Bed making styles
20 Ways to Make a Bed
Over the weekend I popped in to see my new baby nephew and also help my brother and SIL upgrade the look of their bedding in their master bedroom, I’ll share a few pictures tomorrow. I prefer symmetry over eclectic styling on a bed, there’s something about order on a bed that brings calm to a bedroom space yet allows for creativity and randomness elsewhere in the room.
Pulling together a great look for bed linens can be a little foreboding when starting from scratch, but when you break it down into essential pieces and study they layering you can find a look you love that works for you. The layers should always make sense: lighter linens in summer and extra blankets in winter, after all comfort is key!
I like to pull together linens from various sources in complementary patterns and textures, also I’m a believer in restraint in the number of decorative pillows. Balance is affected by width as well, what looks good on a wider king may be too much for a slimmer queen. To follow are 20 stylish examples of both simple and bold bed linens demonstrating a variety of ways to layer linens on king and queen sized beds.
1) Matching white hotel linens (duvet, sheets, shams) with dark blanket for warmth in the same color as the thread, plus two high contrast lumbar accent pillows.
domino
2) White cotton hotel duvet, white pillowcases, three 24” decorative pillows in a bold pattern, graphic blanket at the end of the bed.
rue mag
3) A trio of solid Euro shams hiding the pillowcases and one long patterned lumbar in front with a colorful blanket on the end of the bed.
krista salmon
4) White sheets and pillowcases, two Euro shams in the same fabric as the coverlet, one accent pillow reflecting the same gray and white palette.
solomon fergeson
5) Neutral with texture: white sheets and shams, a subtle geometric patterned accent pillows, and that an oh-so-cozy chunky knit throw blanket.
mark ashbee photography
6) Four white pillowcases and two decorative pillows, a colorful blanket playing off the color in the curtains and a folded white duvet on top.
smith brothers construction
7) White pillowcases and shams, a tucked coverlet, two graphic patterned lumbar pillows and a throw blanket, all in soft tone on tone neutrals.
heather hilliard
8) A trio of dark Euro shams with decorative trim to hide the plain pillowcases, two accent pillows in front, a dark coverlet and bed skirt to match the Euro shams.
steven ford interiors
9) Stacked white pillowcases, Euro shams, striped accent pillows, tucked coverlet, blanket in complementary color, subtle striped bed skirt.
house and garden uk
10) Euro shams and duvet with colorful trim, graphic patterned pillows, soft throw blanket in complementary palette, bold bed skirt playing of color in headboard.
liz carrol interiors
11) Graphic print decorative throw pillows are spaced and propped up by matching hotel pillowcases and Euro shams, a bold velvet blanket repeats the color in the X base stools.
greg natale
12) White hotel linens with matching thread including Euro shams, complementary embroidered standard shams, and a white duvet.
domino
13) Colorful sheets, layered coverlet on top with wool striped blanket.
domino
14) Variety is the spice of this bedding arrangement, the sophisticated grays are punctuated with pops of orange found in graphic pillows, the navy shams add dramatic contrast to the pale headboard and sheets.
better homes and gardens
15) Cotton pillowcases in simple white are layered here with patterned accent pillows for color plus a decorative fur pillow for texture.
(Bonus points for the crushed velvet wingback headboard!)
domino
16) Euro shams and duvet cover in matching fabric, white pillowcases and sheets, two colorful lumbar pillows and a bolster in front.
monticello homes
17) Layered linens and pillows in a high contrast single hue including dark sheets, mid tone shams, white accent pillows and a decorative accent pillow; a white duvet with dark coverlet and mid tone blanket.
domino
18) A controlled color palette allows for mixing textures and patterns, printed toile and woven geometrics are balanced by simpler sheets with a touch of color and a basic quilted coverlet.
better homes and gardens
19) Monochromatic and soft, this bedding includes three white Euro shams, pillowcases and a white duvet, and three silk pale blue decorative pillows.
