Make Your Bed Like a Pro

How to Make Your Bed Beautiful

Who hasn’t admired those perfect cozy beds shown on the full-page spreads of interior design magazines or on the popular interior decorating websites? accessorized to perfection, not a bit of clutter in sight, the room in question is a bedroom – sporting a bed that looks like it comes straight out of a professional designer’s dream. Made neatly enough to win a drill sergeant’s approval (or a Navy Mom like I had), topped with perfectly positioned shams and throw pillows, and finished with a contrasting throw blanket folded just-so at the foot of the bed – these beds look too good to mess up or having your furry kids join you when it’s time to go to sleep!

While your own bedroom might never see the centerfold of a design magazine, there is no reason your bed can’t look just like a PRO – as good as the ones featured on those shiny-glossy magazine pages. But, just maybe pulling the sheets and blankets up somewhat neatly is about as far as you can take it. Making a  bed each day does you good said so well by Naval Admiral William McRaven “If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.”

Bed Skirt: Yes or No?

Not every bed needs a bed skirt, but if yours is a mattress on top of a foundation with an exposed metal frame, then skirt the bed to conceal the unattractive frame and casters. Plus, when you hide the area underneath your bed, it becomes a great place for storage of out-of-season clothing, sporting goods, or other bulky items.

Get Padded . . .

A mattress topper adds a layer of extra comfort to your bed. It might not show, but you’ll feel the difference at night. To showcase your bed – put another thick comforter on top of the top sheet before you place the main bed cover on bed. It adds height and coziness (a trick nice hotels use).

Sheet It

Smooth, comfortable sheets can make the difference between a good night’s sleep and a night spent trying to get comfortable. Though some PROs might insist you need to iron your sheets before making a truly great-looking bed, that won’t be necessary if you remove them from the dryer as soon as they are dry or either fold them for storage – fold all linen in tri-fold lay onto of each other in order of  1. fitted sheet 2. top sheet 3. pillow cases 4. light extra blanket (if needed) and store into their sets – Twin, Full, Queen, and King, saves space and time not searching for all linen when changing beds.

This is the steps I use for making beds:

1. Grab your folded set from closet – Start at one of the upper corners of your mattress, and pull the fitted sheet elastic down and over the mattress corner. Now smooth the sheet out, and repeat on the other upper mattress corner. Move to the foot of the bed, and finish pulling the fitted sheet into place, smoothing out all the edges and taking care to cover the entire mattress.
2. Now it’s time for the flat sheet. Lay it over your mattress (if the sheet has a printed design on one side, then face the printed side down), and spread the sheet out, pulling the upper hem to the top edge of your mattress, and centering the sheet so it drapes evenly over both sides of the bed. Smooth away any creases.
3. Tuck the bottom of the flat sheet under your mattress, and then move to the side. Grab the corner of the sheet that’s hanging out at the foot of the bed, and fold that corner up until it’s against the side of the mattress. Now tuck in the flat sheet, keeping the folded corner tightly in place to create a neat crease. Repeat on the other side. Do your best to achieve a neat fold at the mattress corners (also called hospital corners), but don’t agonize over it. Leave 12 to 18 inches of flat sheet untucked at the top of the bed.

Blanket Time

If you use a blanket for extra warmth choosing an electric blanket is one option, another is having an extra warm, thick and cozy bedspreads. Spread the sides of the blanket evenly over the mattress, letting the fall over the edges of the bed.

Place Your Pillows

Fluff your sleeping pillows, and prop them against the headboard with the open side of the pillowcases facing the nearest side of the bed. If you use European shams, these come next. Place your regular shams in front of the European shams, then finish off with no more than three throw pillows – generally, a couple of rectangular or square pillows and a rounded bolster look best. Remember that there is no law saying you have to use shams or throw pillows, but if you want your bed to be truly styled with that luxury feel, take the extra few seconds to put pillows in place.

Throw It

For a final perfect touch, fold a throw blanket, thin quilt, or extra blanket, and layer it across the foot of the bed. When staging a home I like to add a tray at the foot of the bed with a book, small dish for jewelry, and a nice journal with pen – simple but effective touch! 

Step Back and Enjoy!

Your bed is perfectly made, it only took a minute or two, and your whole bedroom looks great. Trust me you too can have a bed that looks good enough for a Pro.

Check out the self-making bed video – Would you use this?

Peace & Harmony ~ Cheryl

Are you ready to create transformation and clarity in your life? Comment to me @ cchomeconcierge@gmail.com I’ll send you information how to take the first step.