learn how to make your bed like a hotel + discover comfort you won’t have to leave behind at checkout.
Picture this: you’ve just stepped off a three-hour train journey, and with a two-hour flight beforehand, all this travelling has begun to take its toll. A traffic-heavy trip in an AC-less taxi leaves you stressed and sweaty outside your hotel, and before long you’re in the lift – heading gloriously, gloriously up. One glance at your room, and all that struggling seems somehow worth it. The plush, rolling clouds of wispy percale cotton; the freshly ironed flat sheets tucked carefully below; the heavenly chorus of cushions sat atop their silky throne. You’re fast asleep within seconds, and before you know it, checking out – filled with an aching melancholy that you might never know such bedding bliss again.
But what if you didn’t have to leave that kind of comfort behind? What if you could buy bedding that recreates hotel cosiness inside your own four walls? With the help of our interiors expertise, years of experience and access to some hotel industry secrets – we’re lifting the lid on how to get hotel bedding at home.
Just like you can’t build a great structure on a shaky foundation – the heavenly heights of hotel bedding can’t be reached without a quality mattress. All hotels have certain standards that their mattresses must meet, from being fire-safe to withstanding frequent use, so it’s really no wonder why the quality is always stellar. Hotels with a heavy flow of guests also tend to replace mattresses every three to five years, which is why you’ll never encounter dips, lumps or stabbing springs in any hotel worth its salt.
You can buy actual hotel mattresses from suppliers and wholesalers, but be warned that they’ll set you back a pretty penny (about two thousand, if we’re being exact). A thick mattress topper is always a great option if an entirely new mattress feels like a bit too much. Our luxury hotel quality mattress topper is super-soft, polyester-filled and fully machine washable.
"Using a mattress topper is a quick and easy way to elevate your bed's comfort without having to invest in an entirely new mattress" explains Suzi, Design Manager and resident bedding expert at furn.com. "Not only do they make hard mattresses feel incredibly soft - they're also great for keeping your mattress clean, extending its lifespan and keeping allergy symptoms at bay".
The good news is that you don’t need to hand over a king’s ransom to snuggle up in some royally good bedding. You can find a perfectly good mattress that won’t break the bank from many high street retailers, but there’s no harm in splashing out if you’ve got the means and find something you really love – after all, we do spend over a third of our lives tucked up in our sleep sanctuaries.
Hotels use all kinds of mattresses, from sinking memory foam and latex to open coil and pocket sprung designs that provide firm support. This is where things can get tricky, and it’s always worth diving into some research – or some actual mattresses at an outlet, if possible – before making a decision.
foam mattresses.
Foam mattresses are soft, sinking and impressively durable. Materials like memory foam are designed to adjust to the shape and contours of your body, relieving achy pressure points while still providing a good level of support. Where foam mattresses tend to fall short, however, is in their lack of breathability, with their body-hugging density resulting in a sweaty nightmare for many warmer sleepers.
spring mattresses.
Spring mattresses have been around since the 19th century, when their coiled bounce and support were welcome changes from the squishy stuffed beds of days before. Using a collection of metal coils encased in soft foam, spring mattresses provide firm support that helps prevent the body from dipping and arching unnaturally during sleep.
This coil layer also improves breathability, allowing a refreshing flow of air to constantly circulate through the mattress’ fabric. While providing more bounce, firm support and better affordability, spring mattresses often fail to outdo their foam counterparts in terms of longevity.
Why is hotel bedding so comfortable, we hear you cry? A massively important – and often overlooked – component of blissful hotel beds is their sheets. Remember that heavenly texture from your last hotel stay, silky and smooth against your freshly showered legs? Well, you’ve got quality hotel bed sheets to thank for that borderline spiritual experience.
Hotels tend to layer two flat bed sheets on top of each mattress, providing an extra touch of padding that goes a surprisingly long way in terms of comfort. 100% cotton sheets are the industry standard – percale, sateen, or even luxurious Egyptian cotton – and with the benefits of cotton bedding being as abundant as they are, it’s not difficult to see why.
Thread counts – the total number of threads in a square inch of fabric – are another hot topic when considering how to get hotel bedding at home. We’ve already answered the big thread count questions over on our blog, but the main takeaway is that a high thread count is only as important as the material it's woven from.