20) Simplicity reigns with all white bedding, it’s just so cozy and clean looking.
domino
My go to formula for a full or queen is rather simple, it includes standard shams and two 20-24” decorative pillows + one lumbar accent pillow. For a king or California King, I prefer three Euro shams with two 24” decorative pillows and a lumbar pillow in front. I’ve used duvet cover + coverlet and coverlet + blanket variations in different bedrooms, it just depends on the style and the season.
What’s your favorite look from the list? Is there a particular layering of shams and pillows you prefer on your bed? Do you have a bedroom pillow or linen pet peeve?
…
The Right Way To Make Your Bed - Our 5 Best Formulas
Today, folks, you will learn the RIGHT way to make your bed. At this point in my styling career, I can say that I am a bed-making (styling) expert, just like my parents dreamt for me as a child.
I did it, mom and dad!! But like anything, when you’ve done something for years and when you’ve made HUNDREDS of beds, you forget that it’s not that simple for everyone. There are a million ways to make a bed, but not all of them look good, so we have some formulas that are fool-proof, GUARANTEED to work and give you that inviting bed of your dreams. Plus there are likely a few mistakes and misconceptions that you should know to avoid.
First, the most challenging element of the bed – THE PILLOWS.
Formula #1: 4 Sleeping Pillows + 1 Extra Long Lumbar =
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house reveal: our calm scandinavian master bedroomThis is a formula that WORKS and is actually so simple and minimal, while making the bed look pulled together. Four back pillows and one long lumbar and you can be DONE.
Yes. I believe in 4 “sleeping” pillows (as shown through all of these examples). Sure you only put your head on one while you sleep, but you need both for the “sitting up” portion of the evening (reading or watching TV…ooooohhhhh).
Consider each layer a “set” and yes, the sets can be different (but keep both pillows within the set or pair the same). You might want a more firm pillow behind your squishier “sleeping” pillow for the leaning. Plus four pillows simply look way more inviting and balance the length and width of the bed better.
Ironically the softer the pillow the harder it is to style for photos so I have an inventory of “prop” pillows that are fluffier and firmer. But I like a squishy (yet not flat) pillow. Sara has a memory foam pillow and I almost fired her upon announcement. Monstrous.
VERY IMPORTANT: If you have a king bed, you HAVE to have king pillows. A standard size will look just way too small.
photo by melissa oholendt | from: the curbly bedroom makeoverLike I said, your two sets of pillows can be different – we like to have two different colors or patterns. Sometimes it’s subtle and sometimes higher contrast (to pull in say, the throw blanket at the end).
HOT TIP: You don’t need euro shams. They are the square pillows that often went in front of your sleeping pillows in lieu of two more sleeping pillows. We still use them now and again, but you don’t NEED them and they can make a bed look fussier, more “decorated”. I wouldn’t say they are “out” but just not as in as they used to be.
photo by david tsay | from: a simple eclectic guest bedroomAlso before we leave this formula here are six of our favorites:
1. Happy Wave Block Print Oversized Lumbar Pillow Cover | 2. Lumbar Faux Leather Channel Stitch Decorative Throw Pillow | 3. Alisha Lumbar Pillow | 4. Striped Double Weave Lumbar Throw Pillow | 5. Oversized Oblong Woven Stripe Decorative Throw Pillow | 6. Alcove Pillow
FORMULA #2: 4 Sleeping Pillows + 1 Lumbar + 1 Decorative Pillow =
photo by tessa neustadt | from: our master bedroom reveal + get the lookWe are building from minimal to more decorative now. I realize that this doesn’t seem THAT different, but sometimes you want to style it to have one more color, pattern, or layer.
If that’s what you are into, keep that lumbar and add a square, circle or smaller rectangle pillow (I actually have TWO long lumbars on the mountain master bed now that I haven’t shot, but I love it – I have a larger linen one with the smaller leather one in front of it).
