Ten tips for making your bed beautiful
The main bedroom in our Sherwood Apartment project featuring embroidered bedlinen and an Indian block print quilt to work with the custom bedhead, and cushions.
How do you make your bed look like those in magazines or in a 5 star hotel room? Why is it that you always have a good night’s sleep in a hotel room? Other than the block out curtains and sound proofing, it has to do with the good quality bedding and bedlinen and lots of layers of softness. Here are my top ten tips for making your bed beautiful and consequently lead to a good night’s sleep.
1. start with the basics
A good quality mattress is essential to a good night’s sleep and can also alleviate body pain, promote good posture, reduce allergies and contribute to improving your health. A good quality pillow will ensure it provides support and adds to a healthy night’s sleep. Abode Living offer a range of good quality pillows that are hand filled in Melbourne and offer an alteration service to get the right fit.
2. protect the good stuff
To prolong the life of your mattress and pillows, use mattress and pillow protectors. Mattress and Pillow protectors can also add to the comfort and help prevent allergies. When washing your protectors, hang them out on the line to get sun. Air your pillows in the sun once a month and vacuum your mattress and let it get some air before making the bed.
This bed in our Out of the Blue project has a boutique hotel feel with layers of bedlinen including natural linen sheets, a linen quilt, and linen doona cover in various shades of blue and a pink wool blanket to compliment the bedhead in peonies fabric by Christopher Farr Cloth.
3. only the best sheets will do
Whether you prefer cotton or natural linen sheets, choose the best quality sheets you can afford. European-quality fabrics will feel softer on the skin, last longer and wash better.
4. pile up the pillows
To dress the bed and give it that ‘hotel vibe’, I recommend using four pillows on your bed. Use matching or coordinating pillow cases that work back with your sheets and bedlinen or use contrasting colours and patterns depending on the look you want.
5. to iron or not to iron
If you cannot be bothered to iron your sheets, at least iron the top part of the top sheet which folds back and can be seen. If you choose natural linen sheets, these may just need a light press so they are not too crumpled looking. Do not put your sheets in the dryer - hang them on the line in the sun to kill dust mites and they will also be easier to iron or fold and smooth out.
Our Camp Hill House main bedroom features layers of bedlinen and custom furnishings in neutral tones and dusty pinks creating a warm and cosy bedroom for a good night’s sleep.
6.layer upon layer
Layering sheets, quilts, comforters and blankets allows you to adjust your bedding for the weather. Doonas, quilts and blankets made of natural fibres allows better breathability and comfort. For summer I recommend a cotton blanket and a lightweight cotton quilt. For winter, I recommend a cotton or wool blanket depending on the climate and a doona. Some people prefer a doona with no top sheet. If this is the case, layer the blanket on top of the doona at the end of the bed. Try Bemboka for the perfect weight blankets and quilts made in natural materials.
7. bed making 101
Once you have put the mattress cover and the bottom sheet on, place the top sheet on the bed and pull it up to the top of the mattress. Place the cotton or wool blanket on top of the sheet. Fold back both the sheet and blanket together a quarter of the way back so the top of the sheet is highlighted. Tuck in the sheets and blanket together at the base of the mattress using the hospital fold and tuck them in on the sides. The four pillows should sit at the top of the bed and the folded sheets just in front of the pillows. Layer the quilt or doona on the base of the bed about one third of the way up. Fold it in half or thirds depending how big it is.
8. fluff the cushions
You can use anywhere from 2 - 5 throw cushions depending on the size of your bed and the look you prefer. For a symmetrical look place the throw cushions centred on the bed with larger ones at the back and smaller ones in the front. Use good quality inserts and fluff them up to look full and plump.
9. all white vs colour
A classic look is to use neutral bedding including white sheets, a white cotton quilt and white pillow cases. Then add colour with custom cushions in a beautiful fabric and either a neutral or patterned colourful quilt on the end of the bed. For a more contemporary vibe, you could use colourful natural linen sheets in two colours, and a quilt in a contrasting or matching colour or colourful print.
10. start your day right
You can follow all of these tips and invest in good quality bedding and linen but you will not achieve this look and feel if you do not make your bed each day. Making your bed is a positive way to start your day and your bedroom will be a calm and beautiful place to come back to in the evening to retire for a good night’s sleep.
Below are some of my favourite go to places for good quality and beautiful bedding and bedlinen.
At Berkeley Interiors we can help you to decorate all the special rooms in your home including your bedroom and specialise in sourcing the furniture, lighting, rugs, making custom furnishings, selecting artwork, and styling your spaces including the final touches such as bedlinen and accessories.