Ever wonder why you get such a great night’s sleep when staying at a hotel? (It’s only partly because you might be on vacation.) Hotels create a cloud-like sleep space using a few layers of bedding essentials, and you can create your own hotel-inspired bed at home without spending a fortune. Here's how to recreate a hotel-inspired sleep experience on a budget—no reservation required.
1. Invest in a Better Bed
Despite what you might hear about starting small, our experts recommend you start with a true essential: the perfect bed. It’s much easier to build on the right mattress with the right bedding, pillows and more, than try to convert a not-so-comfy bed into a sleep sanctuary.
Most luxury hotels contract with many of America’s best mattress brands (which we carry, by the way), so they aren't necessarily exclusive to the hotel room. If you want the same quality and comfort at home, securing the right mattress is a must. And if it sounds daunting, don’t worry—take our quick MattressMatcher® quiz to find your perfect match.
Our Sleep Experts® recommend: DreamCloud Premier 14" Hybrid Mattress
2. Get a Mattress Topper
A mattress topper is designed to protect your mattress and can also help keep your sheets in place. However, not all mattress toppers are the same. You can add another layer of padding for extra comfort while you sleep with a cushioned mattress topper. These are thicker than standard mattress toppers and will sit right on top of the bed to give you body-hugging, cooling support. You can always find these at a great deal during sales and with bundle deals.
Our Sleep Experts® recommend: Sleepy's 3" Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
3. Pick Up a Down Comforter
The trick to getting that super-comfy down comforter at a great price is to shop for one during the warmer months or seasonal sales. Late spring and summer are the best time of year to get great deals on heavier bedding. And to really feel like you’re sleeping on a luxurious, hotel-like cloud, a fluffy down comforter will do the trick. With so many to choose from, how do you know which fill is right for you? Try an all-season comforter with feather and down fill to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the fall.
Our Sleep Experts® recommend: Serta All Season Goose Feather & Down Fiber Comforter
4. Buy Extra Pillows
Ever noticed the plush mountain of pillows on a freshly made hotel bed? That’s no coincidence. Most hotels provide at least four to six pillows per bed for extra comfort and to give the room a polished look. Make your hotel-inspired bed by adding a few more king or queen-size pillows to your sleep space. You can always find great deals on high-quality pillows made with plush feathers or memory foam for extra support. Our advice? Find your perfect pillow first—the rest can be decorative. That way you get the hotel-bed look on a budget, which means more money saved for the rest of your journey.
Our Sleep Experts® recommend: Sleepy's Coconut Bliss Pillow
5. Invest in High-Quality Sheets
You don't need to spend a fortune on sheets to create a hotel-like bed, but a set of high-quality sheets that will stay in good shape after several wash cycles is essential. Luxury hotels typically use 300-thread-count sheets and pillowcases to give you that five-star experience overnight. The higher the thread count, the denser and thicker the fabric. Pro tip: When you’re building your own hotel-like bed, look for fabric like bamboo rayon, which are perfectly breathable and moisture-wicking to keep you cool and sweat-free all night long. Keep in mind, however, that thick, high-quality fabrics can be just as breathable as lightweight ones—check out our sheets & pillowcases guide for more.
Our Sleep Experts® recommend: Sleepy's Bamboo Rayon Sheet Set
6. Use White Linens
Why do hotel beds always look so… perfect? News flash: It’s not just the (impeccable) bedmaking. White linens make everything look uniform and high-end and are easy to clean with the help of a little bleach or whitening add-ins during a wash cycle. Plus, your individual pieces of bedding will always go together. Say goodbye to mismatched sheets and pillows.
7. Pay Attention to Lighting
Something you may—or may not—have noticed at hotels that helps you stay relaxed is mood lighting. Sometimes it’s so subtle that you may not even notice. Especially at night, soft, warm light makes a difference by soothing the senses. But don’t worry—no need to splurge and replace every light bulb in the room. Even outfitting a small lamp with a low-light bulb will do the trick.
8. Add the Finishing Touches
One of the best things about staying at a hotel is the spa-like feeling you get from some of its amenities. Usually, behind the room’s closet doors, there’s a robe or two and maybe some slippers. If you’re like us, you’re usually tempted to take home the robe, but they’re usually unnecessarily overpriced (and who wants a used robe?). With a little bit of research, you can find affordable robes in all fabrics and sizes. And while you’re at it, a few affordable details can really round out your hotel-like sleep sanctuary: Light your favorite candle, use aromatherapy or spray the bed linens with your favorite scent.
9. Bring It All Together
You’ve done the work, and you’re almost ready to enjoy your hotel-inspired sleep space—exciting, isn’t it? The cherry on top of the perfect bedroom is a well-made bed. It might sound daunting to make your bed like the pros do (did someone say hospital corners?), but luckily, our experts can show you how.
After you secure your perfect mattress, these few investments will provide all the comfort of a luxe hotel bed without the price tag. For more expert guidance, we’ve got your back—check out our expert bedding guide and make every night’s sleep feel like a luxurious hotel escape.
