My husband and I don’t get to go away too often over night. While staying at a quaint B&B always sounds romantic and fun, it just isn’t in our budget outside of a special anniversary. And with kids, getting away is definitely more of a challenge. One thing that has always been important to us is that we create a haven from the world right in our own home.
We decided early on in our marriage that most of the time, we’d rather spend $200 on something lovely for our home than spend $200 for one night away. Not to say we don’t like to get away, but we like to balance time away with creating a wonderful life right under our own roof! Since we value our marriage and want to make sure that we “get away” from it all at times, we pay special attention to filling our home and especially our bedroom with special things that give us the Bed & Breakfast feel every day.
How can you get the look of a charming
Bed & Breakfast in your own bedroom?
1. Grab & Box Technique.
Let’s start at the beginning. If your room is overrun by toys, electronics and piles of laundry, it most certainly won’t feel like a bed & breakfast! That is pretty obvious, no clutter allowed! But if you have trouble keeping your room clutter free, here is my realistic suggestion (which you may have heard me talk about before!) for a quick solution: at the end of the day, right before dinner if you can manage it, do the grab & box technique.
Take a big box or laundry basket and gather up all the stray stuff that has made its way to your room and set it “somewhere else.” While you will still have the basket to deal with later, at least your room will feel clean and ready to unwind in at the end of a long day! I would prefer to have my room perfect and clutter free at all times, but at the very least it should be tidy when we want to retreat there in the evening!
2. Cleanliness.
Next, focus on cleaning. Who would go to a Bed & Breakfast if they choked on dust every time they entered the room? Even if you have animals, like we do, you can at least try to keep the dog hair off your bedding. We would never let Winston lay directly on our bed. Way too icky of a thought for me! We have a dog blanket to put out if he wants to be on the bed (my husband lets him up there, I would never do that!). When we want a clean bed, we whisk off his blanket! Keeping a room free of dust isn’t easy, but running a quick rag over your nightstands and lamps and vacuuming the room will go a long way to making things feel more like a B&B.
3. Quality.
One thing I feel is a must for obtaining the B&B feel is quality bedding. I do not like scratchy sheets. Fluffy pillows and good quality sheets on my bed are important to that B&B ambience. I have mentioned this before but I only have one set of sheets! I know that must sound terrible to those of you who love having options, but I just have one quality set. Not expensive, but just good quality! Better one quality set than a bunch of cheap sheets!
4. Layers of warmth.
When I picture a quaint B&B, I picture layers of warmth. Curtains with bamboo shades or shutters underneath. Big pillow shams and decorator pillows on the bed. Pretty bedskirts and a cozy throw over a chair. A fireplace, candles or glowing lampshades. The feeling of a warm nest is essential to that B&B feeling, especially in the fall! I love the chill in the air when I have a cozy bedroom to curl up in!
5. Peace & Quiet.
A B&B ambience requires peace & quiet. Lots of fabric and rugs will make you feel like you can settle in for a peaceful night. Without enough softness, a bedroom feels loud and uncomfortable. A TV can be questionable to me, seeing and hearing a TV ruins the whole ambience of my B&B ideal. I’d like to see piles of books on the nightstands instead! If a TV is a part of the mix, I would at least like it to be hidden or inconspicuous. A TV can be fine in a bedroom as long as its purpose is to enjoy an occasional movie and not the evening news or sporting event. But that is just me.
6. Indulge your senses.
Think about the scent of the room, the feel of the fabrics, the surrounding sounds and the beautiful colors of the room. Your impression of the room when you walk in is greatly affected by the senses, so pay special attention to making the room appealing on all levels. I love a really good smelling linen spray to freshen up sheets and give the whole room a delicious scent. Think about the colors you use and what mood you are trying to create. Try to add as many textures to the room as you can. Add glass for visual sparkle and blankets for pulling up around you.
7. Pack your bags!
I like the idea of staying in a B&B every night. More often than not though during the fall and winter, I am falling asleep in my flannel pjs and warm socks. Not exactly a romantic look. But if you really want to play up the feeling of a special night away, pack a bag of special overnight clothes! Most of us think more about what we wear out to dinner than we do about what we wear to bed. Surprise your husband some night by opening a suitcase packed with something other than your cartoon faced tee shirt! That would really add to the B&B ambience now, wouldn’t it?
8. Breakfast in bed ambience.
For the longest time I have wanted a breakfast in bed tray. The last one I had I ended up giving to a friend. Keep your eyes peeled for one at a garage sale or discount store. If you are planning a special “B&B night” with your hubby, you could set out some muffins and big coffee mugs on a tray, and set your coffee pot to turn on in the morning so you’ll wake up to the scent of coffee wafting through the air! Just like a B&B!
