How to Make Your Bed Even Better
Much like the style of bed, mattress or duvet tog you choose, how you make your bed is a matter of personal preference. The process can be as simple as adding a duvet and pillows to the bottom sheets. Alternatively, you can choose additional layers for visual interest and extra warmth, or swap your existing bed sheets for something cooler and more breathable. Here’s how to make your bed for optimal comfort and style.
The Basics
- Fitted sheet: Measure mattress depth and account for potential laundry shrinkage when purchasing in order to ensure a good fit.
- Duvet cover: Ensure you buy the right size for your duvet so that you are not left with excess fabric or a too-small duvet rolled up inside the cover. Typically comes with matching pillowcases.
Optional Extras
- Comforter or mattress cover: Rests on top of the mattress to improve comfort, for example if your mattress has buttons you can feel through the sheets.
- Flat sheet: placed on top of the fitted sheet as a protective layer between you and the rest of the bedding. Can be left loose or tucked, depending on preference.
- Blanket: Covers in a variety of styles and fabrics which can be layered at any stage of the process for warmth and decoration.
- Coverlets: Similar to flat sheets, these can be left tucked or untucked and are layered over the flat sheet or a blanket.
Decorative Additions
- Large covers include quilts: Thin yet dense triple layers stitched together with batting between them. Bedspreads are thinner than quilts and are an easy way to cover the bed with minimal effort.
- Smaller covers: These can be used for both decoration and warmth. Throw blankets are smaller, often with a decorative trim, while bedscarves are essentially runners designed to prevent scuffing or staining on the bedding underneath (similar to throws but smaller). Both are designed to be folded at the foot of the bed.
- Bed skirt: Used to hide the box spring while adding a decorative touch around the bottom edges of the bed.
Fabrics
Fabric is a key consideration when layering bed sheets, depending on temperature needs. If you share a bed with someone who tends to feel the cold (or feel too warm), you can also use a method similar to the Scandinavian “split duvet” technique by layering one half of the bed differently to the other.
Silky sateen or percale (a light, grid-shaped weave with a slight crispness) are good all-season choices, while flannel mixes can help create extra warmth in colder climates. For summer, breathable linen or a bamboo blend can help to keep you cool.
Quality
In terms of quality, cotton and polyester blends are more hardwearing and less likely to wrinkle, although they are not as comfortable in warmer months, as synthetic fibers tend to promote sweating.
Extra long staple (ELS) cottons like Pima or Egyptian are known for their softness, though it’s worth noting that a thread count above 500 doesn’t necessarily equate to better quality; around 300 to 500 is generally considered most comfortable. If you are looking to refresh your bed, homewares company Quince offers a beautiful range of sheets and bedding in bamboo, percale cotton and sateen, with bedding accessories to complete the look.
The Base
If you are willing to go that extra mile to maximize the quality and comfort of your bed, then I highly recommend you consider upgrading your bed frame.
One of my favorite styles of bases for your bed that has really increased in popularity recently is the adjustable bed frame. This particular type of base not only offers all of the benefits of a generic raised base, but allows the sleeper to adjust several sections of the mattress to optimize comfort, blood flow, and so much more. These frames not only help with sleep ailments, elderly sleepers, and back pain, but also offer outstanding comfort and accessibility, whether you want to sit up to watch TV or keep your legs elevated to relieve swelling.
There are a lot of ways to upgrade your bed, but if you can, a new bed frame can make all the difference!
