On average, people spend 3,000 hours in their bed every year, so it’s no wonder that the bedroom and the quality of a person’s sleep is crucial. As beds are the focal point in every bedroom, getting the foundations right can really be the first step in ensuring a restfilled and rejuvenating night’s sleep.
While comfort should be the priority when dressing a bed, style and finesse are also important factors for curating a space that feels comfortable before even laying down.
Whether the goal is to dress a bed like those found in high-end brochures or create something more homely, in this bedroom style guide we take an in-depth look at the factors that require careful consideration and how these can be used to transform a bed.
Choose the Right Bed Linen
Before dressing any bed, it’s important to get the bed linen just right. This means attending to every piece of the linen with an eye for detail, including
- The mattress
- Mattress protectors
- Pillows
- Accent cushions
- Duvets
- Blankets
A quality set of bed linen can make all the difference when it comes to having an excellent night’s sleep. For guaranteed comfort and softness, look for bed linen that has a thread count between 600-800, as these are often softer to the touch and kinder to skin.
Of course, the materials of bed linen are also important – everything down to the fabric, fibres, and brand are all factors that should be well considered prior to dressing the bed.
Pick a Colour Scheme
No matter how lavish the bedroom is intended to be when dressing a bed, it’s important to carefully think about the colour scheme of the room and how the dressed bed will play its part in curating a harmonious look.
Neutral tones such as white, taupe and grey provide the perfect starting point on which to build a bed’s style. This presents an opportunity to scatter coloured cushions and throws that complement the room.
While the right colour scheme is a matter of personal preference, bedwear and linens can easily be changed with the season to ensure that the bedroom always feels fresh and in style.
How to Dress a Bed — 5 Steps To Luxury
Step 1 – Fitted Sheets and a Mattress Topper
Once a valance has been added to the bed, the next step is to add a mattress protector and fitted sheet. A good quality sheet that perfectly matches the proportions of the bed is a necessity for both comfort and aesthetics.
Fitted and well-proportioned sheets help ensure the bed looks tidy and welcoming once it’s been made, as exhibited here by this Reeves Bed.
While thread counts may influence how comfortable sheets are, so too can the colour – or rather how the colour is applied. Most sheets are dyed after they’ve been woven, which can lead to them feeling stiff after a few washes.
The softest coloured sheets that last are usually those that have been made with yarn-dyed fabrics, meaning they were woven with pre-coloured yarn. Though this is less of a concern where white sheets are preferred.
We would also suggest opting for an antibacterial mattress topper. Not only do these have a longer lifespan than regular mattress protectors, but they also help to keep the bed feeling fresh and work to repel elements that may be unkind to the skin.
Step 2 – The Duvet
While the duvet isn’t formally part of a bed’s “dressing”, finding the right one does have the power to elevate the elegance of the rest of the room. It transforms the bed from a mere place of rest to a sprawling and magnificent centrepiece.
In other words, the most inviting beds are often accompanied by full and fluffy duvets sporting stylish covers that reflect the look of the wider bedroom. With the countless designs and colours of duvet covers, finding the right one can be difficult but it can be one of the factors that holds the most influence over the final look of a fully-dressed bed.
To ensure comfort all year round, duvets should be changed to match the weather. A winter duvet, for instance, should have a tog-rating over 9.5 to keep the cold out during the colder months. When it comes to the filling, we suggest opting for down as the lightweight and fluffy feathers offer optimum insulation and comfort.
Step 3 – The Bedding
Dressing the duvet is another important part of dressing the bed, for reasons of both stylishness and practicality. With the countless designs and colours of duvet covers and bedwear, finding the right designs can be difficult but it can be one of the factors that hold the most influence over the look of a fully-dressed bed.
There are, for example, several bedwear items that are all part of dressing a bed, including:
- Sheets
- Pillowcases
- Duvet covers
- Throw blankets
- Throw pillows
While cotton is a popular material for many linens, often for its versatility and durability, bedwear is available in a wide variety of materials, including cashmere, silk, leather and even fur.
A bed’s sheets, throws and duvet all contribute to the overall look and feel of a bed. Using fine materials is an easy way to elevate both of these factors.
Step 4 – The Pillows
Pillowcases should be chosen to match with the rest of the bedding, however, pillows themselves can be very different when it comes to how soft or firm they are. For this reason, it’s important to ensure each pillow offers the support and comfort needed for a sleep that’s easy to fall into.
Choosing perfectly plump pillows will not only ensure the bed looks complete, but it will be a key factor in ensuring a good night’s sleep. For a luscious feel, experiment with laying pillows in various ways. For example, layer a square pillow, a standard pillow and an oxford pillow at the head of the bed above the duvet.
To go one step further, consider a series of throw pillows to tie the look of the bed together and create a centrepiece in the bedroom that feels not just comfortable, but complete.
Step 5 – Layering With Cushions, Throws, and Accessories
Decorative cushions and throws are perhaps one of the most effective parts of dressing a bed as they easily add texture, colour and depth to any bedroom. For the full effect, layer large cushions behind pillows with a selection of smaller cushions in front of them, which will introduce style and sophistication.
Drape a throw blanket over the end of the bed to bring additional character and colour to the room. For an extra touch of cosiness, one might consider opting for a heavier bedspread neatly tucked beneath the duvet.
This Brasilia Bed has pillow and cushions of various sizes, colours and textures as well as a plush throw that complements the rug, adding style and warmth to the bed.
How To Dress A Bed — Final Thoughts and Summary
When dressing a bed, it’s important to take care in deciding upon the right colour scheme and bed linen before trying to put everything together.
Once a palette has been chosen, dressing a bed to look and feel more exquisite is simple when taking our six steps into account:
- Find a bed valance
- Choose a fitted sheet and mattress protector
- Add a duvet for comfort and style
- Source and arrange the bedding
- Find the right pillows for the perfect night’s sleep
- Add the final touch with a range of layered accessories
Minotti London features a wide collection of designer beds as well as a full range of luscious bedwear, all of which can be found in our Fitzrovia showroom.