How to Make Your Bedroom Feel Like a 5-Star Hotel (According to a Hotel Designer)

“We make it a point to utilize the natural light in the rooms, as that can transform a space as the day goes on,” Sitt starts. “The lighting we incorporate is on the warmer side, so as the natural lights fades and the rooms dim, guests can [barely perceive the transition] while still taking in the city views around them.” More specifically, you want to choose a light bulb with a warm color temperature (measured in kelvin between 1,000 to 10,000 K). Look for bulbs under 3,000K to produce warm light—anything above 4,000 will have a cooler, office-like feel. 

“We made sure to use an organic color palette in the rooms to accent the natural tones on the floors and walls, so the space feels lively,” Sitt explains. He does this by blending a light taupe base with natural wood accents, so the room feels inviting without being too stark. Not only does this create a calming atmosphere, but it leaves plenty of room for pops of color in the furniture and artwork (more on that below). “We made sure the design was simple yet contemporary so guests wouldn’t feel overwhelmed or out of place.” 

Sure, it might be a splurge, but when it comes to bed and bath products, you want to go all-out with luxury: “When curating the bedding for ModernHaus, we sourced items that we knew were some of the top in the industry. For the beds, we custom-designed BeautyRest black label mattresses, which are made with an advanced cooling system. We then use Frette Linen sheets and duvets that create an ultimate combination of quality and comfort.” In the bathroom, Sitt says, “We went with Frette because of how high-quality it is. The linens are more durable than others, offer extreme levels of comfort and are a true luxury product. We went with classic terry cloth bath towels because of how absorbent they are—and they hold their softness and comfortability over time.” 

Sitt reveals, “All toiletries in the guestrooms are Santal 33 from Le Labo. When deciding on this element for the spaces, we knew that we wanted something timeless and familiar amongst our audience. We even sell the toiletries and the Santal 26 candle in our shop so guests can take that part of their stay home with them.” Le Labo? In hotels? Groundbreaking. 

The finishing touch to pull everything together? Artwork. “One of the biggest elements we added to the rooms is art,” Sitt tells us. “The hotel itself is a true art hotel, inspired by the Bauhaus art movement, so it boasts an extremely impressive art, all curated from my personal collection.” Some of these names include Hans Hartung, George Condo, Harland Miller, Jean Dubuffet, Hans Hofmann, Nicolas Party and Kaws. “I know firsthand how good artwork can make a space feel—and having this element in the guestrooms (and throughout the hotel) only elevates it to that next level.” That said, most of us probably can’t afford an original print by Harland Miller (sigh). Luckily, there are a ton of affordable reprints that you can find on Redbubble, from Hartung and Condo to Dubuffet (at a fraction of the price).