9. Make it a true getaway!
In order to capture the true essence of a B&B, I am probably one of those rare people who would rather not have many family photos in my room. Not because I don’t love my kids or parents or nieces and nephews or great grandparents, but because I try to conjure up the feeling of a true getaway in my bedroom. Where would I go that I would see 30 pairs of eyes staring at me in the darkness when I was relaxing in bed?
I like my family photos in the hallway where I can smile back at them every time I walk by. Again, that might just be me. I try to select artwork and accessories that remind me of true getaways in my life. I like to have pencil art from places my husband and I have been!
from my old house
10. Lock the door.
I know I am getting all controversial by saying I don’t want too many family photos in my bedroom and now I am going to tell you I like to have a lock on my door to keep my kids out. Here is my thought…you cannot have a true getaway if you are going to allow your door to be open all evening long. Even if you are just enjoying a good book you deserve a place in your home where you can enjoy a few moments of peace away from the hustle and bustle of your home.
If you do not have a lock, I would encourage you to teach your kids about knocking on doors and waiting until you have been invited in before entering. And even better, if you have kids old enough to read, make a sign for your door that reminds them that you are having a few moments to yourself. I know that isn’t really an option when kids are tiny, but once they enter grade school you can definitely expect them to respect your privacy for a short while each day. It is important for your sanity, so don’t feel guilty about having your own B&B escape right in your own home!
What would your dream B&B look like?
Photos:
The Inn at Perry Cabin, [from their website] “a luxurious manor house resort and spa, is located in the Victorian resort town of St. Michaels on the Eastern shore of Maryland. Steeped in history, this colonial mansion exudes calm and elegance, the perfect hideaway.” Don’t you wish your home could be described like that!? I’d definitely stay at this resort if I could! It looks positively dreamy!
Really my ideal would change with every season. Right now: warm pumpkin oranges, brick reds, browns on the bed. In scrumptious layers. A fireplace, which we’re blessed to have in the bedroom. A quiet weekend with nothing to do but lounge!
Enjoy your Wednesday~
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
.-= Robin All Things Heart and Home´s last blog ..~Autumn Nesting with Heirloom Pumpkins~ =-.
I have been dying to transform our bedroom into a romantic, relaxing getaway. Right now, it’s just a place we sleep at night, and that’s it. So depressing! When I think about what I would like for my bedroom, I picture light, relaxing colors, such as blue and white, with flowing curtains that let in the breeze.
.-= Christina´s last blog ..Online Resources for Fall Activities =-.
Pick a relaxing color scheme… Ours is a deep plum- love it.
Glad to get a chance to win such a great pillow- My husband can never find one he likes- maybe this is the one…
.-= leslie´s last blog ..zoo =-.
When we were travelling in Britain we stayed at many cozy B&Bs and one thing we loved was that almost every room had a supply of tea, two cups, and an electric tea kettle. When we got home I found an inexpensive kettle that fit neatly in a drawer, a decorative tray, cups and saucers and basket to hold special teas for an afternoon in room treat. Guests love it and it would be nice in a bedroom as well.
.-= Marjorie´s last blog ..Ootheca =-.
My ideal would be to have a bedroom stimulated all the senses…sights that make you think of memories that you and your husband shared, smells that relax you, hearing music that you love, having a comfy chair to read, knit or just sit and think with soft afghans to wrap up in and nothing to do!
Love to win the pillow….
Jennifer
The little extra touches at some B&B’s or getaway places, like slippers and a robe and chocolates are what make it so inviting and relaxing so I think those things should be readily available in bedrooms! Well maybe we can’t all have chocolate on our bedside tables….
Also there isn’t all that junk everywhere at a B&B. Vanities, nightstands and dressers should have minimal items on them. Stuff can be put away in closets or bathrooms or drawers. No need to have to stare at it all! I think a truly relaxing bedroom is one where there aren’t tvs, phones or laptops. We had the tv out of our room for a while and we got better sleep than we ever have before! I don’t recall why my husband brought it back in… 
I am trying to keep our bedroom as a haven too. So, I have warm colors, yummy plush pillows and a great big bed. I agree with your photo rule too with one exception. I have posted pics of hubby and me captured when we were kissing or dancing. Just romantic photos of us to remind us that we are a couple first and mom and dad later!
.-= Annie @ astonesthrowfrominsanity´s last blog ..There is Tall Man =-.
