How to Sleep Like You're in a Hotel: 6 Easy Upgrades for Your Bedroom

There's something about a hotel bed. You sink into it, everything feels fresh, the pillows are perfectly arranged, and somehow you sleep better than you do at home — even in an unfamiliar city.

It's not magic. Hotels invest in specific bedding layers, quality materials, and a deliberately neutral environment optimized for sleep. The good news: most of what they do can be replicated at home without a hotel-sized budget.

Here are six practical upgrades that actually make a difference.

1. Start with the Right Mattress

This is the foundation of everything. Hotels don't use cheap mattresses — they use durable, medium-firmness mattresses designed to work for a wide range of body types and sleep styles. Brands like Tempur-Pedic and Chattam & Wells are used in high-end hotels, and they're available at LA Mattress Store.

If you're waking up sore or tossing and turning, no amount of nice sheets will fix that. A mattress that properly supports your spine and reduces pressure points is the single biggest upgrade you can make.

What to look for: Medium firmness works for most people and most sleeping positions. If you sleep on your side, lean toward medium-soft. Back sleepers often do well with medium-firm. When in doubt, come test a few options in person at one of our showrooms — bring your partner if you share the bed.

Not ready to replace the whole mattress? Upgrade #2 can help bridge the gap.

2. Add a Quality Mattress Topper

A good mattress topper can transform a mattress that's slightly too firm or starting to show its age. Hotels often layer toppers over their base mattresses for exactly this reason — it adds cushion and extends the feel of the mattress.

The best toppers for a hotel-like feel:

• Memory foam topper (2–3 inches): Adds contouring and pressure relief. Best if your current mattress is too firm.
• Latex topper: More responsive than memory foam, sleeps cooler, good bounce without excessive sinkage.
• Wool topper: Natural temperature regulation — warmer in winter, cooler in summer. A bit of a niche choice but excellent for comfort and breathability.

What won't work: A topper can improve a mattress that's still structurally sound but isn't quite right for you. It can't fix a mattress that's sagging, broken down, or over 10 years old. If your mattress has visible dips or body impressions deeper than an inch, you need a new mattress — not a topper.

3. Layer a Featherbed

A featherbed is a thick, soft pad filled with down or down-alternative that sits between your mattress (or topper) and your sheets. Many luxury hotels use these as a third comfort layer — and it's one of the most underrated home sleep upgrades.

The effect: it adds a plush, enveloping softness right at skin level, without changing the underlying support of your mattress. It feels like you're floating on a cloud rather than lying on a surface.

Timing tip: Featherbeds go on sale during seasonal transitions (spring and fall) when retailers rotate inventory. End-of-season sales can get you a quality featherbed at a significant discount.

4. Use a Down or Down-Alternative Comforter

Hotel bedding feels different partly because of the comforter. High-end hotels use real down comforters — lightweight but incredibly warm, with a fluffy loft that adds to the visual luxury of a well-made bed.

If you're allergic to down or prefer not to use animal products, down-alternative comforters have gotten remarkably good. Look for ones with a high fill power rating (600+ for a noticeably fluffy feel) and a tight-weave cover that prevents fill from poking through.

For LA's climate: A lightweight or summer-weight down comforter works better year-round here than a heavy winter comforter. The goal is the feel and visual loft, not maximum warmth — LA nights don't demand that.

5. Add More (and Better) Pillows

Hotel beds are stacked with pillows — and not just for decoration. Having multiple pillows gives you options: one under your head, one to support your knees or back, others propped around you for that nest-like feeling.

For functional support, the right pillow depends on how you sleep:

• Side sleepers: Need a higher loft pillow to fill the gap between shoulder and ear. Look for firm options.
• Back sleepers: Medium loft, supportive but not too high, to keep the neck from craning forward.
• Stomach sleepers: Low or no pillow under the head to avoid neck strain.

For the "hotel display" look, use two European square pillows behind your sleeping pillows and add two standard sleeping pillows in front. Bonus points for matching cases in a crisp white or neutral tone.

Browse our selection of quality pillows — we carry options in different fills and firmness levels.

6. Invest in High-Quality Sheets

Hotel sheets feel different because they are different. Most luxury hotels use 300–400 thread count cotton sheets — high enough for a soft, smooth feel, but not so high that they trap heat (very high thread counts can actually feel less breathable).

What to look for:

• Material: 100% cotton or cotton-blend. Percale (crisp, cool) or sateen (smooth, slightly warmer) are the two main weaves. Hotels typically use percale for breathability.
• Thread count: 300–400 hits the sweet spot. Beyond 400, you're often paying for marketing more than quality.
• Fit: Deep-pocket sheets that actually fit your mattress depth — especially important with a topper added.

Browse our sheet collection — we carry options at various price points that meet or exceed the quality of typical hotel bedding.

The Full Picture

The complete hotel-bed stack, from bottom to top:

1. Good mattress (medium firmness, quality construction)
2. Mattress topper (2–3 inches, memory foam or latex)
3. Featherbed or plush pad
4. Fitted sheet (300–400 TC cotton)
5. Top sheet
6. Down or down-alternative comforter
7. Multiple quality pillows

You don't need to do all of this at once. Start with the mattress if it's due for replacement — that's where you'll feel the biggest difference. Layer in a topper and better sheets next. Add the featherbed and comforter when budget allows.

The goal is a bed you actually look forward to getting into at the end of the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What mattress do hotels use?

Most mid-to-high-end hotels use medium-firmness hybrid or innerspring mattresses from brands like Tempur-Pedic, Serta, or Simmons. The priority is durability and versatility — mattresses that work for most guests. For home use, you can tailor the choice to your specific needs rather than designing for the average person.

What thread count do hotels use for sheets?

Most luxury hotels use 300–400 thread count cotton sheets. The sweet spot is comfort without sacrificing breathability. Very high thread counts (600+) aren't necessarily better and can feel heavier and less breathable in warmer climates like Los Angeles.

Is a mattress topper worth it?

If your mattress is structurally sound but slightly off for your comfort preferences, yes. A 2–3 inch memory foam or latex topper can meaningfully improve how a mattress feels. If your mattress is saggy or over 10 years old, a topper won't solve the underlying issue.

How do I keep my bed looking neat like a hotel?

Hospital corners on the fitted sheet, a flat top sheet folded back cleanly, and a few decorative pillows propped against the headboard go a long way. Keeping bedding in whites, creams, or other neutrals also helps create that clean, hotel-room visual effect.

Ready to Upgrade Your Sleep?

Start with the right mattress — everything else builds from there. Come into any of our five Los Angeles showrooms to test options in person, or browse our full selection online. We offer flexible financing and every mattress purchase comes with our 120-night comfort guarantee.

Shop mattresses | Shop mattress toppers | Shop pillows | Shop sheets | Find a showroom