Several readers have asked me how I go about creating my inviting bed-scapes, and since I had stripped my bed and did laundry today, I thought it might be the perfect time to snap some step-by-step pictures and walk you through my easy little process.
I am all about adding charm to the everyday (and night) moments in life, and that includes making my home a haven. I'd have to say that the top two things I do for myself would be having a luxurious bath in the evening, complete with candlelight and lots of bubbles, and making my bed as cozy as a cloud.
I'm a nut for freshly washed sheets; flannel in the cooler months, and crisp cotton (with a ruffled edge, like these) in warmer weather months. I wash my sheets at least once a week, (usually about every four days...) and I love to use linen spray each day as I make the bed, to keep that fresh feeling.
(Coming out of my bath and sliding into the fresh covers with oodles and toddles of fluffy pillows surely has to be what heaven feels like, don't you think?)
So, here is my step by step system, which takes me less than two minutes each morning. (I promise.) I love seeing the bed made when I come home from work. Likewise, an unmade, messy bed just isn't inviting to me at bedtime.
I put the bottom and then top sheet on the mattress...
.....followed by a coordinating quilt. (Right now I am enjoying my white on white on white look for my own room) I like to fold the quilt down about a foot...
....followed by the top sheet being folded over it...
I then place the bed pillows that I actually use to sleep with on the bed....
...and then place my two euro shams upright on top of them...
...I then place one set of shams in front of the euros (still on top of the bed pillows)...
...and then a second set of standard sized shams in front of the other pillows....
....then I like to add a toss pillow or two...
Now, for the duvet. (I don't wash my duvet every week.) To make the bed, I simply place the duvet at the foot of the bed, with the end that buttons or zips, or ties at the very foot of the bed, not hanging down at all, but just to the end.
I then fold the duvet in thirds, so it basically forms a "Z"...does that make sense?
I like this multi-layered look of the different weights and textures, and then at night, I pull it up for that fluffy warm cloud feeling, as I sink into my fluffy pillows and soft sheets.
Now, a couple of great tips for making your duvet look aaah-mazing, and easy-as-pie to put your comforter in on laundry day, or when you're changing covers....first, for putting your comforter into the duvet without breaking a sweat, I use the Burrito Method.
Have you heard about it?!
This used to be such a daunting task, but, once I heard about the burrito method, it became a breeze! The only thing I do differently than the Youtube video in my hot link, is that I use not one feather comforter inside my duvet, but two of them.
Yes, you read that right, I said two.
(I heard somewhere that this is how places like Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware make their bed displays look so incredibly inviting!)
(...and, I can tell you that it certainly does.)
Also, I can tell you that it feels even better than it looks.
It's truly like what I imagine sleeping in a cloud must feel like.
Well, there you have it. My version of bed making 101. Do you have any tricks for making your bed? Do share!