We’ve never had a tv in our bedroom (although the older we get, falling asleep in bed watching tv instead of on the sofa sounds better and better…lol) and we do have candles everywhere. The glow of tealights in pretty mercury-glass holders instantly romanticizes the room. And I am fanatical about keeping clutter out of our bedroom. Our room is tiny, only 10X10, but it’s a very classy looking space, with well-polished woods and glittering mirrors in pretty frames.
It would have hardwood floors, a high bed with lots of fluffy white linens… and definitely a fireplace.
.-= Emily @ Little Home´s last blog ..Food Thoughts =-.
It would have wonderful smelling candles, luxurious bedding, maybe a chandelier on a dimmer, good things to read, a carafe of something to drink on the bedside table and chocolates are never a bad idea.
I need to work harder at making our bedroom special…and start with uncluttering. Thanks for the inspiration. I think a vase of flowers is nice, too. Mostly clean, comfy, with a few special touches and I would love to move the tv out……
Suzanne
.-= suzanne´s last blog ..Chubby Hubby Cookies…….worth the effort!! =-.
What excellent tips, thanks!
I like your ideas about layering textures and using shams and bed skirts to dress up your room. I’ve tried that in our Master and it makes all the difference in the world!
My dream bedroom would be HUGE and have a section with a fireplace and a loveseat for the hubs and I to cuddle up on together on a chilly fall evening
Thanks for the great giveaway!
.-= Natalie´s last blog ..Yard Saling =-.
I think seasonal fresh flowers add such peace and calmness to a room.
I’ve been in a few B&B’s lately…and one wasn’t quite the B&B you’re thinking of! LOL! It was more like a motel room…but I appreciated it anyway.
I think having my bedroom free of clutter is important. I don’t like having toys and junk all over the place. I also painted my room a soothing dark grayish green- it’s far more soothing to my eyes than stark white.
Another B&B we went to had a beautiful garden & grounds with it with lots of interesting artifacts to look at. It was really rustic but just beautiful.
.-= Astrid´s last blog ..Sewing Attempt #1: Pillow Cover =-.
When I lived in State College, I rented out my room for home football weekends. I removed all personal stuff from the room such as clothes from the dressers. I hung my sheets out on the line to dry. There is nothing in the world like the smell of sheets which have been dried on the clothes line. I always had a vase of fresh flowers. In addition to nice bed linens, I had big fluffy towels in the bath.
.-= Karen´s last blog ..Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD =-.
Good morning, Melissa!
What a beautiful post!
We are working on a little redo of our master suite. Hopefully, it will have the feel of a B&B, when finished. Lots of light colors. New paint, no more gold walls. Painted furniture and layers of soft fabrics, including a comfy cozy new chair and ottoman. That’s what we are waiting for. When the chair is delivered we should have the room finished. It already feels wonderful, though.
Hope all is well with you!
I’ve been to quite a few B&B in the past years and LOVE them. There is something so special about them and you have given us all the ideas to create this atmosphere at home. I would love to paint our walls first. Right now they are just an off white and there is only one thing on the wall above the bed. I would love to have long flowing curtains, a layered (high) bed, candles, and a nice scent like one of the linen sprays you talked about. I really need to warm up the space. Thanks for all the ideas Melissa.
We have been married 14 years and this was the year I decided to do our bedroom. We have never decorated our bedroom. I have slowly been adding colors and layers and pillows. Lot so pillows. IT is amazing what a calm,cohesive bedroom can do to a relationship!
My husband and I are both avid readers, and had stacks of books-in-waiting by our beds. Recently, I purchased two inexpensive open baskets to sit by each side of the bed to contain the books. It looks much more inviting, a mini-library for each of us!
Thanks for these ideas and all your inspirational posts!
Now you’ve REALLY got me itchin’ to start working on our Master Bedroom! Would you believe there’s a concrete floor in there right now!? Oh, and it’s got yellow and white paint splattered all over it….yeah, let’s just say the room has a Looooong way to go.
Layla
.-= Layla´s last blog ..Savoie Faire Photography Giveaway! =-.
Fabulous. If only I could lock the door – can you do one for wives whose husbands are always deployed on on their own with toddlers in new places
) I love the serenity of the blues in that first space.
