TIPS AND TRICKS: CREATE A HOMEY HOTEL ROOM

When you are on the road, every hotel room starts to blend together and feel unwelcoming.  I have found that by adding a few little touches of your own, your hotel room can feel extremely homey and wonderful.  Below are a few items that can really make a difference:

Framed Photos – I pack a few framed photos of family and friends in my trunk and it really adds an amazing homey touch to my hotel room.  By placing these on my nightstand or desk it feels more like a studio apartment. (That's me and sis in line for the Toy Story Ride in Disneyland - it always makes me laugh)

Pillow Cases – I always pack my own pillowcases for a few reasons: 1. It helps when you have allergies and can’t handle the strong bleach most hotels use on their linens. 2. You can sleep on luxurious sheets even if you’re staying in a Hampton Inn.  3.  Using your own pillowcase is GREAT for your skin and hair. (Those are amazing cotton pillowcases sis got me from where else?  JUICY)

Travel Candles – They get rid of that funky hotel smell.  I love lavender candles to create a serene and relaxing environment. My favorites are from Henri Bendel (the one featured above is called Lavender Leaves and it is BEYOND - the candle in the bottom photo - on the table above my uke - is from Bath and Body Works.  It's called Sleigh Ride and it smells exactly how you would think.  SO GOOD)

Fresh Flowers – Buying a delicious bouquet of fresh cut flowers always brightens up a hotel room.  I like to get a lovely bunch of peonies or white roses.  Most hotels will lend you a vase!

A Large Scarf – I usually take the heinous coverlet off the hotel beds and use my pink pashmina as a throw for the foot the bed.  It looks great and you can use it as a wrap when you are answering the door for room service!

Fresh Fruit – I like to have a bowl of apples, bananas, and grapes in my room – it’s a great healthy snack for when you are renting a movie on demand AND it looks amazing. (If I can't find a bowl I will just use the tray from the coffee service in the room like I did in the photo above)

Knick Knacks – I bought an adorable little mermaid paperweight at a vintage store and I put it on my bathroom counter to hold my rings (she lives in my trunk because she is quite heavy!).  It’s nice to have a few little items like this that remind you of home.  I also bring a small dish as a catchall for my keys, sunglasses, ear buds, etc for the desk.  It makes you feel like you have a real home when you designate an area to drop your personal things.

EXTRA CREDIT:

Unpacking – The first thing I do when I get to a new city is unpack and organize all my clothes, shoes and accessories.  I like to lay everything out like a fitting.  Shoes line up neatly on the floor.  Dresses and coats on hangers.  Everything else folded neatly in the drawers. Scarves and accessories are displayed on a flat surface. TIP: Make sure to put your suitcases out of sight; it helps to create a serene, homey environment.

Eliminate hotel items – I like to remove the alarm clock, phone, random books, coffee service, hotel soaps and shampoos, etc from all the surfaces in the room.  I usually hide these in the closet or under the bed.  Getting rid of these things helps you feel like the room is actually yours.

Lighting – Re-arranging the lamps in the room makes your environment more serene.  Sometimes this means moving a desk lamp to your nightstand, re-arranging a floor lamp, or keeping some of the lights off all together.  Personally I like to use as much natural light as possible so I never draw the blackout curtains!  

Good luck creating your lovely living space!  

Send pics of your homey hotel room to Rachelrinc@gmail.com - I would love to see what my readers do !

XO

R