The Rise of Homeware Hotels

Its success then spawned a ‘boatel’ in London called The Boathouse. The upcycled 60-footer, or as they call it, ‘An industrial-style barge turned contemporary bolthole’ is moored in the quaint canals of the city’s Little Venice district near Paddington Station, and features furniture and fixtures from MADE.com’s collection. The space can be rented as a place to stay, but it’s also popular as a venue for events and launches. They even include two bikes and a rowing boat to let you discover the neighbourhood.

Thousands of kilometres away in the sun-baked desert of California, Jonathan Adler’s Parker Palm Springs hotel answers the prayers of every guest who has coveted something they’ve seen in their room. That striking 1950s-style bed frame complete with luxurious linen? It's yours. The Caracas chandelier above your dining table? Just add it to your basket. Decorative objects, candles, furniture, bath accessories, rugs, pillows and more — you name it, you can have it delivered. While Adler has 30 traditional retail stores, nothing can beat the 360-degree brand immersion of the 144-room property, complete with his books to further inspire potential purchases.

The latest brand to get on the homeware hotel bandwagon is by far the most unlikely: Taco Bell. Also located in Palm Springs, the pop-up hotel opened for four days in August, with a decidedly tongue-in-cheek takeover called The Bell: A Taco Bell Hotel and Resort. The schtick was part homeware and merchandise, part exclusive eats, both perfect for the Instagram generation. You could get nail art, braids and haircuts, all Taco Bell-themed. Special merchandise included soft furnishings like a cushion emblazoned ‘Hot — I can't let you go’ or fashion like a Taco Bell bikini.

Of course, there was also room service with one-off exclusive meals and snacks that were only available during the pop-up, all of which could be paired by the Taco Bell sommelier. And, as if proof were needed of the huge attraction of homeware hotels, four nights of 70 rooms at The Bell all sold out within two minutes of launch.

With the wave of openings and pop-ups underlining the trend for homeware hotels, in addition to advances in technology making instant purchases even easier, there’s every chance that the next time you check in, you’ll end up at the checkout.