.-= The Blushing Hostess´s last blog ..San Lori Reader Giveaway for Blushing Followers =-.
ooh- i love nice linens! i signed up for the newsletter, and the pillows & linens sound wonderful.
we are in the process of renovating a home to move into, so i get to set up my own b&b from scratch! right now the room is a completely blank slate- not even the windows are trimmed. i’m picturing a soothing blue-green color on the walls- light enough to feel cool & airy during the day, but rich enough to have some depth by lamplight (or candlelight!) at night. our linens are white & cream, and i’m hoping (dreaming) about a cozy sitting area at one end with a table for books & cups of coffee, wine… we’ll see! i’ll be posting during & after pics on my blog… we’re very much in the DURING phase right now!
thanks for this giveaway- i’m glad i know about this company now!
rachel
.-= rachel´s last blog ..big things happening! =-.
My personal B & B would be in those yummy pale blue and yellow colors you have in that first photo. I would need a thick mattress with lost of feather pillows and warm snuggly covers. A beautiful view from the windows would be nice too!
.-= Catherine´s last blog ..Going Away Party! =-.
You know that this post was just for me, right? But I am so stuck right now with where to go with our new bedroom… but know that I want a retreat for us. One of the main things I want to do is have a seating area where I can read. Thanks for the giveaway…I am going away and will be back on the 14th…I will be in touch about those stripes we were talking about!
My idea of creating a retreat in my bedroom was to make it look completely different than the rest of my home. Then it really does feel like a giveaway. My home is decorated in rich, autumnal colors, red, gold, brown, orange, green. Very warm & cozy.
My bedroom however is completely different and is decorated in very light aqua and white with accents of rattan. I love it. It’s like being at the spa.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: Children of the Corn =-.
I like earthy, warm tones in the bedroom. The kind of colors that make you want to curl up and nest.
I also like the idea of putting a big comfy chair or loveseat in the bedroom so you can have somewhere to sit and curl up with a good book (or laptop
)
.-= Farmwife´s last blog ..Snow! =-.
I would have a high bed with lots of neutral colored sheets and ruffles galore! Also many many many candles and a deep dark purple on the walls.
Would love a fireplace too!
.-= Ann´s last blog ..I am a winner?!?!? =-.
To get a B&B feel, I would have to move the tv into the armoire (I can do that!), add lots of pillows (I can also do that!) and construct a cozy fireplace (not gonna happen!)
are you kidding me? that first photo made my heart stop. swoon.
i can’t wait until our master bedroom is done and i have a bedroom big enough for a big cozy chair.
i’ll be coming back to these for inspiration.
.-= Emily@remodelingthislife´s last blog ..Carefree =-.
Melissa is so right. The bedroom is the very last room people seem to decorate, when it should be one of the first. Parents especially need a place to retreat to. I like to add a small table and chairs to a bedroom so you can enjoy tea, write or read. If you forgo freestanding storage for a great closet organizer, you can usually find the room!
.-= Kim´s last blog ..What is Your Definition of Beautiful Living? =-.
I’m in the process of redoing our sons bedroom. He has his own apartment near the college he attends and I am itching to take down all the high school stuff on his walls and put on a fresh coat of paint. I sure could use this new pillow. I think it would be a lovely new addition to my makeover. Thanks for having a site that inspires others to see the beauty that lies hidden in our homes.
.-= Donna ´s last blog ..San Francisco, Here I Come! =-.
I like to have lots of candles so that it feels relaxing and like a real retreat. Since you can usually pick them up cheaply at target or ikea, they’re a splurge that doesn’t take much out of my budget
What wonderful inspiration! I have been wanting to transform our bedroom and now I’m excited! I really want to create a cozy nook for reading and relaxing, and of course, a bed you never want to get out of!
Love the pics. Chocolate and flowers speak to me. And I don’t mind family pics in my bedroom. Cozy is the key
.-= Melinda´s last blog ..h1n1 anyone? =-.
I love B & B’s – my hubby planned our honeymoon and surprised me with a wonderful stay in an old Victorian home that was absolutely incredible! I love the idea of recreating that atmosphere in the home.
I totally agree with you concerning the TV and family photos – I thought I was the only one who could “feel the eyes”. I chose to have a beautiful bookcase in place of a TV cabinet. We also have a wicker glider rocker & ottoman with lovely cushions that provide a place to read and escape. I had custom bedding & window treatments sewn by a dear friend – it’s been 9 1/2 years and I still smile when I make my bed. I’m thinking next anniversary would be a great time to replace the bedding and find something new!
Cozy comfy throw, some fruit or delicate munchies, a loveseat or chairs (we went to a B&B one time and all there was in the room to sit on was the bed!) – We have lots of guest thru our home as we are in ministry and I make rice or barley warming bags and have them in each of the rooms with instructions on how to warm them in the microwave (we even have put a microwave upstairs for convenience) .
