Want to take home a slice of your fabulous holiday experience? Do so by replicating the look of your hotel room! We feature three styles that’ll make you feel like you’re perpetually on vacation.
Want to take home a slice of your fabulous holiday experience? Do so by replicating the look of your hotel room! We feature three styles that’ll make you feel like you’re perpetually on vacation.
This room in Phum Baitang, a resort in Cambodia, maintains a rustic and organic look with woven rugs, a wooden headboard, and a neutral colour scheme.
A BLISSED-OUT SANCTUARY
There is a reason why holidaygoers head to resorts for a citydetox; they are often miles away from everything fast-paced and noisy! To be surrounded by nature is a luxury for city-dwellers, but it is not impossible to recreate this environment in your home.
Three important features make up the experience of a villa bedroom. “Incredible views, privacy, and spaciousness,” says Anthony Lark of beachfront resort Trisara Phuket. “Imagine your home as part of a garden. Your bed should face a view and the interior should be simple; don’t let it distract you from the surrounding environment.”
Not in a home surrounded by nature? Bring nature indoors. Susan Colley and Marco Scarani, interior designers of the Nihiwatu resort in Indonesia, suggest using materials such as rope, woven fabric and wood. “The authenticity of artisanal accessories such as handmade baskets and traditional ikat prints will also add character,” they say.
As villa bedrooms are often spacious and uncluttered, be careful not to overdo the accessories, and choose items with similar hues and details to unify the look.
Alternatively, you can bring the outdoors in by using colours inspired by the landscape; Nihiwatu uses terracotta-hues, greens and blues, whereas Trisara opts for a dark brownand- white colour scheme, in the form of teak furniture and white orchids.
To create a sense of privacy and tranquillity, Geraldine Dohogne of Phum Baitang Cambodia says the resort focuses on features that ensure total relaxation. This includes quiet air-conditioning, dimmers to create various atmospheres throughout the day (though natural lighting is still the best option) and a firm and thick mattress with quality linen.
ABOVE
You might not have an outdoor bedroom like the one in this Nihiwatu guest room, but you can steal the idea of its bamboo structures!
BELOW
In Trisara Phuket, the designers extended the elements of nature, such as plants and wood, into the bathrooms.
OPPOSITE
Ikat or tribal prints on artisanal linen are used as decorative elements in this guest room in Nihiwatu. The designers kept the use of colours to a minimum for a fresh look.
MUST-HAVE FEATURE:
SCENTS OF NATURE
Scents complete the space. Whether it’s a floral aroma – Trisara offers hints of jasmine and lemongrass through its soap and shampoos – or something “spicy”, such as Phum Baitang’s bespoke sandalwood-grapefruitclove concoction, fragrance your room with its own signature scent!
THE UNIQUE BOUTIQUE EXPERIENCE
What sets boutique hotels apart from luxury hotels, other than the former having fewer and smaller rooms, is their strong emphasis on design and individuality. Each bedroom usually has a different theme.
“A boutique-hotel guest room gives you a sense of escape from the daily grind,” says Colin Seah of Ministry Design, who designed the New Majestic Hotel. For such a bedroom, homeowners should aim for “comfort, but with a strong visual presence”.
Ting Huong Tak, general manager of M Social, echoes a similar sentiment: “Decide on a theme or mood, and use unique finishes and a variety of furnishings and fittings to tie it together. However, keep comfort and practicality in mind.”
Take a cue from M Social, the recently launched designled hotel (M Social is too big to be considered a boutique hotel, though!) designed by Philippe Starck. Its rooms feature statement-making designs such as pitched roofs and concretefinished walls, and also high padded headboards, printed carpets and plush leather sofas.
If you don’t want to commit to bold finishes and colours, Colin suggests retaining a sense of playfulness by displaying quirky travel finds, oversized plants, and artwork. Other elements such as platform beds and multipurpose furniture – great for small spaces – will also work!
No space for fancy furniture? Try lighted mirror frames, padded headboards, arches, and concrete finishes, as seen in The Nicer Room in M Social!
ABOVE
This Andy Warholinspired suite in Naumi features a printed rug, and unique furniture pieces such as B&B Italia’s UP5 chair, and a spoollike study table.
LEFT
Cool ideas in this New Majestic Hotel guest room: A suspended bed frame with a mirror, ambient lighting around the bed, and a bold wall colour and mural.
TOP LEFT
This guest room in the New Majestic Hotel imbues a modern oriental vibe with a playful mural by local artist Justin Lee, and lanterninspired lamps.
MUST-HAVE FEATURE:
STATEMENT PIECES
You just need one attention-grabbing furniture or accessory item to achieve the desired look. Consider lounge-like or oversized furniture pieces that will not only create a lasting impression, but are comfortable and functional as well. How about an armchair upholstered in a loud print or colour?
THE ULTIMATE LUXURY
The guest room of a luxury hotel exudes a restful but sophisticated ambience, and that goes for both renowned marquee names as well as boutique establishments which might prefer a cleaner, contemporary design.
Marguerite Casey from Fbeye, an interior firm that has worked with hotels such as the Four Seasons Maldives and Pan Pacific Singapore, says a low-key but glamorous interior focuses on the finer details, rather than ostentatious features.
To replicate that in the home, homeowners should choose a neutral colour palette that is not too masculine or feminine, such as white, soft beige, and blue-grey.
“Introduce glamour in hints of gold or blue trimmings, or custom-made pieces such as a uniquely crafted air-con vent or hand-painted armoire,” she says, using the design treatment of Fbeye’s revamp of Intercontinental Singapore, as an example.
Furnishings, from chaise longues to canopies and pillows, “will influence the ambience and add softness to the interior”, according to Jaya International Design, the firm behind Capella Singapore’s design.
A good night’s sleep is a priority; like hotels, homeowners should pay attention to the type of mattress and linen they use. For instance, Westin Singapore uses the Westin Heavenly Bed, an oftpraised, pillow-topped mattress, and Capella Singapore uses linen by Italian luxury label Pratesi.
Give your room a luxe feel by choosing quality materials such as Egyptian cotton and Irish linen, as well as plush feather or down pillows – whichever agrees with your body and skin! After all, the bed is the most important furniture piece in the bedroom.
LEFT, ABOVE
To do subtle luxury, look to The Westin Singapore’s Presidential Suite – high pile rugs, and simple accent chairs and bedroom lamps. Keep prints to a minimum, and focus on exquisite materials and workmanship.
BELOW
The Bayview room in the Westin Singapore features materials such as leather and marble (as seen on the ottoman and console). These are materials you can use to create a luxurious, contemporary look.
LEFT
The Premier Suite in the Intercontinental Singapore features an understated yet inviting design, with gold trimmings against white wainscoted walls and a curved and padded headboard. A touch of heritage can be seen in the batik-like art and painted porcelain lamp bases.
BELOW
The plush seating areas in this Capella Singapore guest room create a cosy environment.
BOTTOM
Capella Singapore’s Colonial Manor room exudes Asianinspired elegance and warmth through wooden furnishings, a glamorous bed-space with a heavy canopy, and gold-hued curtains. The dim lighting completes the experience!
MUST-HAVE FEATURE:
DIM LIGHTING
Create a warm and inviting bedroom with ambient light from bedside lamps. If you have a passageway leading to the main bed-space, install dimmable lighting here – this breathing space sets the mood and prepares the senses for relaxation.
