Do you look with envy at Instagram bed styling and want to achieve that same effect? With a few simple tricks, your bed can also shine on social media and become the star of your bedroom. There’s even a real chance that your other furniture might get a bit jealous.
Fancy and stylish bedding is key
Let’s face it, the biggest occupants of your bed are your bedding and... your dog. How they look (we’ll skip the dog, because every dog looks brilliant in bed) determines the success of your bedroom’s styling, as the bed is usually its focal point.
Luckily, there’s plenty to choose from. Bedding can be categorised by the material it’s made from (the most popular being cotton or satin bedding), sizes, patterns (here, you have a vast canvas to play with), or colours (let the good times roll!).
Match your bedding to your bedroom
So, let’s start with the basics and choose the right bedding.
Does your bedroom evoke the rugged cliffs of Scandinavia or the colourful corners of Morocco? Or perhaps a fairy-tale land full of dragons or robots (because, let’s be honest, you’re decorating your child’s bedroom and only children's bedding interests you)? It’s crucial that everything plays together like a symphony orchestra. One mismatched element can throw the whole room out of whack. So, first, consult with your bedroom about its preferred style (it has a right to an opinion too!). Then, stick to that theme consistently. Of course, slight deviations and a cheeky wink are welcome, but we encourage planned improvisation (yes, those exist too).
Ah, those sheets!
Usually, pillowcases and duvet covers come as a set, but sheets require a keen eye, as they are usually sold separately. A poorly chosen sheet (for example, one that clashes in pattern or colour with the rest of the bedding) is quite the faux pas, so it’s better to opt for neutral, uniform sheets that will match any of your bedding. And we highly recommend the best invention of modern times: fitted sheets, which make life easier than you can imagine.
Hotel-style bed
Hotels come in all shapes and sizes, as we know. There are exclusive boutique hotels where even the hand soap looks like it’s straight out of a glossy magazine; there are simple, minimalist interiors in muted colours; and there are also ordinary, cosy rooms where you feel right at home. But they all share one common thread – the beds look as if someone has spent hours smoothing out every crease, the pillows have perfect curves akin to sculptures from the Louvre, and the bedspreads are folded so precisely they’d put any ruler to shame.
The Challenge
But forget hotels, let's create our own hotel-style bed at home!
French, British, and American style beds
Well, thankfully we’re not studying interior architecture, so we don’t have to obsess over every trend. Let’s just cherry-pick the coolest bits!
Beds are usually made in what’s called a 'closed envelope' style, which means all loose elements like the sheet or bedspread are tucked in so that the shape of the bed is clearly visible. Fitted sheets and well-matched bedspreads work wonders here.
Another characteristic of these beds is the fold created by the duvet or blanket and, for example, a second sheet placed under the blanket. Simply fold back the top part and arrange it to form an elegant, even border.
And do you know what a 'pillow menu' is?
It's a very practical solution! It involves placing pillows of different sizes, shapes, or softness on the bed, so everyone can choose the perfect pillow worthy of their head on any given day.
Day bed and night bed
Bedding is, of course, the foundation, but perhaps you want your bedroom to have both a day and night look? At night, duvets and pillows in their beautiful covers reign supreme, but the day is an entirely different matter. Then, a dishevelled bed can be transformed with one elegant sweep into a stylish boudoir full of bedspreads and decorative cushions, or throws and blankets, making the bed an ornamental piece of furniture and the centre of your home universe.
For warmer evenings, cotton bedspreads suffice, but when it’s raining or (sadly, less often) snowing outside, it’s worth considering wool blankets, for example, alpaca (don’t worry, alpaca wool is plenty; no animals will be harmed).
If you’re unsure what to choose, then read our article on precisely this topic.
When it comes to bedspreads, there are two schools of thought – some prefer perfectly fitted ones with the ends tucked under the mattress, while others consider this an act of barbarism and only endorse large bedspreads that cover the entire bed, cascading freely down to the floor. We don't want to pick a fight and rather like both trends.
There is, of course, a little trap – if your bed becomes too stylish and cosy, guests might linger on it suspiciously long, leaving you to sleep on the sofa. So, you need to be careful not to overdo it. Alternatively, you could just close the bedroom door to avoid tempting anyone unnecessarily. But who then will admire your Instagram-worthy masterpiece?