GOOD HACK: Brady’s bedroom (above) has a large king sham playing the role of the “lumbar” which totally works, then he put an additional rectangular lumbar in front (I don’t think I can ever say lumbar again, it’s such a terrible word).
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: refreshing your bedroom with targetAs you can see the double lumbar is still in action (although the one in front is obviously just a rectangular pillow).
photo by tessa neustadt | from: the griffith park master bedroom reveal + get the lookFor those of you who love geometry, you can indeed mix a round/circle pillow with a narrow lumbar like we did in that bedroom.
FORMULA #3: 4 Sleeping Pillows + 2 (or 3) Different Shapes/Sized Accent Pillows
photo by tessa neustadt | from: styling to sell: the (new) master bedroomIf you like yourself a throw pillow (or maybe you have these already around and don’t want to buy a lumbar) then this formula is for you. We love using 2 or 3 different sized (and shaped) pillows in front of your base four. It’s important to have one that is around 24″ to really ground the mini collection – especially on a king (a queen/full could handle 20″).
A good formula we use is one large, one medium and one small. Hand me the Pulitzer prize NOW. Also yes, they can all be different colors, patterns, and textures. Certainly, pull in the colors of the headboard and your blankets/throws at the end. You don’t want a really saturated or strong color as a quilt and then nothing to balance it out at the top of the bed. Again, pull from those colors. We wrote a whole post about mixing pillows HERE and rounded up many combos that we love.
You can definitely just do two like we did up here (please check out that blanket styling action – boyfriend (aka Scott) LOVES some blankets).
photo by tessa neustadt | from: little girl’s playful bedroom reveal + get the lookHOT TIP: We love a round pillow. It really breaks up all the squares and rectangles that are innate in a bed. Also looking back at that bed (above), it could have used a quilt at the end and it does defy the formulas below you are about to see, but it’s ok and we didn’t get arrested for our lack of layering. But if we could go back in time I’d add a quilt or blanket to break up the line of the bed frame and give it more of an inviting and relaxed look. Here are some of our favorites:
1. Anchal Crescent Pillow | 2. Embroidered Floral Round Throw Pillow | 3. Round Lush Velvet Pillow | 4. Creste Ivory Pillbox Throw Pillow | 5. Velvet + Wool Circle Pillow | 6.
Velvet Disc Pillow
I gasped when I saw that above photo thinking that the first throw pillow was too small, but then I realized it was a lumbar – THANK GOD.
photo by tessa neustadt | from: styling to sell – the (new) master bedroomSee? Proof. PHEW.
Here is a handy graphic to help you remember our pillow formulas:
Now on to your bedding – the quilts, throws, and comforter portion of the bed that can be equally paralyzing to style.
The Bedding Formulas:
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house reveal: our soft yet secretly sultry downstairs guest bed + bathHOT TIP: You don’t need a flat sheet if you have a washable duvet cover. It’s only required if you have a less washable comforter or quilt.
FORMULA #4: 1 “Fluffy Component” + 1 “Flat Component” =
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: makeover takeover: julie’s huge (and diy packed) bedroom upgradeI know there are more ways to style the bedding but we like the simplicity of choosing one that is more “fluffy” for lack of more scientific term – either a duvet with an insert or a comforter (typically less washable, but just as fluffy).
You can also definitely have two “fluffy” components or two “flat components”, but we like at least two “blanket components” in total. I hope you are taking notes… there will be a test.
HOT TIP: When styling a bed to look the most inviting, it’s crucial to fold the comforter/duvet (and potential flat sheet) back far enough that it clears the 4 back pillows. This adds depth and texture, plus if your fitted sheet is a pattern or color then it pops out more which is more fun. It’s like the cuff of a sleeve underneath your sweater – it’s just a little pop of something else that makes it look interesting.
