A beautiful, comfortable bedroom provides a space for you to relax, reflect, and recover from the stresses of everyday life. As the centerpiece of your bedroom and the place where you get the vital sleep you need (a full 8 hours we hope!), your bed plays a lead role in setting the look and feel of your bedroom.
No matter the size of the bed or bedroom you have, the tips below will guide your search for the bedding and pillows that meet your needs.
You’ll spend roughly one-third of your life sleeping. Let’s create the peaceful, comfortable, healthy bed you deserve.
TLDR: If you’re looking for a basic rule of thumb:
- Select sheets and pillowcases in a natural fabric and a solid color. You can’t go wrong with white.
- Add sleeping pillows appropriate for your sleeping position.
- Keep a neatly made bed by layering a light quilt or coverlet with matching shams.
- Fold a duvet or throw blanket at the end of the bed.
- Cover visible box springs and bed frames with a bed skirt or box spring cover.
- Finish the look with decorative pillows.
- Consider cleaning methods. If you plan to launder often, make sure your linens are machine washable.
Sheets and Pillowcases
The sheets and pillowcases you use while sleeping should be made of cotton or linen, which are both breathable, non-synthetic fibers. We recommend machine-washable bedding over bedding that requires dry cleaning to keep things simple. All bedding contains a cleaning code to guide proper care.
Custom Bedding – A full custom bedding set is rarely necessary. Retail stores offer beautiful accessible options for the bigger pieces including sheets, coverlets (lightweight bedspreads)/sham sets, and duvets. If you want to add a unique touch, custom pillows offer a great way to personalize and complete your look.
Duvets vs. Comforters
There are lots of options when it comes to staying warm in bed. Two of the most common options are duvets and comforters. Duvets are soft, feather- or fiber-filled inserts of varying weights you place in a duvet cover. Since the cover is removable, duvets are easy to clean and you can control and change the weight. In contrast, a comforter is all one piece. Comforters keep beds looking neat because the materials stay in place. However, they are bulkier to wash and less versatile as compared to duvets. While you can use either item on its own, we often recommend using a coverlet or quilt as a lighter layer that keeps the bed looking neat and tidy, and folding a duvet in thirds at the foot of the bed to add color, dimension, and an added layer of warmth.
Bed Skirts and Box Spring Covers
If you have a headboard rather than a bed that covers all sides of your mattress, you will want a bed skirt to polish your bed’s appearance, hide your bed frame, and conceal any items you store under your bed. Some store-bought bed skirts can fit improperly and look messy. If you opt for a store-bought bed skirt, we recommend a simple, tailored style (preferably lined) you secure to your box spring with upholstery pins to align the drop (length from the top of the box spring to the floor) and minimize movement. If your budget permits, custom bed skirts deliver a high-end look and ensure an accurate fit.
If you can see the box spring around the edges of your bed, you can purchase a box spring cover that matches the overall color of your bedding. You can also use a fitted sheet. Whatever your preference, cover that box spring! Restoration Hardware is a good source for a variety of colors.
Decorative Pillows
Decorative pillows pull a bed together with color, texture, and personality. They are relatively inexpensive to change out as your style changes and provide an easy way to make your bedroom look custom and high-end.
Not all decorative pillows are created equal, however, when it comes to quality. And while you’ll get exactly what you want when you hire an upholsterer or workroom to create custom pillows, you can achieve a high-quality look that will last with retail options when you follow these tips.
- Purchase the pillow cover and insert as separate pieces
Pre-stuffed pillows are typically understuffed and/or stuffed with lower-quality material. You want to be able to remove the cover for cleaning to keep it looking great over time. - Buy a quality insert
Buy inserts one size larger than the size of your cover. For example, you’ll use a 22” insert with a 20” cover. Feather or down blends are best when it comes to inserts, but down alternatives work well if you have allergies. - Determine the right size, shape, and configuration
You don’t need to load up on tons of pillows, only to throw them on the floor each night. One large lumbar pillow may be all you need. We also like three euro pillows on a king bed, two on a full/queen bed, or one on a single bed.
Still not finding the pillows you want? You may need to seek a custom solution if you need a specific size, a specific fabric, or special embellishments or designs like trim, piping, or inlays.
Your bed is the place where you begin and end every day of your life. Make it the beautiful, comfortable, peaceful retreat you deserve.
Need some help? Just reach out!
Sleep tight!
