Bismarck, North Dakota - News

MILWAUKEE - Is there anything more inviting than a night at a fine hotel?

Luxury linens, plump pillows, restful colors, rich wood? They all contribute to the appeal.

"I've traveled quite a bit, and today's boutique hotels are quite special," says interior designer Susan Stockton, owner of London By Design in Thiensville, Wis. "They offer a wonderful mood, an almost Zenlike feel. When we come home at the end of a busy day, it would be nice to come home to something like that."

Today, many people are choosing to replicate the look and feel of a fine hotel in their own homes.

What are some of the elements of hotel style?

Interior designer Erinn Valencich of Omniarte Design in Los Angeles says it is a look of contrasts: dark wood furniture paired with white or light neutral sheets; sharp-angled furniture lines paired with soft pillows; shiny metal accent lamps paired with elements of nature in wall art or flowers in a vase.

"It's a simple formula," she says. "It's the contrast that provides the pop."

Valencich also says there are things you won't find as part of the look, such as floral prints, bright colors, draperies that match the bedding or entire sets of anything. "When everything matches, that's too boring," she says. "You need the contrasts."

Clutter, too, is not allowed.

"We all have collected so much stuff in our lives. Everywhere you turn, there's more of it," says Stockton. "But the clean, almost spare look that is associated with hotel style provides a relief from all of that. It's quite soothing to be free of it."

Furniture and bedding companies are very willing to help consumers achieve what some people refer to as hotel chic.

Diana Dashner, project manager for Ethan Allen's Brookfield store, says the look is a popular decorating choice for all ages, from younger homeowners just starting out to older consumers who may be downsizing and simplifying their lives by moving to condos or lofts.

"There is an element of luxury and sophistication to the look," she says. "And it is a natural choice for people who are paring down the extra things in their lives and getting rid of the extra stuff. It is very minimalist."

Ethan Allen's Morgan bed, complete with night tables, provides a streamlined profile. The dark Espresso finish works well with lighter linens and the bed is dramatic enough to serve as a focal point. It's quite fitting that the Ethan Allen catalog describes the look as "modern serenity."

"We have many stately pieces with clean lines that lend themselves to this look," Dashner says.

Paired with the rich, dark woods are today's high-end linens with high thread counts, which have been gaining popularity for years at a variety of price points. Specialty linen boutiques have sheets in thread counts up to 1,000. Macy's has its Hotel Collection, as does Marshalls.

"We are seeing a definite trend toward bringing more luxury into the bedroom," says Michele Casper, spokeswoman for Lands' End, the Dodgeville-based catalog and retail operation known for its quality bedding as well as its clothing for the family.

"Practically speaking, high-quality sheets can help you get a better night's sleep because they are softer and more comfortable. But we also are seeing the bedroom as a place to splurge, and what better way than in a set of sheets that envelop you all night long?"

Lands' End has a set of no-iron 400-count Supima sateen sheets that Casper says are as soft and comfortable as sheets you will find in a fine hotel.

"The higher the thread count, the denser and softer the feel," she says. "The sateen finish makes is particularly smooth. And people love the no-wrinkle finishing process."

Lands' End also has 500- and 600-thread-count sheets, which may be more expensive but last longer.

"They are so dense and so tightly woven that they will last and last," she says.

All the more reason to buy them in colors such as white or ivory that can complement almost any decor for years to come. As Stockton points out, such colors also can be washed over and over again in hot water.

Quality pillows, too, are part of the hotel look, and these days they come in a variety of sizes and choices for side sleepers, back sleepers or stomach sleepers. "You can't underestimate the importance of a good pillow when it comes to getting a good night's sleep," Casper says.

As for waking hours and the room's appearance, Stockton says she likes the look because it is gender-neutral. "It's not masculine or feminine, but just widely appealing," she says.

The look is described by Valencich as sexy, dramatic and a bit indulgent.

"It's about the whole experience," she says.

Stockton agrees.

"Pillows are plumped, towels are thick, lights are dimmed," she says. "When we do that for ourselves, we feel as if we've arrived."

And we didn't even have to travel to get there.

Hotel style at home

Here are some hints to help give your bedroom the look of a fine hotel.

1. Declutter, declutter, declutter. Keep dressers and nightstands free of distracting debris.

2. Make the bed the focal point of the room. Center it against a wall for balance if you can.

3. Use solid white or ivory sheets and pillowcases with contrasting neutrals for the pillow shams, duvet and/or blanket. Layering the linens adds to the rich look, with a textured throw making a final luxurious statement.

4. Choose an accent color such as pale turquoise, pond green or orange, but use it sparingly, perhaps in just an accessory or two.

5. Lighting is important, but put it on a dimmer.

6. No patterned fabrics, with the possible exception of a bold stripe in accent pillows.

7. Keep window treatments simple. Nothing fussy. Draperies should contrast with the wall color.

8. Soothing, neutral wall colors are best: taupe, chocolate brown, silvery blue, pale sage.

9. Add a natural touch, such as a simple flower in a vase or a print on the wall.

10. Make your bed. Every day.