An expert reveals the secrets to five-star hotel sleep.
Conventional wisdom has it that nobody sleeps particularly well in hotels. The pillow is too soft, the room too warm, the curtains never quite meet in the middle, and there’s always an overenthusiastic air-conditioning system determined to remind you it’s there (cue: a serious case of man flu).
That may be true of many hotels. But not for travelers who stay in the world’s best suites. Such guests stay at properties that treat an exceptional night’s sleep as every bit as important as an excellent concierge or a Michelin-starred restaurant. “Luxury hotels approach bedding very differently from most people shopping for their homes,” says Catherine Morris, managing director of luxury UK bedding brands Tielle and Tradelinens, whose clients include properties such as The Langham, The Grove, and Grantley Hall.
“It’s not about following trends or creating a fast-fashion bedroom aesthetic; it’s about investing in products that will deliver the same exceptional sleep experience night after night, often after hundreds of washes,” she says.
The good news is that many of a five-star hotel’s sleep principles translate surprisingly well to a private residence. Below, Morris shares the hotel habits worth borrowing.
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What bed linen should I buy?
When it comes to hotel-quality bedding, simplicity tends to win out. The luxury hotels Morris works with typically choose “100 percent long-staple cotton in either a 300 or 400 thread count sateen weave. That combination strikes a balance between softness, durability, and practicality.”
Thread count, however, remains one of the most misunderstood measures of quality. “There’s still a misconception that the highest thread count automatically means the best quality, but that’s rarely the case,” says Morris. “The quality of the cotton fiber and the weave are far more important than the number on the label. A beautifully woven 300 thread count sheet made from long-staple cotton will almost always outperform a much higher thread count made from inferior fibers.” Think of it like wine or art. Bigger isn’t better; provenance matters most.
Hotels also favor sateen because it has a “lovely smooth finish with a subtle lustre that instantly looks luxurious, while standing up well to the demands of regular laundering,” Morris says.
See also: How Your Sleep Position Actually Affects Your Health
Okay, what about pillows?
While mattresses often receive the most attention when purchasing bedding, your pillow is arguably the most important element. “It supports your head and neck for seven or eight hours every night. The right pillow doesn’t just improve comfort – it can make a real difference to your posture and how you feel the next morning.” You’ve probably noticed that most hotels you stay in nowadays offer extensive pillow menus, because comfort is highly personal. Some guests prefer a softer, cloud-like pillow; others want firmer support.
Nadia Alibhai, an expert osteopath who currently has a residence at the Biome Spa at Corinthia London, advises that choosing the right pillow depends on your usual sleep position. «If a person sleeps on their side, they want to make sure that they’re bridging the gap between the air and their shoulder. This could be with one thick pillow or two thin pillows,» she advises. Back sleepers can get away with «one or no pillows to bring their head back in alignment with the rest of their body.» Meanwhile tummy or front sleepers should opt for a «very thin pillow, or no pillow, or even place one under their tummy to help support their lower back.»
Morris also recommends replacing your pillows frequently, as “high-quality natural fill pillows can last around 1000 sleeps.»
What temperature should my room be?
Temperature plays an equally important role in hotel suites, and should be considered part of the evening preparation, alongside lighting, curtains, and room presentation.
“Our core body temperature naturally drops as we fall asleep, and most sleep experts recommend keeping bedrooms somewhere between 60.8°F to 64.4°F,” says Morris. “If we’re too warm, we’re much more likely to wake during the night.”
She also advises opting for natural bedding materials to “allow air to circulate and moisture to escape naturally, rather than trapping heat, for a sleeping environment that stays consistent throughout the night.”
See also: The 10-Hour ‘Non-Diet’ That Improves Sleep, Energy, and Metabolism
The little tricks that hotels never skip
Morris is a strong fan of the traditional flat sheet, a detail many people have abandoned in favor of convenience, largely because it takes longer to make a bed properly. But in top hotels it remains a non-negotiable. “I’m a huge advocate of using a flat sheet,” she says. “It creates a beautifully smooth sleeping surface and gives the bed that unmistakable luxury hotel finish.” If your home is run to hotel standards by estate managers, this is a small addition that makes a disproportionate difference to your sleep experience.
There is also the matter of what lies beneath the linen. For mattresses, look to brands like Hästens that handmake beds in Sweden from horsehair, cotton, wool, and flax, or British brands Vispring and Savoir. A quality mattress topper can also transform the feel of a bed by adding another layer of comfort and helping distribute weight more evenly, creating a “cloud-like feeling people often associate with luxury hotels,” says Morris.
Then there’s the morning routine. Before your bed is dressed for the day, Morris recommends folding the duvet back for around 20 minutes to allow moisture to evaporate naturally. Pillows should be fluffed, the bedding aired and only then should the bed be made. «It keeps everything fresher and helps your bedding last longer,» she says.
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