Thread counts can be manipulated to make bedding seem softer or more durable than it actually is, so you should only pay attention to it in relation to 100% cotton sheets. Does this mean cotton sheets are the only option for creating a hotel bedding feel? Absolutely not!
"The right polycotton blend can offer incredible softness and less creases than pure cotton" explains Suzi. "While polycotton sheets don't usually advertise a thread count, don't think that means they can't be a hotel-worthy option".
cotton percale.
Crisp, matte, and sumptuously smooth – cotton percale sheets are for those in search of a breathable sleep that feels cosy and fresh. Using a tight, ‘one under, one over’ crisscross weave to create a soft matte finish, percale sheets are ideal for warmer sleepers who appreciate a cooler texture.
cotton sateen.
The silkier sister of percale sheets, cotton sateen offers a smooth, glossy finish that’s a dream come true for lovers of luxury textures. Sateen is made with a ‘one under, three over’ weave, meaning more flat surface area is on show and a smoother finish is achieved.
polycotton.
While not the traditional hotel-look fabric, you’ll still find polycotton sheets providing quality comfort in hotels across the globe. Combining the durability of polyester with the softness of cotton, polycotton sheets offer the best of both worlds. They’re the clear winner if you’ve got a busy household on your hands, providing impressive durability, quick drying and general low maintenance that’s a lifesaver in livelier spaces.
It goes without saying that a high quality quilt and duvet cover are essential if you’re wondering how to make your bed like a hotel. The comfiest hotel beds use down or feather-filled quilts, resulting in a squishy, cloudlike texture that’s vital for a five-star bed arrangement. Natural feathers may not be the best idea if you suffer from allergies, but there’s plenty of synthetic microfibre alternatives out there that recreate the texture perfectly.
Your quilt’s tog rating is another important thing to keep in mind when replicating that perfect hotel bed experience. Tog ratings measure a quilt’s thermal insulation – how warm the quilt is – by ranking them on a scale from 1 to 15. We’ve got quilt togs from 4.5 all the way up to 15, providing a variety of options that’ll ensure snug snoozing in every season.
Hotels tend to use quilts with tog ratings of 10.5, offering the ideal middle-ground option for a comfortable sleep year-round, especially in UK homes. A lower tog rating might suit better if you often feel too warm in bed, while a 13.5 or 15 tog is ideal for chillier sleepers and wintery climes.
"10.5 is a great, versatile tog rating if you plan on using just one quilt year-round" Suzi suggests. "It's the most common rating, light enough for summer and warm enough to get you through winter. Move up to 13.5 if you're a cold sleeper, or just layer your 10.5 tog quilt up with a cosy fleece throw".
When it comes to duvet covers, going with 100% cotton is the safest way of snagging yourself a dreamy hotel experience. Cotton duvets – and bedding in general – are the order of the day in most hotels, and pairing one with a luxurious feather quilt is a surefire way of guaranteeing an irresistibly cosy sleep. Keeping you cool in summer, warm in winter, providing valuable durability and convenient low-maintenance – it’s easy to see why hoteliers across the globe are fully devoted to the cotton duvet.
The crowning jewels on your Crowne Plaza-esque bedding arrangement, the importance of perfectly plump pillows can’t be overstated. A good way of checking if your pillows need replacing is by simply popping one over an outstretched arm – if the pillow sags, it’s a good sign you might need a new one. Hotels usually provide a mix of different pillow types on their beds, giving you the freedom to swap, switch and scrutinise to your heart’s content.
A standard hotel pillow spread might involve two plush feather pillows stacked on top of two firmer microfibre options, arranged so that the softest options lay on top. We’ve got plenty of hotel quality pillows that’ll give your bedding that five-star flair, from our duck feather-filled pillow to our springy polyester-filled design. Both pillows feature 100% cotton covers with a thread count of 230, promising an impossibly soft finish that’ll have you nodding off in record time. The best option for you, however, always comes down to your personal preference. Feather-filled and foam pillows will provide soft, sinking comfort – while a polyester-filled design will ensure you have a solid foundation of support. Creating a comfortable elevation for your head will help keep your neck and spine in alignment as you sleep, so it’s all about what feels right for your body.
