Choosing colours and fabrics

'Never use a fabric that you wouldn't want to sit on in the nude,' is the sound advice from top hotel designer Kit Kemp. And fabric is the simplest way to make a difference to a room. You can really afford to go to town with tactile finishes, luxurious materials and touch-me surfaces. Add a range of patterns and texture to create interest on walls with eye-catching papers, textural hessian, silks, wood panelling or even polished concrete or plaster.

Colour is, of course, key to creating a relaxing bedroom, and it's important to select a shade that works well both first thing in the morning and last thing at night. 'I always think it's a good idea to choose a muted shade of one of your favourite colours,' says Anita Kaushal, author of HomeFamilyLifeStyle. 'Paint & Paper Library does a fantastic range. I've used a colour called Wild Silk in lots of schemes – it's a greyish, antique pink that looks great in all types of light and isn't at all girlie.'

It's essential to feel something sumptuous underfoot, so choose either a plush, deep-pile carpet or top warm wood floorboards with a soft rug, but avoid fashionable floor coverings such as sisal or coir as they're too scratchy for a bedroom floor.

'We always use curtains in the guests' bedrooms as it finishes the look and gives a real sense of luxury,' says Kit Kemp. 'The look we create is soft, but not in a “swags and tails” way. Instead, it's more about tactile fabrics and texture.' However, custom-made curtains can be expensive, so choose yours with care. Other options include blinds (most top hotels have blackout blinds to ensure guests can take a nap at any time of the day), sheer curtains or even shutters to provide privacy.

Next - Essential bedroom storage