How to give your garden that boutique hotel look

There’s no feeling quite like it. Stepping through the doors of a boutique hotel and – ah the shoulders drop and the brain hums in delight as the design-led beauty takes hold. Life doesn’t get better than sitting back and absorbing the view, knowing that this is what lies ahead of you for the next few days.

You’ll notice boutique hotels do outdoor spaces particularly well. Their gardens, decks, balconies and terraces have a magnetism, instantly putting you at ease and drawing you into their choreographed, curated world. So, it seems sensible to bring that feeling back with you. Here’s what to focus on when styling your at-home hotel.

The furniture and objects in boutique hotels are crafted from considered materials and time-honoured techniques. Seek furniture and accessories that champion material honesty, quality and attention to detail for a space that feels layered, distinctive and full of narrative.

Boutique hotels are a sea of tactility and textural contrasts. Crisp linen against brushed velvet, grained wood against smooth lacquer, woven rattan against slick marble ... This interplay of finishes creates depth, pleasing both the hands and the eyes and forging a quiet sense of complexity.

Ease can be deceptive. In the boutique design universe, comfort is expressed through generous proportions, soft contours and sculpted forms that tempt you to settle in for a while. It’s the opposite of flashy luxury – yes, it looks just delightful, but it’s the balance of ease and character that makes a space feel high-end yet understated.