Making and styling a bed may appear to be a mundane task, but this daily ritual has the potential to transform your bedroom into a peaceful space and set the tone for a good night’s sleep. Aside from aesthetics, making and styling a bed demonstrates attention to detail and personal style, resulting in a space that feels organized and inviting. Whether you choose high-quality underlayers or arrange your throw pillows, these small decisions can have a significant impact on how you feel and live in your bedroom.
Mastering the art of bedmaking and styling entails not only creating a visually appealing room but also cultivating a peaceful and welcoming environment that promotes rest and rejuvenation.
Why Should You Make and Style a Bed Daily?
Many organization professionals and home experts tout the benefits of making your bed every day. This is because this simple step will set the tone for your room and mood throughout the day. Making your bed will instantly make your room feel more organized and inviting, providing a sense of accomplishment and order from the start. A well-styled bed will also improve the aesthetics of your space.
Making your bed will help protect the underlayer of bedding from dust and debris, making your sleeping environment more sanitary. A made bed will also reduce the number of wrinkles, lumps, and creases in the bed, making it a more comfortable place to sleep.
Making your bed on a daily basis ensures that you are always prepared to open your room to friends and guests. It is unlikely that you will do so frequently, but you will be prepared if the opportunity arises.
Elements of a Made Bed
You can create a well-made and stylish bed that enhances the comfort and appearance of your room by thoughtfully layering and arranging these fundamental bed-making elements.
Bed Skirt
A bed skirt, also known as a dust ruffle, is a fabric panel that hangs down from the bottom of your bed or right above the box spring to just above the floor. A bed skirt is not strictly necessary for a well-made bed, but it does have some benefits, both aesthetically and practically, if the style of your bed and room allow for one.
One of the primary purposes of a bed skirt is aesthetic; these hide the open area below the bed and make your bed look more refined and professionally styled. This feature is especially useful if you dislike your bed legs or have under-the-bed storage that you want to conceal.
Bed skirts also reduce the amount of dust and debris that can accumulate beneath the bed. This will help to create a more sanitary sleep environment, which is especially important for people who have dust sensitivities or allergies.
Mattress Cover/Pad
A mattress cover, also known as a pad, is a fundamental component of your bed. These are designed to protect your mattress from spills, dust, stains, and allergens. Even the most basic mattress covers can extend the life of your mattress. These are particularly helpful for children’s mattresses, where accidents are more frequent, or if the sleeper suffers from dust allergies.
Some mattress toppers also provide added comfort through extra padding, pressure point relief, and even temperature regulation. These can help extend the life of an old mattress, or if your mattress is too firm or soft for your comfort.
Sheets
Your sheets can make or break your sleeping experience because they are the bedding feature that has the most contact with your skin. Natural fiber sheets are recommended by sleep experts because they are more comfortable, breathable, and sustainable.
- Cotton Sheets: Cotton is the most widely used natural material for sheets. It produces soft, breathable sheets that are less expensive than other natural fibers. Cotton sheets come in a variety of weaves, including percale, sateen, and Egyptian cotton. Percale sheets are crisp and cool, while sateen sheets are soft and silky. Egyptian cotton sheets are soft and long-lasting.
- Linen Sheets: Linen has become popular because of its breathability. Linen sheets often have a rougher texture than cotton but become softer with washing. These are excellent for hot sleepers.
- Hemp Sheets: Hemp is another natural fiber that is now being utilized for sheets. They are sustainable, versatile, and provide a soft sleeping surface. These also soften each wash.
- Bamboo Sheets: Bamboo sheets are known for their silky, smooth feel. These are breathable and highly sustainable. They are also naturally hypoallergenic.
Blanket
Blankets are typically made from soft, insulating materials. These are an optional bedding feature that, if used, is layered between the sheets and the top cover. You may want to add a blanket into your bedding mix during the cold months. Consider blankets made of natural materials such as cotton or wool, as well as synthetic materials like polyester blends.
Coverlet or Quilt
A quilt or coverlet often serves as the top layer of a bed, providing the most impact on the style and color palette of the bedding. Coverlets are lightweight bed covers that often have a textured or quilted appearance. These are good summer bedding options. Quilts have a denser and heavier texture. They feature multiple layers of fabric stitched together, with batting in between.
