You spend up to one-third of your life sleeping, so you should give proper consideration to your bedding if you want to get the best possible sleep.
Ask yourself when was the last time you slipped into some scratchy bedding in a cheap hotel and got a good night’s sleep.
Never, right?
Now, the good news is that you can create a bed worthy of a nice hotel suite without needing to go to design school.
Check out these simple approaches to customizing your bedding the easy way.
5 Ways to Customize Bedding With Your Personal Style
- Start with the right foundation in place
- Get two looks in one with a reversible duvet cover
- Get creative with layering
- Scatter cushions for a pop of color
- Pillow placement
- Finish things off with a lightweight throw
1) Start with the right foundation in place
Any attempt at custom bedding needs to start with the proper foundation in place.
Cover your mattress with a soft and silky-smooth fitted sheet, ideally made from Egyptian cotton. The higher the thread count of the cotton, the more luxurious it will feel against your skin. If you’re looking for a blank canvas, use white sheets. They’ll go with all your bedding, and you can easily bleach them to keep them looking pristine.
When you’re shopping for fitted sheets, look for those with deep pockets so they fit neatly over the edges of your mattress.
Rather than ironing your sheet, pop it in the dryer with a damp cloth. This will get the sheets crisp and wrinkle-free while you make a quick coffee. Add some lemongrass or lavender essential oil for some scented luxury.
Add a top sheet if you’re accustomed to an extra comfort layer on your bed.
Regardless of the style of your bedding, and whether you use fitted sheets, flat sheets, or tops sheets, you should buy the best bedding you can afford without overextending yourself. Given the amount of time you spend in bed, why sell yourself short with cheap, scratchy fabrics?
Organic cotton and linen both work well for bedding. Both also seem to improve and soften with repeated washing. Both feel divine against bare skin.
You should also invest in a comfortable, supportive mattress sat on a decent bed.
2) Get two looks in one with a reversible duvet cover
Reversible duvet covers afford you the freedom to change up the look in your bedroom daily.
Beyond serving double-duty, if you turn down the top of a reversible duvet, you can inject a burst of color or pattern into a plain or more subdued look. All you need to do is turn the top up in front of some pillows for contrast.
This look will remind you of climbing into a deep and indulgent bed in a five-star hotel. The best thing? You won’t need to leave home and you won’t be faced with a stiff bill either.
If you prefer flat sheets to fitted sheets – and there’s no right or wrong here – you can perform the same turn-down trick for a casually-layered look.
More on layering now, as this is a central part of dressing and customizing your bed.
3) Get creative with layering
You should aim for a casual look with layering rather than obsessing about lining everything up precisely. You want boo chic not try-hard.
Use a bedspread for some strong color laid over more muted bedding. Not only will this slice of color act as a focal point, but it’s a cheap and highly effective way to overhaul your bedding without spending a fortune.
Throws also work well. Drape one over the corner of your bed for a nonchalant and informal look. Textured throws in velvet or mohair can add a cozy edge. Fold bulkier throws into thirds for a more pulled-together aesthetic.
4) Scatter cushions for a pop of color
Now, cushions are essential if you want a sleek and stylish bed.
There’s no magic number here, but you should probably stay below six pillows even on larger beds. Feel free to scatter them generously, but there’s no need to go over the top.
Vary the colors and textures. Juxtapose colors and patterns. Don’t stick to pillow of the same shape. Throw in some square, round, and rectangular pillows instead for a less uniform look.
If you opt for seasonal colors and patterns, you can avoid needing to constantly change your cushions and eat into your budget. Just because you’re customizing your bed, you don’t want expenses to run away with you.
5) Pillow placement
It goes unsaid you’ll want some comfy pillows with soft pillow cases to caress your head.
When you’re dressing your bed, you also need to think about whether you’ll have these tuck under the duvet or left on top. This is very much a matter of personal preference but makes quite a difference to the finished look.
6) Finish things off with a lightweight throw
Lightweight throw blankets make a great flourish on an elegantly-styled bed.
Whether you need some extra warmth in bed, more comfort when you’re curled up reading, or you just want a blanket as a design element, why not go all-in and fill up a blanket basket with your favorites?
Final Thoughts
Try keeping your bedroom as free of distractions as practical. While you don’t need to go crazy and embrace extreme minimalism, the more you keep your bedroom free of clutter, the better you’re likely to sleep.
Get this nailed then you can focus on design.
Use the above pointers as inspiration to get the basics in place. Personalize things every step of the way, though.
Feel free to use no cushions at all, and don’t feel obliged to follow the guidance we’ve laid out above. If you do, though, we can pretty much guarantee you’ll end up with a sleek and Insta-worthy bed you can be proud of, and you don’t need to spend wildly to achieve it.