You want your bed to say, “come on in” and folding it back a bit does that. It does NOT have to clear your decorative/accent pillows, in fact, it is better if it’s layered on top, thus bridging those two surfaces.
design and photo by emily cosnotti of the sweet beast | from: house tour: original woodwork, moody walls & a gasp-worthy wallpaperEXCEPTION: Emily of the Sweet Beast only used TWO back pillows and laid them flat to show off her low but beautiful headboard.
This is absolutely acceptable – the bed looks slightly less full but seeing the pretty spindles of the bed adds additional texture and style (plus it lets more natural light through).
If you want to go one step further, like the graphic above here you go …
1 “Fluffy Component” + 1 “Flat Component” + 1 Extra Throw =
photo by tessa neustadt | from: sara’s bedroom revealIf you are a true layering addict, then this is for you – add an ADDITIONAL blanket mostly to add more color/style/pattern/texture and sculptural shape. We like to have the bottom layer be more structured, typical fold, then the top one to have more of an organic shape.
PET PEEVE: Please, guys, BOTH blankets should be long enough to at least fall over both sides of the bed – not to the floor, but to look properly scaled to the bed, they shouldn’t just sit on top (although we’ve done it when we’ve had to and no one got arrested or fired).
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: reveal: how we brightened up a room (and some deserving lives) with velux skylightsThe blankets should be different in order to add contrast in color or texture.
Like above, the bottom blanket is more structured and folded conservatively, while the top one has more movement and fringe. If we had just used the navy blue blanket it would have been too strong of a color moment to balance out the top of the bed. It would have overwhelmed the bed, visually, so the white breaks it up and calms it down a bit.
Here are some great “large enough” bed blanket options:
1. Winter + Summer Cotton Coverlet | 2. Dreamy Gauze Cotton Blanket | 3. Gemma Coverlet | 4. Chunky Knit Bed Blanket | 5. Eyelash Belgium Linen | 6. Candlewick Blanket
But if you have a throw blanket from your living room and are desperate – this is acceptable…
photo by tessa neustadt | from: how we styled elliot’s bedroom to sell + get the lookYou may throw a blanket casually to create a sculptural shape and add interest. It’s a little “stylist-y” and ideally, it would be bigger. But it’s better than folding it straight and having it look way too small, like a mistake.
This just looks kinda pretty and effortless.
I had no idea how much I had to say about making a bed, and frankly, I could say more. There are no actual rules and we’ve gone outside these formulas many many times, but I also think having a couple guaranteed ways to help guide the styling is so helpful, even to US. Looking back through my years of styling I can see that my favorite beds fell into those formulas and the ones where I went outside just weren’t as successful.
In case you want to pin this, or maybe you respond to graphics – we pulled together our formulas in one place.
Now please, please go and make your bed and tag us on social so we can see and reshare. Use #showemyourstyled and show us those beds.
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: The Griffith Park Master Bedroom Reveal + Get The Look
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A made-up bed in smart casual style: how to make and spread a bed beautifully
In the domestic tradition, bed linen is usually safely hidden from prying eyes.
Blankets and pillows were put away somewhere in the bedside table and taken out only before bedtime. And if there was nowhere to fold, the bed was dressed from head to toe in a bedspread - “under the tapestry” or to match the curtains. On this, all the decoration, as a rule, ended.
Times have changed. Today, a smart casual style bed is in fashion, and you don’t even need a bedspread to make your bed beautifully.
Herder Home
Making the bed casually is the basis of design
Openness, freedom, permissiveness and negligence reign in the modern bedroom. To make a bed beautifully means to do it as if you were not trying to achieve perfect order.
"Point of Design"
Who said that linen should be hidden
Modern duvet covers, sheets and pillowcases are so beautiful that they are suitable for the role of the main bed decorations. A duvet in a decent duvet cover can completely replace a bedspread.
Moreover, it is also better not to close the pillows - it is a sin to hide such beauty!
