Staycation in Style: How to Make Home Feel Like a Boutique Retreat

Samuel J TanDIY & Crafts, Interior Design 0

With the rising costs of travel and the growing desire to slow down, more Americans are embracing the staycation—and doing it in serious style. You don’t have to leave your home (or even your zip code) to enjoy all the relaxation and indulgence of a boutique getaway. With a few thoughtful upgrades, you can transform your home into a personal retreat that delivers comfort, calm, and just the right dose of everyday luxury.

From plush bedding to spa-inspired bathrooms and cozy outdoor escapes, this guide will show you how to bring that five-star feeling home—without the hotel bill.

This article is also a practical post for those looking to turn their second home into an AirBnB holiday let. Create a home away from home and an invite space with instagram worthy boutique styles to market your holiday rental.

8 Easy Steps to Turn Your Home into a Boutique Retreat

Here is a quick look at what we have in store for you.

Easy Steps	What to Do	Suggested Products / Ideas
1. Start with a Clean Slate	Declutter, deep clean, open windows	Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, Method, Seventh Generation cleaners; fresh flowers, bowl of lemons
2. Upgrade Bedding & Linens	Use hotel-quality sheets, throws, pillow spray	Brooklinen, Parachute, Boll & Branch sheets; This Works Sleep Spray
3. Spa-Inspired Bathroom	Add plush towels, candles, bath tray, luxe toiletries	Yankee Candle, Aesop, Native, Dr. Teal’s; essential oil diffusers
4. Self-Serve Bar or Breakfast Nook	Set up a morning station or cocktail corner	French press, Nespresso, bar cart, citrus bowl, pretty mugs or glassware
5. Mood Lighting	Warm lighting, string lights, smart bulbs, lanterns	Philips Hue, GE Cync, LIFX bulbs, flameless LED candles
6. Outdoor Escape	Create a cozy patio or balcony retreat	Outdoor rug, floor cushions, string lights, fire pit, citronella candles
7. Plan Memorable Experiences	Schedule themed nights, spa day, outdoor dinners	Movie night, DIY face masks, global cooking night, mindfulness time
8. Boutique Hotel Styling	Declutter surfaces, add signature scents, match linens	Scented candles, vases, glass carafes, folded throws, matching towels

1. Start with a Clean Slate

Before adding any luxury touches, it helps to begin with a fresh canvas. Clear away clutter, give your surfaces a deep clean, and open the windows to let in fresh air. Use eco-friendly cleaning products like Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, Seventh Generation, or Method to refresh your space without harsh chemicals. Adding fresh flowers or a few leafy stems from your yard instantly lifts a room and brings nature indoors. Even a bowl of lemons on the counter or a new houseplant can make the space feel calmer and more intentional.

2. Upgrade Your Bedding and Linens

One of the fastest ways to make your bedroom feel like a high-end hotel is by investing in good-quality bedding. Look for buttery-soft sheets from brands like Brooklinen, Parachute, or Boll & Branch, which offer a variety of materials including sateen, percale, and linen. Add a plush duvet, decorative pillows, and a textured throw to layer in coziness and style. For that finishing touch, spritz your pillows with a lavender or eucalyptus pillow mist—brands like This Works or Aura Cacia offer relaxing blends designed for sleep. The goal is to create a bed so inviting; you look forward to climbing into it each night.

3, Turn Your Bathroom into a Spa Sanctuary

You don’t need a jacuzzi tub to feel like you’ve stepped into a spa. Start with fluffy white towels, a soft bathrobe, and maybe even a pair of hotel-style slippers. Add a bath tray across the tub so you can read, sip wine, or watch something while you soak. Scented candles from Yankee Candle, Homesick, or P.F. Candle Co. bring a calming glow and your favorite fragrance, while an essential oil diffuser can fill the air with calming lavender, eucalyptus, or citrus blends. Consider upgrading your toiletries with self-care favorites from Aesop, Native, or Dr. Teal’s—even a few luxe touches can elevate your daily routine.

