Do you love watching celebrity home tours? What a question; who doesn’t! (But if there is such a person, check out Dakota Johnson’s home tour on YT and you’ll be a convert) But let’s also be honest: yes, they’re gorgeous to look at, but they also tend to leave feeling a little… envious. Who in the world can afford that stuff?
Well, certainly not the average person. But that doesn’t mean these tours can’t be used for inspiration and spotting new trends.
Celebrities set trends for two simple reasons: they can buy the exact pieces a designer specifies, and they often stay in hotel suites (the best kind of inspiration because hotels are engineered for immediate impact).
But you don’t need either advantage to get a star-worthy room. You only need a plan and a few high-impact moves.
Start With A Restrained Palette And Confident Bones
Celeb suites usually don’t shout. They use a small set of colors (like two neutrals and one accent) and stick to them. That is key to making everything look more polished and expensive.
So, here’s how you can emulate this: pick a dominant neutral for walls and large surfaces, a slightly darker neutral for furniture or rugs, and one accent color that appears in about three places (a throw, a pillow, and a small object on a nightstand, for example).
This will give you cohesion and make your room feel curated, not cluttered. If you like whimsical style, add another accent color, ideally complementary to the first one.If you prefer sleek and understated (that quiet luxury style), you can go with one accent color. Your choice.
Layer Textures, Not Patterns
Texture – and more specifically, layering texture – is essential if you want a luxurious look. You’ll notice it at most celebs’ tours (well, except for Kim Kardashian‘s home tour, but don’t take hers as inspo unless you’re going for abandoned museum look).
In practice, this can look like a down-alternative duvet over a quilt, a velvet throw folded at the foot of the bed, a soft rug underfoot. You can experiment, but keep patterns simple (subtle stripe or tonal weave). The trick is contrast in tactile feel rather than competing prints.
Symmetry Makes Every Shot Look Editorial
You don’t need a professional to create an editorial frame. Place matching bedside lamps and similar-height objects on both sides of the bed, and voila: symmetry and intention.
Symmetry gives your eye a place to land and translates as intentionality in photos (and to guests). Now, if you like asymmetry, that’s cool, too, but just balance it. For instance, one tall lamp on one side with two low objects on the other.
Pillows And Corners: Small Moves, Big Effect
Plump pillows (two sleeping pillows, two Euro shams, and one decorative pillow) give that hotel bed profile.
Tuck corners tightly (hotels call this “hospital corners”) to read crisp in person and on camera. If ironing pillowcases feels like a lot (we totally understand), use pillow inserts a size up for that full, structured look.
Invest In One Or Two High-Impact Basics
Listen, if you want a luxe look and feel, you’re going to need to invest in a couple of pieces. No, you don’t need to spend a small fortune, but one or two great-looking basics really can elevate the room.
Just spend where it matters. For example, you can splurge on a statement headboard or distinctive pendant light if you want a focal point. If you’re upgrading bedding, consider The Lad Collective: their duvet and pillowcase sets are amazing.
If you have to pick, buy bedding that photographs well: matte, dense fabrics over slippery satin. These are the pieces that lift everything else.
Use Lighting Like A Designer
Lighting is everything to setting the right tone. And it’s best if you layer it. For instance: ambient (overhead), task (reading lamps), and accent (small directional lights or picture lights).
If you’ve never tried dimmable switches, what are you doing? Seriously, try them; they’re key to creating the right mood and atmosphere. Instead of harsh bulbs, use bulbs that match color temperature: warm white for restful vibes, cooler for a crisp look in photos. You can also add a soft table lamp aimed toward a reflective surface (mirror, glossy tray) to create that hotel-glow effect.
Cheap Swaps That Look Expensive
- Swap worn duvet covers for a mid-weight, neutral duvet and a textured throw.
- Frame a large poster rather than buying many small prints; one strong frame reads more curated.
- Re-cover thrifted chairs with a simple slipcover or a high-quality throw to hide wear.
- Use peel-and-stick wallpaper behind the bed for instant drama without commitment.
Keep Maintenance Realistic
Hotel rooms look good because staff reset them daily. You obviously can’t have that, so plan small routines.
- Daily: smooth the duvet, fold the throw.
- Weekly: change sheets and pillow cases, and vacuum under the bed.
- Monthly: change duvet covers, comforters, or blankets. Also, clean lampshades. It’s a small thing but it will keep the “suite” look without adding work.
Do all that, and your bedroom will feel like the kind of place people want to stay in, even if the only celebrity who ever slept there is you.
