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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.
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.
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.
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.
ii. Tuck the bottom edge of the sheet under the mattress, making sure it is lying flat underneath.
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.
v. Tuck the overhanging sheet under the mattress to give it a neat finish and repeat on all corners.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Faux-fur bedspread for cold nights then, when temperatures really drop, add a cashmere throw.
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