4. Set Up a Self-Serve Bar or Breakfast Nook

Just like a boutique hotel offers delightful morning treats or a cozy evening cocktail hour, you can recreate that vibe at home with a simple self-serve setup. For mornings, style a breakfast tray or cart with your favorite coffee beans, a Moke Pot, French press or Nespresso machine, pastries, granola, and fresh fruit.

In the evenings, transform a sideboard or bar cart into a mini cocktail station. Include your favorite spirits—like local bourbon, small-batch gin, or a bottle of prosecco—along with mixers, garnishes, and pretty glassware. Add a citrus bowl, a cocktail shaker, and some cloth napkins to complete the look. Whether you’re making your morning latte or a Friday night spritz, the ritual alone feels indulgent.

Gin tonic cocktails Cocktail Station at Home

5. Use Lighting to Set the Mood

Lighting is one of the easiest ways to shift the atmosphere of a room from every day to enchanting. Start by replacing any harsh, cool-toned bulbs with warm white LEDs for a softer, more relaxing glow. Add string lights to headboards, curtain rods, or outdoor fences to create a twinkling ambiance.

illuminated glass hanging lights at home

Flameless candles or lanterns placed in corners or on windowsills can add cozy pockets of light with no fire risk. For even more control, use smart bulbs like Philips Hue, LIFX, or GE Cync, which allow you to adjust brightness and color tone from your phone. Want your bedroom to feel like a spa by day and a moody lounge by night? A lighting change can do just that.

6. Create an Outdoor Escape

If you have access to any outdoor space—be it a balcony, patio, or backyard—it can become your staycation haven with just a few simple updates. Roll out an outdoor rug, add floor cushions or lounge chairs, and hang up some weatherproof string lights. A fire pit (real or propane) or tabletop chiminea adds warmth and ambience for evening relaxation.

candles knitted elements and books on a wooden outdoor

Add citronella candles or a bug-repelling essential oil diffuser to keep pests away, and include cozy touches like throw blankets or an outdoor speaker for background music. Whether you’re sipping iced tea with a book or enjoying dinner alfresco, a thoughtfully styled outdoor area can feel like a world away from your everyday routine.

7. Plan Memorable Experiences at Home

A true boutique retreat isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about the experience. Design a weekend itinerary filled with activities that bring joy, relaxation, and novelty. Host a themed movie night with popcorn and cocktails (think “French Film Friday” or “Sunday Rom-Com Marathon”), indulge in a DIY spa day with facials and foot soaks, or treat yourself to a new recipe for dinner followed by dessert under the stars.

If you’re craving culture, visit a local museum or art gallery, then return home for a curated cheese board and wine. Your staycation can also include mindful rituals like journaling, yoga, or reading a book that’s been sitting on your shelf. Whatever you choose, make it intentional—it’s not just time off, it’s time for you.

8. Style Like a Boutique Hotel

Finally, pull everything together with boutique-level styling. Clear clutter from nightstands and coffee tables, and replace it with intentional touches: a carafe of water and glass, a vase of fresh flowers, a book stack, or a scented candle. Use matching towels, tidy up your entryway with a tray or bowl for keys, and fold throws neatly across the end of your bed or sofa.

Beautiful bouquet of flowers in vase on bedroom

Scent plays a big role in boutique hotel design, so use a signature fragrance for each room—perhaps lavender in the bedroom, citrus in the kitchen, and cedarwood in the living area. These details might seem small, but they add up to a home that feels cohesive, calming, and ready for a stylish reset. You can bring spring scents into your home with candles, room sprays or reed diffusers to refresh your space whatever the season outside.

Make Every Day Feel Like a Getaway

You don’t need a plane ticket or a passport to experience the feeling of escape. With a little creativity and intention, your home can become the most relaxing place you know—a boutique retreat tailored exactly to your taste, routine, and pace. Staycations aren’t second best—they’re a chance to reconnect with what makes you feel good, right where you are. So fluff those pillows, light that candle, pour a glass of something you love, and enjoy the best kind of holiday: the one where you never have to leave home.