Duvet
A duvet is a soft and fluffy blanket filled with down, feathers, or synthetic fibers. Duvets most often feature covers, which allow you to remove them to wash or to change as necessary. Duvets can be utilized as the top layer on a bed, but most professionals use duvets to fold at the end of the bed. This gives the bed a luxurious feel and allows sleepers to pull it up or not, depending on their comfort.
Pillows
Pillows add the finishing touch to making and styling a bed. Pillows come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and fills to suit sleepers and stylistic preferences. There are two main types of pillows that you need for a professional-looking styled bed: sleeping pillows and decorative pillows.
Sleeping pillows provide support for the head and neck while sleeping. Standard pillows work for twin through queen beds. King-sized pillows are necessary for king beds, as standard pillows will look too small. Experts recommend at least two sleeping pillows per sleeper so that you can layer them when you are sitting up in bed. For the bottom sleeping pillow, choose a filling that works for your sleeping position. Select a firmer option for the upper sleeping pillow so that it aptly fills out the pillow case for the best presentation.
Decorative pillows enhance the color and texture of the bed’s surface. Consider different sizes and shapes of decorative pillows, including square, rectangular, circle, lumbar, and bolster pillows. Decorative pillows require the ideal balance of firmness and fluff, which can be achieved with fillings made of down, feathers, or alternatives.
Step by Step Guide for How to Make and Style a Bed
Follow these simple steps to create a well-styled bed. Feel free to adjust the making and styling elements to suit your personal preferences, style, and bed frame.
- Gather and Prepare Your Bed Making Essentials
Gather your bedding essentials so that you can easily assemble them in one session. Wash any elements that you can to ensure that they are as clean and allergen free as possible. Iron any elements that have become wrinkled in the dryer, paying special attention to your pillow cases. This step is not strictly necessary, but it will help your bed look more crisp and professional.
- Complete the Underlayers
Begin by dressing your bed with a bed skirt, if you are going to use one. Fit and tuck the bed skirt until it hovers just above the floor. Next, protect your mattress with the cover or topper. Add your fitted sheet, pulling each sheet corner so that the elastic goes snugly over each corner of the mattress. Lay your flat sheet evenly over the fitted sheet, tucking the bottom and sides of the sheet under the mattress for the most tailored look.
- Add the Quilt or Coverlet
Place a quilt or coverlet on the surface of the bed. Choose this topping option according to the season or your own sleeping temperature preferences. You can either tuck the quilt or coverlet under the mattress with the sheets or allow it to hang freely. Most experts recommend that your coverlet or quilt cover the sides of the mattress and then hang at least 2-3 inches to cover the box spring.
- Dress the Bottom of the Bed with a Duvet
Fold a duvet or another fluffy blanket option at the end of the bed. Experiment with different folding sizes. Some designers fold the lower blanket in half so that it covers a significant portion of the bed. Others fold them in thirds or fourths for a more subtle accent. You might choose to forgo this step during the hottest summer months or change out the duvet with a lighter throw or quilt.
- Accent with Pillows
Play around with the arrangement of sleeping and decorative pillows on the bed. Layer two sleeping pillows per sleeper on the bed. Add decorative pillows in different arrangements. Some people prefer minimal decorative pillows, while others love multiple pillows on the bed. Consider a number between 1 and 5 throw pillows for your bed.
Pro Tips for Styling a Bed
Never be afraid to experiment with different looks and combinations to create the most inviting and interesting bed for your room.
- Layer the Materials: Choose a variety of material options for your bedding to create bedding with texture and depth. For example, if you choose cotton sheets, add variety with linen throw pillows and a wool coverlet.
- Mix Pillow Sizes and Arrangements: Use decorative pillows in a variety of shapes and sizes to add interest to your bed. Arrange in symmetrical and asymmetrical arrangements to see what style suits you best.
- Experiment with Colors and Patterns: Choose a color palette and then find bedding and pillows with different patterns that work within the scheme. Vary the size, scale, and shape of the patterns, but unify them in the color scheme.
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