Several years ago, I started a nightly ritual in our home that I fondly call “Turndown Service.”
The inspiration came from a vacation I took years ago to a resort in Mexico where you were given a concierge to text whenever you needed something.
On the first day of the trip, I was introduced to the concept of “turndown service.”
After a day spent lounging by the pool, you could text the concierge to request turndown service. They’d send someone to reset the room—dim the lights, arrange the bed, and even draw a bubble bath on the patio if I wanted. Honestly, I still dream about that nightly ritual.
What seemed like the epitome of hospitality turned out to be a practice with much deeper roots. According to my research, turndown service dates back to the 19th century, when luxury hotels in Europe introduced it as a way to help guests unwind and retire for the night.
Back in reality—a world where I am, in fact, the concierge—I decided to start my own turndown service ritual, and it sort of just stuck. I loved the feeling of stepping into a space after it had been “turned down,” and I realized I could create that space for myself and others.
I even spotted the turndown service, perfectly summed up, while I was reading Wedding People (which was utterly fantastic):
“It is nice, this ritual. She likes that there is a specific phrase for it, this turning down of the room, this recognition that night is something we must prepare for. Because the night is hard.” -Alison Espach
Yes, this. Night is something we must prepare for.
We create some routines out of necessity, while others we have to work hard to establish. Then, some seem to come naturally—something deep within our spirit whispers, “I need this. This is important.”
That’s what turndown service is for me.
I go from room to room in the house, resetting and preparing for the night ahead.
I pick up and put away.
I tidy and wipe down.
I reset and set the space—turning on lamps, closing blinds, lighting candles.
We already love practicing hygge in our home, so this ritual feels like a natural extension. “Hygge is a Danish concept that captures a sense of coziness, contentment, and joy in life’s little pleasures. It’s not just a feeling—it’s a lifestyle. It’s about creating warmth and savoring simple moments like sitting by the fire, enjoying a cup of tea, or spending time with loved ones.
A Note on Adding New Routines
I have a lot of goals, visions, and “Heck, yeah, I want to do that” moments.
But if I’m being candid, left to my own devices, I wouldn’t follow through on any of them.
The power of routine-building and habit-tracking allows me to take these big, lofty visions and break them down into small, actionable steps every day.
(p.s. There is NO shame if you struggle to create routines and habits. That’s many of us, and there’s a better, shame-free way to make them.)
I added turndown service to my habit tracker back on January 1 and haven’t looked back since. Does that mean I’ve never missed a day? Nope. Consistency isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up continually (even when you miss days).
For years, I’d dreamed of creating a tidy, cozy home—one that radiated peace and calm, where the door was always open for others to seek solace from the storms of life. I’m the type of person who believes that blankets laid out, tea brewing, and candles glowing can help create that kind of space.
But the reality didn’t match the dream. I’d spend hours cleaning, only to feel like it was never enough. I kept thinking that a new lamp or another set of clear organizing cubes from Homegoods would be the solution.
It wasn’t until I created a routine that fit the dream that the dream became a reality. And here’s the best part: that routine didn’t cost me a dime. It only required my willingness to stick with it.
As I began designing and following through on this routine, those overwhelming feelings of chaos started to fade. Now, whenever I feel weighed down by the state of the house, I remind myself, “I’ll handle that later in turndown service.”
My Turndown Service Ritual
I don’t recall the exact first time I drafted my own turndown service, but I’m fairly certain I started with just a 15-minute window of time after dinner. I’m a strong believer in the power of 15 minutes, so I probably set a timer and began with a simple reset of the kitchen or living room after we finished our meal at the table.
I love to set the kitchen timer and tuck my phone away for the turndown service. I put on my sneakers—it’s a great way to get an extra bit of steps in, and I get to work.
Over time, the ritual has changed in a few ways:
- I typically do turndown service between 4 and 5 p.m, no longer after dinner. I like this time of day because it’s sandwiched between a busy work day and the evening ahead. Some might wonder why I don’t reserve it for a post-bedtime routine, but I believe the magic of the night—and the comfort it brings—is meant for all of us. You’re never too young to experience the coziness of turndown service.
- As for the routine itself, it’s longer now. When I slip into turndown mode at the end of the day, I set a 60-minute timer. I don’t always need the full hour, but there’s something about the span of that time that feels right. This ritual has oddly become my “me-time.” I look forward to it, knowing it’s my signal to slow down, step away from work, and reset for the night ahead.
- It’s also a chance to practice presence. To be honest, when I first started doing turndown service, I would plug into Crime Junkie or another podcast and multitask while tidying up. But lately, I’ve found that doing it unplugged brings me a sense of peace. It’s a time to pray, think, reflect, or just let my mind wander. It feels like a well-deserved pause from the noise of the day. Sometimes, I’ll play classical music or worship softly in the background while Novalee plays nearby as I go about my routine. It’s a flow of sorts.
Some of the Tasks I Tackle in Turndown Service include:
- Putting stuff away
- Clearing off countertops
- Closing blinds
- Making beds (have I mastered the habit of making the bed first thing in the morning? Nope. Am I still a functioning human? Yup.).
- Putting on lamps + lighting candles
- Folding blankets + clearing table tops
- Unboxing packages
- Making lunches for the next day
I try not to make this too rigid since every day has its own flow. These are just my go-to tasks. Some days I’ll add flowers to Novi’s room or tidy up my office. Other times, I might prep a care package or take a quiet moment for tea. It’s less about checking off a list and more about finding a rhythm. I don’t have a formal checklist for turndown service—my goal is simply to make the space ready for the night. Because the night is something we should prepare for. Because the night is hard. Because the night is the starting line for the day to come.
Quick Tips:
- For moms of little ones, this simple shift has been a total game-changer. I keep a wireframe basket tucked by our front door, and when it’s time for my turndown routine, I gather anything that needs to go upstairs—plastic dress-up shoes, magic wands, stray shoes by the door, even bills that need to make their way to my office—and toss them in. Once I’ve reset the downstairs, I bring the basket upstairs, unload it, and then repeat the process with anything that needs to come back down. This way, I’m not running up and down the stairs all evening, and as long as the clutter has a temporary home, it’s easy to drop everything where it belongs.
- For the items that don’t have a designated spot—mainly artwork, trinkets, and random art supplies—I’ll admit, I don’t have the mental energy to come up with storage solutions for everything. My daughter is a creative spirit, and if you have a little one like her, you know exactly what I mean by “things.” For now, I’ve repurposed a gift bag from my closet and use it to collect her latest creations and treasures. I leave it in her room, and in a few weeks, I’ll go through it and toss anything that hasn’t been used or touched. It’s a no-fuss way to manage the clutter without feeling overwhelmed.
- When I first introduced the idea of turndown service, I received a lot of questions about “What do you do about dinner?” I want to emphasize that what works for me and my family may not be the best approach for everyone. In our home, my husband does most of the cooking, but on the nights when I cook, I still do the turndown service before preparing dinner because I prefer to have a clean space. (Full transparency: I can get easily overwhelmed by cooking, so I usually go for a simple crockpot meal.) We typically eat dinner later and prefer having it after turndown service so we can relax while we eat, but it might make more sense for you to do it after dinner!
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