Surprise and delight: What hotels can teach us about home design

NEW YORK -- You know that feeling you get when you walk into a hotel room and you just want to fall on that big white bedspread with the fluffy pillows?

Here are some tips from three hotel brands -- Renaissance, Baccarat and Loews -- on how to create that same serene and inviting atmosphere at home.

SURPRISE AND DELIGHT

Marriott opens the Renaissance NY Midtown hotel this spring in Manhattan. Its design concept involves creating moments of "surprise and delight" in public spaces like the lobby and dining areas, as well as in guest rooms. For example, open a closet door and inside you'll find bold graphics livening up a space that's usually unadorned.

Toni Stoeckl, vice president of Marriott's Lifestyle Brands, offers these tips for a similar approach in home design:

This March 8 photo shows a table in a public area at the Renaissance Hotel in Manhattan. The table is adorned with a quote attributed to fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld: "One is never over- or underdressed with a little black dress." The hotel's design concept uses artwork and other touches to surprise and delight guests, with many of the items themed on the Garment District where the hotel is located. The hotel is the flagship property for Marriott's Renaissance brand and it opens this month. (AP Photos/Beth J. Harpaz)

--Target all the senses, including "what you see, the music, the fragrance," says Stoeckl.

--Pepper the environment with "moments to love," he says. But remember: "Less is more: If you have too much art, you can't pay attention to any one piece." Good interior design is "more about uncovering beauty and decluttering space."

--Keep design elements "real and authentic. No fake flowers, no fake candles."

--Change artwork periodically. "Have a few pieces of art that you rotate," says Stoeckl. Consider using the seasons as a scheduling guide for when to change displays.

--Showcase objects and art that have layers of interest or meaningful stories. For example, a large, bright red work of abstract art near the hotel's front desk is comprised entirely of buttons, but you can't see the buttons until you get close. The button art was inspired by the hotel's neighborhood: It's in Manhattan's Garment District, and many of its design elements are connected to the apparel and fashion industries, from little ceramic sewing machine decorations in guest rooms, to quotes from famous designers placed on coffee tables in the club lounge. Another large artwork displaying a quote from Diane von Furstenberg -- "Attitude is everything"-- is made from tiny pushpins.

This undated photo provided by Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York shows the Harcourt Wall at the Baccarat Hotel & Residences in New York. The Baccarat brand is famous for its crystal but illumination is one of the principle design concepts at the hotel. (Eric Laignel/Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York via AP)

"We want you to look at the space, but there is another layer, and we want you to look again," says Stoeckl.

This undated image provided by Loews Hotels shows a guest room at Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. Loews launched a campaign of short how-to videos called "Loews Knows" to share tips from the hotel's expert staff on decorating, cleaning, entertaining and more. Many aspects of how hotels are designed and run can be brought into the home environment to create that serene, inviting feeling that you get when you walk into a beautiful hotel room. (Loews Hotels via AP)

PAINTING WITH LIGHT

Baccarat is not just a famous brand of French crystal. There's also the Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York, across from the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan. Chandeliers, glassware and artwork made from Baccarat crystal are hallmarks of the hotel decor, but so is lighting. "The idea of illumination is one of the central reasons why we created the hotel," says Kemper Hyers, head of design for Starwood Capital Group, which created the hotel.

Yet lighting is sometimes overlooked in home design. Lighting your home isn't just about finding the perfect lamp, Hyers says. It's also about "painting with light. How do I bring this room to light?"

Some tips:

This March 8 photo shows an abstract work of art comprised entirely of red buttons hanging in a lobby area of the Renaissance Hotel in Manhattan. The hotel's design concept uses artwork and other touches to surprise and delight guests, with many of the items themed on the Garment District where the hotel is located. The hotel is the flagship property for Marriott's Renaissance brand and it opens this month. (AP Photos/Beth J. Harpaz)

--Experiment with tape embedded with LED lights. It's inexpensive, easy to apply and remove, and widely available. The tape is not only handy for illuminating a shelf or dark corner, but it can also light a wall behind a piece of furniture or spotlight a work of art.

--When you buy LED bulbs, "don't go any cooler than 2700 warm white," says Hyers, referring to the numerical scale used to measure bulb color. The higher the number, the whiter and cooler the light.

--Bulb design improves every few months, so look for the latest options and "play with a mix of bulbs." You can even buy LED bulbs shaped like classic "Edison bulbs with the long filament, perfectly done," Hyers says.

This undated image provided by Loews Hotels shows the Pop Art Suite at Loews Regency New York in Manhattan. Loews launched a campaign of short how-to videos called "Loews Knows" to share tips from the hotel's expert staff on decorating, cleaning, entertaining and more. Many aspects of how hotels are designed and run can be brought into the home environment to create that serene, inviting feeling that you get when you walk into a beautiful hotel room. (Loews Hotels via AP)

CLEAN AND COZY

Loews Hotels launched a "Loews Knows" campaign in December offering short videos at www.loewshotels.com/loews-knows with "hints and hacks" from housekeeping managers and other staff. Topics range from cleaning to entertaining to creating the right ambience.

This March 8 photo shows a close-up view of red buttons used to make an abstract work of art that hangs in a lobby area of the Renaissance Hotel in Manhattan. The hotel's design concept uses artwork and other touches to surprise and delight guests, with many of the items themed on the Garment District where the hotel is located. The hotel is the flagship property for Marriott's Renaissance brand and it opens this month. (AP Photos/Beth J. Harpaz)

Some tips:

--For "insanely fluffy bed pillows," toss pillows in a dryer with a tennis ball.

--To dust "like a pro," use a microfiber cloth (avoid terry cloth). Spritz cleaning solution on the cloth (not on the surface you're dusting) and wipe in a circular motion from high to low.

--To create a cozy ambience for a relaxing bath, light a candle, add essential oils and Epsom salts to the water, and provide accessories, both functional and decorative: sponges, stones, body wash and handmade soap. Place a drink and book tubside, with a fluffy robe and slippers.

--To make a guest room welcoming, fold down covers, stand pillows up, put a bottle of water on one side and a glass of milk with cookies and sliced fruit on the other, close the shades and leave one light on by the bed.

--To remove crayon from walls, spray WD-40 and scrub vigorously with a rag or paper towel. To remove coffee stains from fabric, blot with light beer, club soda, white vinegar or baby wipes, then scrub with a toothbrush. To remove a red wine stain, soak a cloth in white wine and blot gently.

A second round of "Loews Knows" tips is expected this spring.