I caught the end of a new Gordon Ramsay show last night called Hotel Hell where he revamped a country inn — both restaurant and guest rooms. What intrigued me about this concept was that he was able to use many of the decorative elements in each room but still managed to make the rooms look updated.

Watching this mini makeover got me thinking about how we can improve our interior spaces in those places we need to rest and revitalize ourselves – the bedroom and the bathroom. Often makeovers or renovations can be huge, daunting tasks that can take months to complete and can cost thousands of dollars. They can also be quick and satisfying day excursions to your favorite store or a weekend at an amazing hotel in the ‘big’ city while you shop to your heart’s content.

With bedrooms and bathrooms it’s all about the linens and the lighting. Everything else fades away when you fall into satiny sheets and rest your soul on soft pillows and spongy memory foam mattress toppers. You don’t even have to buy a new mattress (although if yours is more than 10 years old – consider it), there is a great selection of memory foam and feather toppers for your existing mattress which make them a dream to sleep on. Silk is the new wonder fill for duvets and pillows; it is a natural temperature regulator and is light as air to sleep under.

A step further in your bedroom is light control with the right selection of window coverings. Consider an overlay of drapery to provide the ultimate cocooning sensation when you fall asleep. If you can block outside noise and light you will have a much better sleep, consider an inexpensive ipod docking station to lull you to sleep with Norah Jones and instrumental jazz.

Take a day for yourself and give your favorite bathroom a makeover without making a mess. New towels are just the most fantastic present you can give yourself and I know many of us have ratty, tattered and mismatched ones on our shelves. I know of towels that I have had for over 20 years! I find the best thing about going to a hotel is the fresh linens and the white towels.

How amazing would it be to open your linen closes to see rows of pure white towels shining at you? That is a silly dream of mine…the fluffiest whitest towels all stacked, folded and waiting for my use.

So indulge for a moment, give yourself a gift of superior linens in the softest textures you can find. Launder them with care and use them on those nights you desire a full and restful sleep – which is probably every night! Make sure your room is tidy and cool and ready for you when you are out of your warm bubble bath, wrapped in your fluffy white towel (and while you’re at it, add a matching robe!). You are now ready to sink into your indulgent comfortable bed and dream yourself into a soul rejuvenating rest. What makeover could give you this kind of satisfaction in so little time?

Kim Lewis is an interior designer in Red Deer with Carpet Colour Centre. Contact her at 403-343-7711 ext 227 or email her at klewis@carpetcolourcentre.com.