Let me ask you something. Can I come into your bedroom? Would you mind if I lie down on your bed? Feeling a little anxious at the thought right now? Why? Is it because I am a stranger or is it because your bed is made, not “made”?
If it is the latter, then please read on. I don’t want you to be embarrassed by your bed. Care to know why? Because your bed should be one of those places in your home that you’d be proud to show off. Does that sound a little strange, maybe even imposing? Well, I don’t mean to impose and I promise you won’t find me in your bedroom, I just think you owe it to yourself to make a bed you’d be happy to show off.
It starts with a bed frame (your mattress should be up off the floor at this point, right? ;-)) If nothing else please go out and buy yourself a headboard. I see metal bedframes at flea markets and yard sales all the time. Even the rusty ones have a certain charm to them. If they need a quick facelift, get a few cans of spray paint and touch them up. Better yet, make one. I had a friend once make a headboard out of two wood doors that she painted. She mounted them to the wall and then attached the metal bedframe to the doors. It looked great.
In the picture below I bought two old windows at an antique store, cleaned them up and mounted them to the wall in this quaint guest room. Although it is not a traditional headboard, it does give the illusion of one.
Ok, so our bed is off the floor and we now have at least a headboard. Next are the mattress covers. Lately, we’ve heard so many horror stories about bed bugs and mites so for the sake of your health I might suggest buying a dust mite/waterproof full zip mattress cover. You can purchase one at any store similar to Target. These zip fully around your mattress for complete protection. Due to the material they are made of do not force them on, they will go on but can easily rip if forced. If you buy one of these you’ll absolutely need a mattress pad for comfort.
Now for the sheets. I like going to a Home Goods, TJ Maxx or Marshall’s for lots of higher quality items at much lower prices. Sheets are no exception here, so buy yourself a really nice pair of sheets; after all they will be closest thing to your skin. I’m a huge fan of white sheets. White gives you an easy place to start and it doesn’t bind you to any particular color. Not into white, pick a lighter color that will be easy to work with. Or better yet, go with stripped sheets.
I have a request; can we stay away from the “bed-in-a-bag”? I know you can be more creative than that. It is time for you to mix and match colors and textures like this bed featured in House Beautiful.
Places like Home Goods really allow you to find different items to mix and match. Pick a comforter or quilt to start off. I say this because there are fewer variations to these bigger items than say throw pillows. It is harder to match a quilt to one small pillow than vice versa. The bigger items take more commitment. Also just to be clear when I mention quilts I’m not necessarily thinking of something you’d find on an old hotel bed. Quilts have come a long way. They are particularly useful because they are thinner and they allow you to layer different blankets and spreads on your bed to give you a polished look. Many of them come in solid colors.
These twin beds are a great example, notice the yellow quilt and the red bedspread folded in half at the bottom. This looks gives you an opportunity to add different textures and layers of warmth to your bed.
So by now, if you’re anything like me you have a mattress cover, a mattress pad, sheets, a light white blanket (I change this out in the winter to a white down comforter) a quilt, another bedspread folded in half at the bottom and a throw blanket. Sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t and good news, there’s more!
I suggest buying two pillow shams for “stationary pillows”. Basically two pillows you’ll remove for sleeping, they are decorative but can be very functional when just lying on your bed to read or what not. Choose whatever colors you’d like for these but it is best to do the opposite for your decorative pillows. For example if you choose a solid color for your shams, you’ll have an easier time going with patterns and other colors with the throw pillows. Here is a good example.
Choose as many decorative pillows as you’d like. There is no rhyme or reason to these. Have fun with it and take your time searching. Don’t feel like you have to have your bed completed all in one day. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but it is your money, spend it wisely. Don’t just settle for some pillow because it is in front of you. Search online, in stores, and maybe even swap pillows in and out of rooms in your home. (I’m famous for this move).
Hopefully after all this you’ll have a bed that looks as beautiful as the rest of your home. I take time every morning no matter what, to make my bed. I love walking in and out of my room and seeing a nicely put together bed, it just feels so much better when I get back into it each night. After all we do during the day we deserve a beautiful, comfortable and well “made” bed, one we would not be embarrassed to show off.
Until next time, Happy Designing!