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The Thread

Find stories to inspire you, ideas from people we admire and our expertise for a home well curated, a wardrobe well put together, a life well lived.

How to make a bed the right way

Each morning, we make our beds, almost without thinking. Refolding the throw, fluffing up the duvet, making sure it’s a haven for us to return to later. But how do we make our beds feel as good as one at a luxury hotel? If you’ve ever wondered how you should be arranging your pillows, if you need a flat sheet (and exactly where it goes), or what hospital corners actually are, this is the guide for you.

1. Begin at the bottom

Adding a topper over your mattress will take an already comfy base and make it even more soft and squishy. Then add a protector on top of that to help keep things hygienic and reduce the need for dry cleaning your topper. An even softer bed to sink into and less laundry? It’s a win-win. There are many topper and protector options available, from temperature-regulating ones to help with the changing seasons to ultra-cosy down-filled ones, and even waterproof-lined ones to guard against spillages and perspiration.

2. Get sheet smart

The easiest option for a bottom sheet is a fitted one. If you don’t have a topper on your mattress, and it’s a standard size, it’s likely you will need a regular fitted sheet. However, we also offer extra-deep styles. Measure the height of your mattress, topper and protector together to make sure you get the right depth, then the elasticated corners will help keep it in place, no matter how much you wriggle around during the night. If you prefer a flat sheet, master tucking it in with hospital corners to ensure a snug fit.

How to: hospital corners

the linen care guide

i. Lay the sheet over the mattress, making sure it is positioned so there is an equal amount of sheet hanging down on each side.

the linen care guide

ii. Tuck the bottom edge of the sheet under the mattress, making sure it is lying flat underneath.

the linen care guide

iii. Move round to one side of the bed and lift up the hanging part of the sheet and lay flat onto the mattress. Tuck the corner of the sheet left hanging under the mattress then fold the portion of the sheet lying on the mattress into a diagonal line and tuck in.

iv. Bring the untucked sheet down to the side again so that it forms a diagonal fold at the corner of the bed.

the linen care guide

v. Tuck the overhanging sheet under the mattress to give it a neat finish and repeat on all corners.

Fold the right way

When making the bed, place your flat sheet upside down on the bed – with the patterned side, or detailed edge face down, so when you fold it back, it’ll have the right side facing up.

3. Try a top sheet

Despite its name, a top sheet is actually a flat sheet that goes between you and the duvet, so it’s really more of a middle sheet. It’s useful as a barrier between you and the duvet, meaning you’ll need to launder the cover less often, and is great as an alternative to a quilt on warm nights. Top sheets are also ideal for styling as they’re often finished with a frill or pattern that can be folded back over the top of the duvet. Leave it loose for a relaxed look or, if you like that really-tucked-in feeling, follow the hospital corners instructions above, but leave the top two corners untucked, ready to be folded back.

A cheat’s guide to fabrics

Cotton sateen: smooth and silky

Cotton percale: cool and crisp

Flannel or brushed cotton: cosy and soft 

Linen: light and relaxed 

Cotton-hemp blend: soft and breathable

4. Choose a cover

Duvet sets come in all shapes and sizes and – most importantly – fabrics and thread counts. Thread counts can be confusing but, basically, the higher the thread count, the more tightly woven the fabric is. So an 800-thread-count bed linen will feel denser to the touch than a 200 one. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better quality, as the fibres used also play a big part. A 200-thread-count bed linen can still feel luxurious provided it’s woven from quality yarns, so it’s really all about personal preference.

5. Style it out

Two pillows per person is a great place to start, but layering on additional ones and some cushions will make your bed look extra special. It’s also a good way to add in different textures and tones to help create depth – knitted grey styles or satin in champagne colours are some of our favourites. You can also play with scale, adding in larger, smaller and square shapes for a unique look.

pillows

4 matching rectangle pillows, 2 medium square cushions

pillows

2 large square pillows, 2 bordered rectangle pillows, 2 standard rectangle pillows

pillows

2 rectangle pillows, 2 rectangle pillows (lay the two on one side flat), 2 medium square cushions

6. Add the finishing touches

Warm in winter, cool in summer. Boiling at 11pm, freezing at 3am. Our temperatures change not only with the seasons, but also through the same night. The answer? Bedspreads and throws arranged at the foot of the bed. They’ll provide welcome added warmth in winter and lighter alternatives to our quilts in summer. Create texture and interest by choosing styles in similar, but not matching, tones (although it’s nice to match the bedspread back to your cushions), and for bedspreads, make sure you choose one long enough to reach the floor on both sides.

a bed with white sheets and pillows on a bed

Spring

Wool throw over the duvet. Add a quilted cotton bedspread on cooler nights.

a bed with white sheets and pillows in a bedroom

Summer

Light cotton bedspread, with a top sheet folded at the end of the bed.

a bedroom with a bed, a chair, a table and a window

Autumn

Quilted satin bedspread and a chunky knitted throw.

a bed with a white comforter and pillows in a bedroom

Winter

Faux-fur bedspread for cold nights then, when temperatures really drop, add a cashmere throw.

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