Luxury Hotel Designers Spill Their Secrets for Creating Cozy Spaces

You know that feeling when you walk into a really cozy, welcoming hotel? That atmosphere isn’t a mistake—it’s carefully curated by designers and art experts who are intentionally trying to create a space that makes you feel comfortable as soon as you walk in. And you don’t need a hotelier’s budget to recreate it at home. We asked four top experts how they create a sense of home in the hotels they’ve worked for, and how you can do it, too.

Leather, wood and brass can change their appearance pretty dramatically over time, but unlike other materials, they feel lived-in while also aging gracefully and gaining character, says Jou-Yie Chou, a partner at design firm Post Company. Post Company worked on the Dogfish Inn in Lewes, Delaware, started by Dogfish Head Brewery and has also worked on hotels like The Anvil in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Worn leather chairs, stools and couches, wooden accents and textured fabrics convey approachability and a lack of preciousness that can make people feel at ease immediately, Jou-Yie says. “Their guard’s more down, they know they have that permission to be themselves within the environment without fear of breaking something,” he says.

Jou-Yie suggests choosing decor that makes sense with your surroundings. If you live in the mountains of Wyoming, maybe don’t go for beach vibes, for example. But here at the Dogfish Inn, near the shores of Delaware, hanging a wooden canoe works. Your design “should come from a place that is honest and familiar,” he says. “Have a space that’s actually very functional, as well. There’s an importance to how you use a space versus just how it looks.” Permit your tastes to change and evolve over time, too, so you have a collection of personal artifacts that feels curated rather than purchased at a single moment. “One of the bigger things we try to instill in our projects is that they’re never really finished,” Jou-Yie says. “Over time, as our personal tastes change, as the industry’s tastes shift … that layer of eclecticism and artifacts can grow and evolve. That’s what it keeps it interesting.”

If you’re decorating a large bedroom, painting the walls with a medium tone can cozy it up, says designer Christina Tello, of Tello Interiors, who worked on The Atticus Hotel in McMinnville, Oregon. “The bed is the focal point of the room, so putting the emphasis on that area helps organize visual interest,” she says. “Think special nightstands, maybe a tall headboard or hanging pendant lights above nightstands.” Mix up your lighting between floor and table lamps rather than relying strictly on overheads, she says. Dimmer switches can help you create a warmer vibe.

Christina also suggests thinking about the layers of a room, and finding ways to mix textures, colors, patterns and fabrics. You don’t have to have artwork for every wall, either, she says—“It’s OK to have some blank wall space,” she says. If you’re looking to commission artwork or want to splurge on a piece from a local artist but you’re not sure where to start, she suggests going to local gallery owners, who can connect you with the right artists.

If you’re redecorating a space in your home, take a page from NINE dot ARTS, which curates art collections for hotels and commercial spaces, and tell a story with artwork. At the Perry Lane Hotel in Savannah, Georgia, one of the hotels NINE dot ARTS has worked on, the team invented a fictitious woman and a story that the hotel is her family home, passed down for generations. Perrylane is decorated with antiques this fictitious family collected over centuries, and the team even created and framed letters to help tell this story. Martha Weidmann, CEO and co-founder of NINE dot ARTS, suggests finding creative ways to display your own personal treasures, “That could be a collection of books, little art pieces, they could be ornaments, or gifts — things that you’ve collected over time,” she says, “things that really tell a story about you, and things that have your personality on display.” Also key? Establish a screen-free zone. “The sanctity of no-screen space is a big deal,” she says.

Stark, white walls used to be hot, but as we’re all spending more time at home, Martha says colored walls are increasingly trendy. “We’re really seeing a trend back to these cozy sanctuary elements, and that might look like colored walls — rather than a white wall, you might have a dark blue,” she says, like in this guest room at The Ramble Hotel in Denver. “Having some rooms that are actually a bit more dark in paint color brings down the energy so you feel more calm,” she says.

If your redecorating plan includes upgrading your furniture, don’t be afraid to get risky and eclectic. “You don’t want to buy the whole furniture set from the Pier One Imports catalog and put it in place, because it looks like it came from a pre-fabricated set,” Martha says. Instead, she suggests buying individual pieces that are interesting on their own but work well together as a collection.

Lighting and layering are keys to coziness, according to Megan Gibbon, associate director of design for Ennismore Studio, which decorates hotels the company owns, including this downtown Los Angeles Hoxton location. “By using large armchairs with high backs, you can find yourself a small corner to read a book or have a coffee with a friend,” Megan says. “Layering cushions, art and accessories really help to bring the space to life and textured fabrics add comfort. Low lighting is also key to making a space warm and welcoming.”

Books and bookshelves can easily add dimension and character to a space, Megan says, like here at The Hoxton in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where each shelf displays a thoughtful selection of books, plants and art. “We love books throughout our spaces, as they can add depth to the design,” she says. “Where possible, we have curated the books to adhere to the space and, whilst adding decoration, they can also be inspiring or informative. We like to use the bookshelves to display trinkets such as vases and other objects that are found locally.”