Lately it seems that I’m traveling a lot! After a while, all those hotel rooms start to look alike … and not a bit like home.

So, I decided to change that and pack a few little things that I can use to decorate my hotel room and make it feel a bit cozier.

1. Scarves bring color to a hotel room

Scarves are super packable, taking up very little space in your case. But they go a long way to personalizing an impersonal space, and bringing color to often drab or monotone surroundings. Tuck a couple of scarves in your suitcase and use them to cover tables, chairs, or nightstands. 

2. Flowers add life to a hotel room

OK so it’s not that easy to travel with flowers, unless you’re driving to your destination. When I drove a lot for a previous job, it was easy to put an arrangement in an inexpensive vase from the dollar store (that I could leave it behind if need be).  

If you’re flying, you can order yourself flowers from one of the national retailers and have them waiting for you on arrival. Be sure to add “Arriving Guest” on the mailing label. Or, pick up a bouquet from a local shop when you land, and ask the front desk to send up a vase. If the hotel has a banquet department, they should have something you can use. 

If you’re cruising, check with the cruise line about its floral offerings. You can often order a bouquet in the pre-cruise area of the line’s website. On a recent Princess cruise, I ordered a bouquet that turned out to be rather large and too full for my taste, and I was able to create an additional smaller bouquet for the nightstand. A cocktail glass from the minibar was a perfect vase for the smaller arrangement. Both arrangements lasted the entire 8 days of the cruise! (Tip: Pack a small pair of scissors in checked luggage to snip the stems after a few days. See these tips to make a bouquet last longer.)

3. A vanity tray helps organize travel toiletries

I have a silver tray on my vanity at home, and I thought, why should a hotel be any different? I like to keep my toiletries out on the counter when I travel, but it looks cluttered. So I found a lightweight metal tray at the dollar store that packs easily and brings a lot of style to the bathroom. To make the counter less cluttered and a little prettier, keep other necessities in your cosmetic or toiletry bag.

4. Candles make a hotel room feel cozier

Whether in a hotel or on a ship, burning a traditional candle is a no-no for obvious safety reasons. Why play with fire when there are so many flameless options available? Tuck a small (3×3) battery-operated pillar candle or a couple of flameless votives in your suitcase to add some cozy ambience. Pack the batteries separately so the candle doesn’t inadvertently light up and show up on the security scanners.

5. Photos bring your loved ones with you

If photos on your phone or computer aren’t enough, pack a couple of favorites to adorn your desk or nightstand when you’re away from loved ones. (Tip: Make a set of “travel photos” by copying the originals and using inexpensive frames for your favorites.)

As the saying goes, it’s the little things that can make you feel more at home when you’re on the road.

What little amenities do you like when you travel? How do you make a hotel feel like home? 

Bon voyage!