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Your bed is the focal point of the room – the hero – so it deserves some attention when it comes to styling. Your goal should be to make the bed supremely comfortable and as visually beautiful as it can be.
Start with the right base – a beautifully made bed. That begins with a mattress that suits you in the level of firmness and support that you find comfortable, a mattress protector that does just that – protects the investment you have made in your mattress. Approximately 30% of our lives are spent in bed – so, it’s worth investing in both a good mattress and bed linen. When choosing bed linen, opt for cotton and linen as they are breathable, natural fabrics so are the best choices for comfortable sleeping.
After you’ve put on the mattress protector, it’s time for a fitted sheet, and now you have the perfect base to build the rest of the bed. Many people shun flat sheets, but we love them as they’re a perfect weight for a hot summer night when you don’t need a quilt, but they also add another styling element. Lie the flat sheet face down (so the fold back will be facing the right way) tuck it in at the bottom of the bed with our favourite hospital corners and leave as much as possible at the top of the bed, so you can have a generous turn down over the quilt – this is particularly important when you are using a different colour and pattern than the quilt cover. Your sheets and pillowcases can all be matching or it’s a great opportunity to introduce another colour or even a pattern with a flat sheet and two pillowcases in a different colour to the fitted sheet and the two other pillowcases. We sell our sheets individually and not as a sheet set, so you can use a flat sheet if you want but it also gives you greater freedom when choosing colours to mix and match.
Before putting the quilt inside the cover, fluff it up so when it goes into the quilt cover it looks plump and inviting on the bed. A tip that we like is to use a quilt and cover in one size larger than your bed (so, you’d use a king sized quilt on a queen sized bed) this will give more of an overhang, especially on a bed with a deep mattress - it looks a lot more generous while giving a tidier appearance to the sides of the bed.
WHAT KINDS OF PILLOWS GO ON A BED?
Pillows do double duty – they provide support for your head and neck while sleeping but also enhance the look of your bed. A couple of extra pillows allow you to sit up comfortably and read in bed, but they also balance the look of the bed. On a queen or king sized bed, allow two “sleeping” pillows in a standard size, then you can go with two other standard size pillows and also add two Euro pillows.
HOW TO STYLE A BED WITH CUSHIONS AND PILLOWS
When arranging decorative pillows and cushions on your bed, the pillow arrangement works best when you mix sizes, shapes, and textures which adds depth and interest. Start with the largest at the back (against the wall or headboard) and work forward with decreasing sizes, finishing with two small throw pillows or one little accent pillow in the middle.
How many cushions and pillows are too many? That is entirely up to you but try not to bring the pillow and cushion arrangement too far down the bed – no more than a third of the way down the bed seems to work best visually.
If you have busy mornings trying to get out of the house, and you think all the pillows and cushions are going to take too long to arrange – keep your bed more minimal but go all out when you set up the guest room and you’ll be able to enjoy looking at it every time you pass the room.
HOW TO DRESS A BED
Layering adds depth and texture to your bed. Add a beautiful coverlet– it can provide extra warmth or be used instead of a quilt in warmer weather. It can also introduce a pattern, another colour or extra texture - it’s a versatile investment. Interior designers like it folded across the bottom third of the bed but you can also pull it up, so it sits just under the bedding pillows. Adding matching shams on the standard or euro pillows can complete the look by tying in the bottom third of the bed with the top third.
For extra texture and colour – add a throw that can be folded neatly across the coverlet or quilt at the bottom of the bed or draped across the bed for a more casual, organic look.
Ensure everything is clean and neat, iron out any unwanted creases, fluff pillows and cushions and smooth out any wrinkles in the bedding to complete your beautifully made and carefully styled bed.
It is your bedroom, so select colours and accessories that you love and complement the décor style you want to live with.
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