It conveys cleanliness and calm, goes with everything and lets you add colour with just the throw and the cushions.
What is the best light for the bedroom?
A warm light, 2,700 K or lower, spread over several points: a soft general light and lamps on the bedside tables. If you can, add a dimmer to lower the intensity before sleep.
At Pino & Jacaranda we believe the best hotel is the one you have at home, and that a good night's sleep begins long before you close your eyes: in the light, in the fabrics and in the calm around you.
Because you do not need to travel to feel on holiday every night.