So, you’ve got all the ingredients for a five-star bedding arrangement, but if reality cooking shows have taught us anything, it’s that presentation is oftentimes just as important. You might have the most luxurious mattress, sumptuous sateen sheets, a crisp cotton duvet and the puffiest of pillows, but if your bed’s made like a mess – it’s just not going to work. A massive part of why hotel beds are so well-liked is because they’re made to look inviting. Think about it – when’s the last time you walked into a fancy hotel room and found a muddled-up mountain of wrinkly sheets waiting for you?
it starts with a sheet.
Known for stealing the show on many a hotel bed – sheets are one thing you’ve got to get right when recreating a five-star feel. Most hotels use flat bed sheets, as they’re easier to store, fold and tend to wrinkle less. However, using fitted sheets won’t make a massive difference to the finished product, so go with whatever’s convenient for you.
If you’re using a mattress topper or protector, your very first step is to spread this over your bare mattress. Most toppers and protectors come with long, elastic straps for easy fitting, so make sure these are well secured, and everything is fitted as centrally as possible.
Next, you’ll need to apply your first bed sheet. If you’re using fitted sheets, simply line up the corner creases with the corners of your mattress, tucking and adjusting until you’re happy with the look. If you’re using flat sheets, you’ll need to get nifty with some folding techniques. Hospital corners are a hallmark of the hotel bedding experience, and are pretty simple to pull together after a few practice runs – just make sure all sides of the sheet are nicely tucked beneath your mattress.
craving seconds?
Once you’ve got your first sheet fitted nicely, it’s time to add a top sheet. While not strictly necessary, a top sheet will help keep both your duvet and bottom sheet clean – saving you work on laundry down the line. As the top sheet is slept under, you’ll need to use a flat sheet for this step. Start by spreading it evenly over your mattress, with any decorative details facing down and positioned at the top end, near your headboard. Leaving the side nearest your headboard untucked, tuck all other sides underneath your mattress. Fold the excess fabric on the top end of the sheet back on itself, so that any fancy designs are proudly on display.
As for ironing your sheets – even most hotels don’t go that far, and it’s not exactly an easy habit to keep up. Instead, try taking your sheets out of the dryer ten minutes early, and placing them on your bed while they’re still ever-so-slightly damp. Your sheets will be all dried out by bedtime, and as for their smoothness? Well, let’s just say you won’t feel the need to get the iron out anytime soon.
get layering.
A big reason why hotel bedding is so comfortable is that they’re not shy about layering up. Some hotels combine a feather blanket – or ‘comforter’ – with a duvet cover on their beds, and while this brings an undeniably five-star feeling, it’ll require an extra bit of work on laundry day. If you’re happy to use an extra blanket, spread it over your top sheet and tuck all sides (again excluding the top) under your mattress. Maximise the fancy hotel effect by using the same hospital corner folds you made on the top sheet. Place the top side of your blanket inside the fold in your top sheet, and fold both layers back on themselves, leaving a hand’s width between the top of the fabric and your headboard.
If you’re not keen on the idea of two blankets, you can always skip the previous step and get straight to the duvet. Hotels use white bedding to create a sense of peace and relaxation, so consider going with a white duvet cover if you’re craving that tranquil aesthetic. Spread the duvet over your bed, making sure both sides and the bottom end are positioned equally. Fold the top of your duvet (along with your second blanket if you’re using one) back on itself to roughly halfway down the mattress. Finally, fold your top bed sheet back in the same way, leaving some of the duvet exposed for a lushly layered look.
finishing touches.
Congratulations! You’ve done the groundwork, and now it’s time to let your creative side free with a flurry of finishing touches. Hotels vary a lot in how they choose to round off a bedding arrangement, so this is your chance to put your own stamp on things.
A toasty throw blanket is one of the most popular choices for finishing off a bed design, providing an extra layer of texture and comfort that’ll make your bed feel utterly inviting. Styling a throw is simple – just drape it over the bottom half of your bed, or fold it up for a more primped appearance. From sumptuous faux fur throws to the cosiest cotton and insulating sherpa fleece – you’ve got plenty of options for that final touch of flair.
No hotel bed is complete without an impressive arrangement of pillows and scatter cushions. Stick with white pillowcases for an authentic hotel experience, and save the colour for your decorative cushions. We’ve got a detailed guide for how to arrange cushions on your bed, so make sure to check that out if you’re needing inspiration. Choose colours, textures and patterns that’ll complement your existing decor, and your hotel bed will be stacked with character in no time.
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