Sunday, August 12, 2018

How to Get Your Bed to Look Like a Professional Decorator Made It

Photo Design by Funkthishouse.com
photos via Pixabay
The problem for most of us is that our bedding lacks style, quality and most probably, fluffiness!

If we're being honest, we tend to keep our Comforter/Duvet Sets for much too long without changing them. When we're stuck with the same bedding, we're stuck with the same drab look.

Beyond the bedding color, pattern and design, there are certain items that can give your bedroom a pick-me-up.

Below are a list of basic items or variations of them that you'll need in order for your bed to look like a high priced decorator assembled it.

Duvets Versus Comforters - Which One is Better?

With a Duvet, you buy the fluffy insert separately and it's the quality fluffiness that gives your bed it's professional look. The benefit of buying an insert separately is that you can choose one that's long lasting and of higher quality: The higher the quality the longer it will stay fluffy.

Since it's an insert, you can change the actual duvet cover, and thus the look of your room, anytime you want.

Next you'll want duvet clips to secure the Insert to the Cover so it's free of lumps, bumps and wrinkles.

Comforters are all-in-ones, in that the comforter and insert are one piece thus eliminating the need to buy an insert or duvet clips. Also, they usually come with pillowcases, a comforter, a bed skirt and sometimes bed sheets.

However, the downside to a comforter is that if the quality is lower (and many times they can be), it will lose it's fluffiness and start to look flat on the bed (like a bed sheet does).
Here's an 8 Piece COMFORTER Set (Not a Duvet Set) Rochelle Pinched Pleat Gray Comforter Set QueenHere's an 8 Piece COMFORTER Set (Not a Duvet Set) Rochelle Pinched Pleat Gray Comforter Set Queen
A flat comforter will take away from that professional look you're going for, unless of course you're aiming for a simple almost Japanese look to your room.

Pillows Finish the Bed's Look:

Have you noticed that a bed with a duvet or comforter looks decoratively unfinished with only two pillows on the bed? Especially on a king size bed.

To give a bed that professional decorator look, you'll want to have at least four standard or king size pillows, and then finish the pillow-look with a few decorator pillows.

Bolsters also work. They're a long oval pillow you can use against the bed frame or the wall for the other pillows to lean against.

They do exactly what their name says, 'they bolster' the pillows in front so you have a fuller look of pillows on the bed. If you don't have a bed frame, they're also a way to get pillows off the wall. However, even if I have a bolster, and I do, I still use 4 pillows.

Make sure the pillows are fluffy as well. Flat, over-used pillows will make the bed look drab. So if your pillows aren't fluffy and you can't go out and buy more, put two old pillows, or even three old pillows inside one pillowcase. I've done this several times and it works well.

I've overstuffed the pillowcases at the back, and put two new fluffy pillows at the front. That way I only had to buy two new pillows instead of four, saving a bit of cash while still maintaining that fluffy full look.

Pillowcases, Don't be Afraid to Mix and Match:
With pillowcases you can go two ways. 
Either they can exactly match the duvet or they can be complimentary in pattern and color to the duvet. 
If you have a lot of extra pillow cases, you may already have some that are complimentary with your new duvet thus saving you the expense of having to purchase extra pillowcases. 

Bed Skirts for Duvet and Comforter Sets:
Some people like bed skirts, and some don't. 

My mom isn't a fan of bed skirts, so rather than a duvet or comforter, her bed has a bedspread. A bedspread goes right to the floor to hide the box spring, thus removing the need for a bed skirt. 

However, if you don't like to see any part of the box spring when the bed is unmade, then even with a comforter, you'll want a bed skirt.

Bed Sheets - They Don't Have to Match the Duvet or Comforter
This is misunderstood by many bed makers.

If you already own bedsheets that are complimentary to the duvet/comforter set you purchased, then use them!

That way you can focus on buying the most important elements to making your bed look professional: A high quality duvet insert, duvet clips and at least four pillows, decorator cushions and a bed skirt if you don't already have one.

Use an existing bed skirt if you have one that's complimentary! Again, it doesn't have to match exactly.

Pull it All Together:
  1. You have your fluffy bedding - either a comforter set or a duvet set with a quality insert and duvet clips
  2. You've got a bed skirt to hide the box spring
  3. You've got at least four standard (or King) pillows and a couple of decorative pillows.

However, Making the Bed is Where it Will Get that Final Professional Look:
  1. Fold down the top part of the duvet so the reverse side is showing by about six to twelve inches. You can even fold it down a couple of feet if you have a lot of pillows and you want some of the bed sheets exposed because of their design and quality. However, the standard fold down of the top portion of the duvet/comforter is about one foot.
  2. Pull the wrinkles out of the comforter/duvet
  3. Make sure the comforter/duvet is even all the way around
  4. Details matter, don't let the bed sheets hang past the duvet cover/comforter on the sides or ends. If they're too long, tuck them in

There you have it! Think fluffy and you'll nail it.


Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


11 comments:

  1. I spent a couple summers cleaning weekly rental beach houses on the Georgia coastal island of Tybee and many of the larger, fancier beach rentals had lovely bedroom sets, some using comforters and some using duvets and, of course, lots of pretty pillows. As a result I got to see a lot of different color schemes and arrangements. Your article reminded me of my favorites.

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    Replies
    1. Pat, oh yes, that would do it. Actually getting to see designs in action makes a big difference when we go to tackle our own designs. And how nice to work in such a lovely environment, the beach. Work is work of course, but being near a beach probably made it a little nicer :)

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  2. Oh the fun of having a nice looking bed. My sweetie and I have a pillow toss with our featherbed every morning, thus giving it the really "fluffy" look. It's a play fight and it works. I love my eiderdown winter and summer, but lately the sweetie is finding it too warm for him. I will look for something a little less dense and hopefully with a little less "warmth" going on for our summer months. Thanks Barbara for the heads up.

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    Replies
    1. lol, that's a good way to create some fluff!

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  3. Up until about 3 months ago, I've had the same duvet cover for 20 years. It was so expensive, I wouldn't dare replace it. Truthfully, I'm not tired of the way it looks either, so I never saw any reason to change it. That is, until a few months ago when it started getting hot outside. For the first time ever, I got tired of fighting the duvet. I tired of fighting the 4 decorator pillows years ago and started using them only during the holidays, parties and company. My husband has always hated sleeping under the duvet. It has always been too hot for his comfort, but we loved the look of the made bed, so he threw his half of the duvet over on me, which meant I was sleeping under a double duvet. We have now gone to only sheets and a lightweight blanket. I do have a treasured crocheted blanket that fits only my side of the bed and that I sleep under for the little bit of extra warmth that I need. I do love the looks of a well made bed, the fluffy duvet and 5 decorative pillows. I have them stored in our linen closet and no doubt, they will come back out when it is cold again.

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    Replies
    1. It sounds beautiful Cynthia, I imagine you'll be pulling it out again. A change is nice, but change again is just as nice. I guess we all do that, lol.

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  4. I have to admit that I have not had a decorator quality bed set since I moved from my beach home. My bedroom was lovely until I had to get practical about the needs of my growing rescue animal family. Great tips here. Thanks!

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    1. Have to say completely understandable and the fur babies are much more important :)

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  5. I have always wanted a "pretty" bed. Have never followed through with it (I tend to buy whatever mismatched bedding is in the clearance bin). I love your hints and will follow them when I someday have a grown up girl bed. :)

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    1. Dawn, lol, we can do quite a bit with the bedding we have, but sometimes there are just other things to get to as well. 'Grown up bed' lol :)

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  6. Great ideas and I echo Dawn, on the bucket list is a "pretty bed" :) !

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