How to Dress a Bed with Layers and Style

I believe that one of the most welcoming and impressive things in a bedroom is the way in which the bed is styled.  A cozy layered looking bed is the goal and here is how to do that! Below is my step by step formula for making a bed look fluffy and full. 

 1. Fitted sheet – Luxurious sheets are the foundation to layering a bed.  Try to use sheets that feel soft and are made of Egyptian cotton.  It is important that the fitted sheets have deep pockets so that they snug and fit over the edges of the mattress, especially if you have a topper on the mattress. A great tip is to use white sheets because they look crisp and go with any bedding.

 2. Top sheet – Layer the flat or top sheet upside down and pull it to the very top of the bed. This is so that you can see the nice finished edge of the sheet when you fold it over the comforter. Be sure to fold the ends at the bottom of the bed under the mattress. If necessary, use a hand streamer to press out the wrinkles.

 3. Duvet or comforter – This piece is added over the top of the fitted sheet.  As a general designer rule, use a plain white duvet or comforter.  If you need more warmth in the colder months, first add a blanket (again, keep it white or a light color) between the flat sheet and the duvet or comforter.  If just a duvet or comforter is too much for the warmer months, use a lightweight coverlet instead.

 4. Second duvet or comforter at the bottom – This is where you can really make the bed look full and fluffy.  Here, you can use a patterned bedding set to add color and visual impact. If it is reversible with two patterned, you can fold it 1/3 of the way over to show both patterns for more color, layering, and impact.  The folded duvet should fall below the mattress and covers the other duvet ends.

 5. Coverlet at the middle – Adding a coverlet to the middle of the bed will really make the bed look full and cozy! Just gather it loosely and drape over the first duvet and a little bit of the second duvet.

 6. Euro pillows – Add coordinating euro shams to the back of the headboard that match the duvet at the end of the bed. Stand them vertically, so that they are leaning on the headboard.  These shams adds balance and dimension to the design of the bedding. For king and queen sized beds, use 3 euro shams; for a twin sized bed use 1-2 shams. 

 7. Standard pillows – This is where the sleeping pillows are layered in.  Because of the use of white sheet set, these pillows fit perfectly into the bed color scheme and pillow combination. These pillows are placed right in front of the euro shams, also upright and fluffy.

 8. Decorative pillows – This is the fun part!  Add a stripe or smaller print that ties the color scheme together.  A king or queen sized bed can take 2-3 pillows and one throw pillow in the front.

 9. Throw blanket on the end of the bed – A light weight throw blanket is the last step. This throw should look very loose and casual. 

 Follow these steps to create a layered bedding design that is full, inviting, and cozy!