Designers Reveal Secrets to a Boutique Hotel-Inspired Home

From lighting to textiles, these experts share their top tips for creating a luxurious, elevated space.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:21pm

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A high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a repeated pattern of a plush, colorful throw blanket in shades of pink, orange, and blue, conceptually representing the cozy, stylish accents that can transform a home into a relaxing, hotel-like oasis.Elevated home goods in a bold, pop art-inspired style capture the luxurious yet inviting atmosphere of a boutique hotel retreat.NYC Today

Interior designers and hotel owners share their expert tips for recreating the elevated, inviting atmosphere of a boutique hotel in your own home. From thoughtful lighting and layered textiles to carefully curated furnishings and a connection to nature, these design professionals reveal the secrets behind creating a refined, immersive living space.

Why it matters

As more people seek to bring a sense of luxury and relaxation into their homes, understanding the design principles that define a boutique hotel experience can help homeowners elevate their spaces. These expert insights provide a roadmap for infusing any home with the same calming, elevated ambiance found in the world's most stylish hotels.

The details

The designers and hoteliers featured share a range of strategies for creating a boutique hotel-inspired home, from Nicola Harding's emphasis on layered lighting and plush textiles to Eastwind Hotels' focus on curated vintage furnishings and a strong connection to nature. Baccarat Hotel in New York showcases the power of the brand's signature crystal and color palette, while Wildflower Farms and Hotel Lilien demonstrate how natural materials and a sense of place can imbue a space with warmth and character.

  • The article was published on April 10, 2026.

The players

Nicola Harding

Founder of Nicola Harding & Co. and co-founder of homewares company NiX, known for creating richly layered, whimsical interior spaces.

Julija Stoliarova

Creative director and co-founder of Eastwind Hotels, a collection of boutique retreats in upstate New York that blend Scandinavian design, vintage finds, and modern finishes.

Israel Benyair

General manager of Baccarat Hotel in New York, which translates the French crystal brand's legacy into an immersive luxury lifestyle experience.

Christie Ward and Staver Gray

Founders of design firm Ward + Gray, responsible for the nature-inspired interiors of Wildflower Farms in the Hudson Valley.

Leah Harmatz

Founder of Field Theory Design, the firm behind the nostalgic, eclectic design of Hotel Lilien in the Catskill Mountains.

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What they’re saying

“They want a place that feels warmer—more personal and domestic—than you might imagine a hotel to be.”

— Nicola Harding, Founder, Nicola Harding & Co.

“Luxury, to me, is about being close to nature. I try to bring that feeling into every room.”

— Julija Stoliarova, Creative Director and Co-Founder, Eastwind Hotels

“The presence of Baccarat crystal also contributes to the hotel's design aesthetic, with bespoke pieces from its over 250-year history, 17 custom-designed Baccarat chandeliers, and a kaleidoscope of more than 15,000 pieces of mixed-and-matched Baccarat crystal stemware on display throughout the hotel.”

— Israel Benyair, General Manager, Baccarat Hotel

“We always look to research the local landscape or architect to inform our design story for every hotel project we embark on. For Wildflower Farms, the surrounding landscape became our primary point of reference.”

— Christie Ward and Staver Gray, Founders, Ward + Gray

“Our design signature in the hospitality space is creating a world that is deeply rooted in its surroundings and history. We craft an experience for guests that can only happen in this particular place and environment.”

— Leah Harmatz, Founder, Field Theory Design

The takeaway

These expert insights reveal that creating a boutique hotel-inspired home goes beyond just aesthetics - it's about crafting an immersive atmosphere that makes residents and guests feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and connected to their surroundings. By focusing on thoughtful details like lighting, textiles, curated furnishings, and a strong sense of place, homeowners can elevate their living spaces and bring the luxury of a high-end hotel experience into their own homes.