How to Dress a Bed: The Basics

It’s time to get real about sleep. Many of us doing do it well. Stress, diet, hormones all play a significant role in getting a proper rest. Experts have long touted the rewards for having a bedtime routine and the importance of quality sleep. While I regularly collapse into bed without eye cream or a special mantra, you can bet I notice when the sheets are fresh and the pillows are arranged just so – a reward at the end of a long day.

Inexpensive upgrades to your pillows, bedskirt or mattress pad can make all the difference in how your bedroom looks and, as a result, how it makes you feel. A few hundred bucks spent on sprucing up your bed goes a long way to upgrade your lifestyle. Plus, if you’re planning on putting your home on the market soon, know that several dozens of folks are going to be traipsing through your bedroom deciding if they’d like to make your bedroom their very own. But many folks don’t know the first thing about outfitting a bed properly, relying on mothers, lovers or friends to pull together a look that is about as personal as you can get. If this rings true for you or if you’re trying to educate an “adult” in your life, read on.

Bedding Material

All bedding that going to touch your skin should be made from natural fibers such as cotton, linen or bamboo. These materials may masquerade under  names such as Supima or flannel, so be sure to confirm the actual content before putting them in your cart. There are all sorts of new hi-tech moisture wicking and temperature regulated bedding on the market. If you’re a sweaty sleeper, these are definitely worth exploring. Still, I suggest you shy away from any that are not 100% natural materials.

Bedding Components

• Bedskirt. If you have a platform bed, or a bed with side rails (see diagram) you will not need a skirt. But, if you have a box spring under your mattress,  and any part of it is showing once the mattress is on top, you will need a box spring cover. Now, back to the skirt…. Not to stereotype, but if you’re a straight guy, I’d hedge on the side of less is more. A solid, a texture or a small pattern such as herringbone or check works well. The skirt should be “tailored” in style (not ruffled, unless you’re a girl – again, sorry for the stereotype.) Look for these words specifically on the package to save yourself a return. A substantial fabric is preferred for a quality bedskirt since it is less translucent and more forgiving in the wrinkle department. If you can, try to have it pressed (at the dry cleaner) before putting it on your bed. Here is a smart choice from Pottery Barn. 

• Boxspring cover. If you do not have a boxspring, skip this section. If you have a box spring, I implore you to not think your duvet or comforter is going to hide it. You need a boxspring cover. Because your delicate skin will not be touching this fabric, it doesn’t matter what type of material you choose. Again, something thick is the way to go so that you don’t see the satiny blue and pink roses embroidered on the sides of the beast. Personally, I like a diamond matelasse (mat-uh-luh-zay) or something simple like this. Both are equally lovely. The idea here is to make the visual of the box spring disappear. 

• Mattress pad. Skimping on a mattress pad is not something I recommend. Inexpensive mattress pads are garbage. Some mattresses have a fancy pillow top that will not accommodate a standard mattress pad. Know if your mattress has one before you shop. Select one that is made from natural materials and has good quality stitching, seams and fill. A mattress pad will provide extra cushion and, more importantly, protect your mattress. This one from Parachute home is great.

Parachute bedding styled by Will Taylor

• Fitted sheet. Many places sell ‘sheet sets’.  A sheet set includes a fitted (bottom) sheet, a top/flat sheet and a pair of pillow cases. If you are buying a sheet set for a twin bed, this set will most likely only include a single pillow case. When your bed is fully made, the top portion of this sheet will show beneath the standing pillows, so choose a pattern or color accordingly. I tend to keep this sheet light in color unless I am using a dark/bright skirt, in which case the fitted sheet and skirt can be similar in brightness. If starting from scratch, I recommend purchasing two fitted sheets. If you’re wanting a pattern, I suggest the two patterns coordinate or select one pattern and one solid. Both should be in a similar palette. We are building a wardrobe for your bed.

• Top/flat sheet. For many people, myself included, the top sheet is optional. The idea of the top sheet is two fold: 1. the pretty, decorative hem folds down over the rest of the bed covers, and 2. the sheet keeps the blanket or comforter on the upper layers from getting soiled. In my house, we expend minimum energy making the bed, so no top sheets here. But if you like a top sheet, be sure to put it face down when making the bed so that you can fold back the pretty top edge over the comforter or duvet. If you really want to take it up a level, have your top sheet pressed at the dry cleaners so when that edge is folded over, it looks crisp and tidy. Again, if starting with nothing, I recommend purchasing two flat sheets with the same style guidelines as above. If you’re not buying these pieces as part of a set, you are free to mix and match the patterns and colors as you wish. My goal is that all of your pieces be inter changeable in terms of style. One week you’ll use the patterned fitted sheet with a solid flat sheet and another week you’ll use the whole patterned set. 