It is located in a hall pantry area and I am wanting to make a small tea coffee station there also.
blessings
mary
.-= Mary´s last blog ..A Complete Bedroom Redo – Furniture too- for only $10.00!! =-.
I just bought my first condo, and my bedroom was the first room I decorated, and as of now, its the only one. I knew exactly what I wanted in my retreat—lavender walls, white curtains, no television, accents of white and soothing green, and a candaleir–and even though the rest of my house is still a mess and I’m still trying to figure out what to do in my other rooms, I know my bedrooms is restful and calming.
And I love the pillow!
Great Ideas! thanks, I do have a few more things to do to make the room retreat worthy!
I like to have the feeling of a B&B in our bedroom as well! I have let it get a bit too crowded with stuff, so I am off to declutter!
The one thing I would add if I could would be a fireplace! How awesome would that be?
.-= Deanna´s last blog ..Make New Friends, But Keep The Old…. =-.
I would a) go to bed early and b) sleep in late to make it more vacation-like! If I could…
Also, keep it dark, use drapes, not too bright. xoxo Lizabeth http://www.sparkbark.com
.-= Lizabeth´s last blog ..Knitting Frenzy (Bootie Call!) =-.
I would love softer lighting, layers of drapery, lush carpeting, tuns of soft pillows, space for a couple of comfy chairs for reading, vanilla candles, soft cotton quilts and bedding, and my cricket sounds of a summer night!
put some fresh flowers in the room, that would be nice!!
.-= heidi´s last blog ..more clips =-.
I love all these ideas! It seems like we’re pretty like minded-a lock on the door is a must and we prefer no pictures in our room either. And yep-it’s pretty important to “pack your bags!” I love that suggestion and I think it’s something that kind of gets neglected in the day to day lives of many married couples.
Now, I’m thinking I better go grab a box and get to work up there!
.-= Gina´s last blog ..How to Convert Cabinets to Open Shelving =-.
I SO agree abot the family pictures. NONE in our bedroom. Instead, lots of art that we love. My major rule in the bedroom is to find the right color scheme to be visually attractive but not too stimulating. We have a beautiful sagey-grayish-green color that we picked out together and we both love it.
Great article!
Laura
Soft, soothing colors….not the brighter colors that are in the rest of my house, mixed with lots of plush bedding, candles and soft lamp light plus some good spa stuff to treat yourself to a little moment of luxury when you get a chance!
Love the pillow giveaway ~ hubby and I can fight over it! I redid our master bedroom a few years ago and I love it. My goal was to make it stress-free and relaxing and I feel that I accomplished that. I have only 3 pictures out in the bedroom and 2 of them are of me and hubby. I have kept any decorative accessories to a minimum which helps add to that relaxing, B&B feeling. We also have a lock on our door AND our kids were always taught to knock and get an okay before entering a bedroom. Our kids actually made us a door knob hanger for us to put on our door.
My ideal for the B&B feeling is a lot like what you’ve said already ~ I like a lot of pillows on our bed when it’s made up; I like to have a throw in there at the end of the bed; we have an upholstered chair to sit in; and really, just not having a lot of stuff out makes it a simple, uncluttered, relaxing room to be in.
Would love to use some of these goodies in my bedroom!
One of the things that mean B&B are flowers. Fresh flowers, just a few. not a large bouquet which can be overwhelming. Lovely and makes the room feel special.
WONDERFUL!
When I was the publisher & editor of a regional B&B magazine, I visited many B&B inns. It had a lasting effect on me — and you’re right: the “trick” with transforming your whole home (well, maybe minus the full-out child-centered areas!) into one that exudes the B&B atmosphere doesn’t necessarily have to involve lots of new things and a budget. Of course that’s helpful (!), but some of the core loveliness of a B&B comes by way of its ATMOSPHERE AND ATTITUDE alone — ie., using the good china on yourself instead of saving it for rare special occasions.
We often have “B&B possibilities” in our own drawers, cupboards, and closets. B&B Inns receive accolades for wonderful charm, hospitality, ambiance. And as true as that is, inns also should receive kudos for helping instill in us a sense of living life fully, graciously, making EVERY day a special occasion (by using the good dishes regularly; by drinking coffee from a cup sometimes instead of a mug). Soothing music and a restful (clean, tidy) atmosphere do wonders for any home. And a simple yet planned presentation of food, collectibles or attitude makes a tremendous difference in one’s sense of living.
Lots of comfy pillows and an extra throw or two make for lounging bliss and say “B&B” to me!
Thanks for the chance to win!
.-= Kimberly´s last blog ..God is good: Or "Seeing his hand in the crazy times" =-.