The WoW Style

Having spent so long in our own homes over the past 18 months, we may have added some creature comforts. Perhaps a nice, scented candle in the living room, or regular fresh flowers in the hallway?

Now that we’re having guests to stay again, a cleaning frenzy may be occurring. Everyone wants to impress their guests and give them a hotel-worthy experience.

There are several ways that you can give your home a more luxurious feel. Some come from a little more elbow grease, while others are an investment.

1. Declutter

Have you ever seen a cluttered hotel room? Absolutely not, the rooms are kept clear and it’s refreshing to see such a clear space.

This is one of the reasons we feel the stress melt away when we check in. 

At home, we can recreate that look by storing everything properly. Use high cupboards and drawers and stow everything unnecessary out of sight.

2. Deep Clean

Five-star hotels almost sparkle with cleanliness. Of course, they have trained teams, but it isn’t hard to emulate.

All you need is baking soda, white vinegar and water. It’s crazy how much you can do with these three. 

You can clean:

• Bathrooms – everything from the toilet to the grouting
• Ovens
• Carpet stains

Sprinkle baking soda on mattresses, leave for an hour and then vacuum to freshen them up. Wipe down the walls of cupboards and wardrobes with a damp cloth to collect dust and grime.

Vinegar can leave a strong scent, solve this by adding essential oils such as lavender or citrus.

3. Make the Guest Bed the Focus of the Room

The bed is the most important part of the experience for your guests. You can get reasonably priced hotel style beds from the Divan Beds Centre.

A divan bed is fantastic as you can store towels, blankets and other items in the base. Once you have your bed, dress it in high quality linens such as durable cotton percale sheets. This gives that crisp, cool and gentle feeling you get from fresh hotel sheets. 

A nice thick down duvet adds another luxury element to the bed. Your guests will have a wonderful night’s sleep, and you’re likely to get some praise.

4. Make an Effort with the Guest Bathroom

One area that we fall down in at home is often the bathroom. That’s because we treat it as a functional space and forget about the form.

First, make sure that the bathroom is sparkling clean. You can do this by referring to the deep clean section above – white wine vinegar and baking soda will make everything shine.

Add some high-quality amenities. You can even get branded items from certain hotels, like the White Tea Aloe collection from Westin, or find out which ones big brands use.

• Le Méridien use Malin+Goetz products
• Fairmont and Hyatt use Le Labo products
• Mandarin Oriental use Diptyque

Stocking some of these in the guest bathroom will earn you loyalty points with your friends or family.

Lastly, add some plush white towels to the mix. If you’re feeling adventurous you can choose colourful ones, but white really gives the hotel feel.

5. Add Scent

Scent is a powerful thing, so make sure that the first thing your guest smells is something that evokes holidays.

• Spring flowers – makes you think of a countryside B&B
• Orchids – make you think of a tropical island
• Chamomile and bergamot are soothing scents
• Oud or amber call to mind an exotic bazaar, like Morocco or the Middle East

Fresh flowers, expensive scented candles and essential oils can add these to the air. Another smell that wins everyone over is fresh, baked bread so if you have one just out the oven, you’ll win some fans.

These five hacks will turn your home into a wonderful getaway for your visitors. The only problem is they may not want to leave!