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MARIPOSA autumn-winter collection 19/20
It is now customary to combine several colors and patterns in one set. The sheet can be plain, and the duvet cover can be striped on one side and flowered on the other. To demonstrate the fullness of the plan, they cover the bed to the middle - lay off the upper part of the blanket or roll it up. This will expose a fragment of the sheet, the intricate underside of the duvet cover will appear and how great it all looks together.
Also, spreading the bed halfway is very attractive and will play into your hands if you want a guest to stay the night.
Marta Costa
If a bedspread, then only on part of the bed
If your upbringing still tells you to make the bed beautifully with a bedspread, carefully fold it at the feet, and attach a couple of decorative ones on top of the sleeping pillows.
And even mom will not suspect that you were too lazy to make the bed.
BATUFFOLO Textile St. Petersburg
More pillows - beautiful and different
If you want a luxurious bed, don't save on accessories: let them be many, expensive and not very expensive. Especially if the bed is large and the room is relatively spacious.
MORE PHOTOS…
4,500 more photos of throw pillows
Contour Interior Design, Inc.
In addition to the pillows you sleep on, it would be good to buy two or four more types of decorative ones. The more they gather on your bed, the more interesting and comfortable it will look. Moreover, if you like symmetry, there should be two or even four pillows of each type. Try to combine pillows of different sizes, textures and colors: silk, satin, velveteen, fur, plain, printed - all together they can make a great company.
And do not think that decorative pillows are completely useless - they will be very useful if you want to lie down to read or watch a movie.
Lyudmila Danilevich
In the photo: you can nail straps to the wall and thread pillows in pillowcases into them - you will get not only a decoration for the bed, but also a comfortable headboard
Interested in interior design?
Let's select a performer according to your criteria
Yulia Andrievskaya
► Rhyme
It's good if the brightest, accent pillows rhyme with something else in the bedroom - for example, repeat the tone and colors of the plaid, curtains or upholstery. If you collect a complete set of pillows, then in the future you will only buy new pillowcases and can change them according to the season or mood. It's both beautiful and inexpensive.
Andrey Volkov
On the photo: in this project, decorative pillows collect the colors of the surrounding interior
Tarasenko Denis
► Line up
There are a lot of options for how to fold pillows on a bed beautifully.
The classic way is in rows, from large to small. There is no need to remove the bed or hide the sleeping pillows. Whisk and put them at the very head of the bed. First square, and then rectangular (the so-called europillows). They will be covered by a row of plain decorative pillows, in front of which bright thoughts will sit, then a roller, and some small pillow outstanding in its beauty in the very center of the bed will complete the composition.
Studio Haus
► Cover up
If you don't have much time and pillows, we make it even easier: quickly cover the sleeping pillows with decorative ones. All! Run to drink coffee and go to work.
Bon Ton
► Scatter
Creative clutter can also be a casual design strategy – just stack your pillows in a pile or scatter them evenly across your bed.
Hi home
In the photo: pillows on the corner bed can be placed along two sides - the bed will look even more comfortable
GWdesign
Add another layer
You have probably noticed that on the bed, on top of the bedspread, closer to the legs, some kind of textile is often placed in a wide strip.
This is a place for a blanket or an extra blanket in case you want to lie down during the day without spreading the bed completely.
Rikki Snyder
In addition, this is a great opportunity to add a decorative accent not only to the bed, but to the entire bedroom. So, you can support the theme that is present on the wallpaper, pillows, curtains or upholstery, or simply add a bright spot to the interior.
Tatyana Tsivileva
In the photo: in this project near Moscow, the color of the decorative pillows supports the ornament on the vases and the botanical illustrations on the wall.
Jagoe Homes Inc.
Diagonal
The quilt folded across is a classic of the genre. But, if you want something more informal, throw the blanket on the corner of the bed or spread the second layer on top of the bedspread, shifting the corners.
Stephani Buchman Photography
Plain underwear is a fashion trend
We warn you that colorful colors quickly tire you.