Layers of bedding by John Robshaw

• Duvet vs comforter. Europeans think comforters are gross, and I can’t say they are wrong. To most Americans, a comforter is a quilted, puffy usually patterned bedspread that provides the warmth and usually sets a design theme for the bed. Because of its size and weight, it does not get washed that often. A duvet on the other hand, may offer the same level of warmth but is usually white and has an outer shell that is somewhat delicate and less attractive. The duvet is meant to be covered by the duvet cover – also sometimes confusingly called the duvet. A duvet and a duvet cover and a comforter and a duvet, are frequently confused. Bottom line, if you are opting for a comforter, please use a flat sheet. If you are selecting a duvet AND cover, you may omit the top sheet.  Further, if you decide to use a duvet cover OVER your comforter, know that if your comforter is not light in color, the pattern or color on it may show through a light duvet which, quite frankly, is not good.

• Duvet Cover. As described above, the duvet cover is like a giant pillow case for the duvet. Because you will ideally change this cover along with your fitted sheet, each week (I’m looking at you, young adult reader) you may want to consider purchasing two duvet covers. Owning two gives you the option of having two different overall looks for your bed, that, ideally coordinate with the separate bedding pieces. Here is one I like from Area. 

Organic bedding by Coyuchi

• Standard and king pillowcases. These are sold in pairs and though it sounds silly are fun to buy. I always keep a few solid sets on hand – but having a few patterns is an easy way to mix up the look. Additionally, some bedding lines may be out of your price range, but buying a pillowcase set is an affordable way to get the luxury look of that line. Some of my favorite pillow cases are from Kerry Cassill and are ultra soft and come in a wide variety of changing prints. 

• Euroshams. It may sound like a pun, but shams are essentially pillowcases that are for pillows you will not sleep on. The typical folded envelope closure keeps the large square euro pillow well contained for when these big boys are thrown, I mean neatly stacked, on the floor. They are great for propping yourself up to watch tv or working from bed. (Ahem.) In my house we change these shams each week. You can go longer between cleanings if you don’t regularly sweat, drool or cry into them. Offered in a HUGE array of patterns and materials, these are where you can really make a style statement. Many have trim or other decorative details that require special laundering.  The Euros are large and can either support the song that the duvet cover has chosen to sing or can be the main performer if the duvet cover is going to take more of a back up role. These are lovely and from Matteo. 

Sumptuous bedding by Matteo

• Decorative pillows and coordinating cases. When it comes to small square decorative pillows (usually around 16×16” or so) I tend to shy away from those found in the basic home decorating department. The fabric is usually scratchy and the inserts are far too puffy and cheap. Instead, I opt for small squares, boudoir and/or neckroll pillows from the bedding department. I recommend one or two of each. The cases for these pillows are usually made of percale – the same fabric that your sheets are made of. If you have purchased a patterned duvet, you can sometimes find that the same or coordinating pattern will be offered in these shapes and sizes. These little guys often offer the most support for watching tv or reading in bed. Here are some that add an extra punch to an otherwise somber outfit. 

Pretty lavender bed by J. Latter Design

• Quilt or coverlet. I used a quilt or coverlet in two different ways. One, I use it at the foot of the bed to add a contrasting pattern or color to the look. When folded at the foot, it allows for me to pull it up and keep warm for that Saturday afternoon disco nap without having to get fully under the covers. Secondly, in warmer months, I may opt for the coverlet/quilt in lieu of the duvet + duvet cover on the bed. In this case, I will add a top sheet so that I don’t have to wash the quilt/coverlet each week. I will also often times keep the duvet folded at the foot of the bed in case I get cold in the night. In any event, it is nice to have the contrast on the bed. As a Southern girl, I LOVE a cotton quilt, particularly old ones with traditional vintage fabrics. There is nothing like sleeping under them – the softness of the fabric, the care with which they are made and the breathe-ablity make for perfect slumber. When I can’t find quilts at flea markets or antique fairs, I usually opt for Kantha Collection or Utility Canvas.

Styling a Bed

When pulling together a complete bedding look, allow either the euro shams + quilt/throw OR the duvet as playing the starring role. Supporting roles will be the throw/quilt at the foot of the bed and the edge of the flat sheet, if using. Pillowcases and sheeting with or without patterns can fall somewhere in the between. Think of the bed as an entire outfit and piece together the look as such mixing in bits of pattern and color as you see fit. When overwhelmed or in doubt, shoot us an email. We can readily pull together a variety of looks for you to choose from – source it all, purchase and send.