Among the new favorites are white kits. And they are flaunted as boldly as the colored ones. But with white linen is always difficult - this color requires impeccable cleanliness.
Ariana Ahmad Interior Design
A more comfortable and no less up-to-date option is linen in raw linen and various shades of gray. The dressing of the fabric is such that ironing such linen is not required - it should look a little wrinkled.
Lauren DeBello Interiors
In the photo: a mix of white and natural linen linen can look no less elegant than a solid color set, especially if you complement the bed with a textured bedspread
Architology
. You will hardly find a more refined and expressive solution for the bed. It is beautifully easy to make such a bed: she does not need any bedspread at all.
Studio S.
Of course, the theme of bed decor is inexhaustible, and everyone has their own recipes for how to make a bed.
For some, the symbol of a cozy bed is a cotton valance (the so-called “skirt” for the bed), while others try to use seasonal types of material: fur in winter, and silk in summer. Someone mixes underwear from different sets to make it more fun.
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Uliana Grishina | Photography
This is archival material. First published in 2015, updated in 2021
TELL US… What techniques do you use to make your bed beautiful? Share your secrets of decorating a bed in casual style in the comments!
How to make a beautiful bed - articles about furniture on Wikidivia
Remove the feeling of chaos and disorder with a neatly made bed. In addition, whatever the interior of your bedroom, the bed is the main element of decor.
And if she looks sloppy, then the whole room is perceived as sloppy.
To make your bed beautifully, start with a few simple steps:
1, Air out your laundry
It is not recommended to make your bed immediately after waking up. During the night, favorable conditions are formed in the linen for dust mites, which provoke allergies. Therefore, after waking up, go about your business and leave the bed for at least 10 minutes with the covers thrown back.
2, Shake and straighten the linen
To get rid of crumpled sheets and duvet cover, shake and straighten them, so the bed will look neater. Fluff the pillows, and return the corners of the blanket to their place.
Basic method
In the evenings, it's nice to return to a neat apartment, where a soft cozy bed awaits you. There is a way with which you can make a beautiful bed and at the same time spend a minimum of effort.
Carefully spread and smooth the sheet, tuck the ends under the mattress.
A blanket is spread over the sheet, which exceeds the dimensions of the mattress in length and width. Free edges can be left hanging or gently folded.
Leave the large bedspread hanging down to the floor or tuck the bottom edge under the mattress. Decorate the head of the bed with pillows.
The modern way
The fashion trend in making beds is considered to be layering and a large number of pillows, most often decorative ones. Some elements may be unfamiliar to you, but they add style or convenience.
Mattress cover is a functional element that protects the mattress from dirt. It matches the size of the mattress and is fixed on it with elastic bands. Doesn't feel under the sheets at all.
Bed valance is a skirt that will not only make your room more comfortable, but also hide the space under the bed where many people store things. The skirt is put on the spring base of the bed and evenly distributed around the perimeter.
Fitted sheet - it is more comfortable than a regular sheet, as it is firmly fixed on the mattress due to the elastic bands.
Decorative fold - to create a layered effect, the edges of the bedspreads and blankets at the head are folded over, creating a platform for pillows. You can bend the top edge and fold it two or three times to increase the effect.
Helpful Hints
Reversible bed linen adds variety to layering. It looks stylish and interesting. In addition, often in such sets the balance of the ornament is observed (plain sheet and pillowcases + blanket with a pattern).
The mood of the room depends on how your pillows lie. Carelessly scattered around the bed will add rebellion, and folded in neat rows - harmony.
Fragrances also create the atmosphere of a bedroom. Hide a sachet in the folds of a blanket or bedspread and enjoy.
A bedspread, matched to the curtains, will add harmony to the interior.
Decorative details
The bed can be decorated with a beautiful blanket, knitted or quilted. Fold it lengthwise and place it at the foot of the bed.
