Making a perfect bed...
Below are some of the elements you will need to create that perfect bed you just want to jump into at the end of the day.
Making the perfect bed will make a night of sleep much more inviting and there are certain elements that can make that happen. Here is a closer look at everything you need to create a well-made perfect looking bed.
Bed skirt (dust-ruffle)
- A dust ruffle will add a touch of decoration to your bed and it also does just what its name suggests; minimizes the amount of dust that settles underneath your bed. They also hide whatever is under your bed.
- Mattresses are continuing to get thicker and thicker and that has affected dust ruffles, which traditionally had standard size drops of 14” & 16”. Nowadays, those standard dust ruffles may not drop all the way down to the floor when used on a super-thick mattress.
- To compensate for thick mattress, the newer dust ruffles are made in 3 separate panels, which are pinned to the box spring.
- There are some dust ruffles made in two layers, which consists of a shear overlay sewn over-top of another fabric. This provides a softer elegant look.
- The most common dust-ruffle construction styles are straight paneled, gathered, and pleated.
Mattress pad
It is recommended that consumers use a quilted mattress pad. Using a mattress pad will keep mattresses cleaner and a mattress pad is easier to clean than a mattress.
- Even if you never spill anything in bed, your body oil will still seep through the sheets and onto your mattress. A mattress pad gives you an extra layer of protection.
- Mattress pads serve the function of topping your mattress with a soft layer of fabric and this helps because mattresses are sometimes topped with a coarse material.
- Mattress pads come in different varieties, which include cotton, cotton/poly, wool and tencel (a soft wood fiber that is very soft and absorbent). Some people opt for foam pads, although this is not the best option because foam doesn't breathe well and it can become rather warm.
Fitted sheet - (a.k.a. a contour sheet)
- The majority of fitted sheets are made with an elastic edge, which keeps them in place on the bed.
- In light of all the thick mattresses on the market today, you should always check the depth of the pocket when buying a fitted sheet.
- If your mattress is thin and your fitted sheet is equipped with a deep pocket, no worry, just tuck the additional extra fabric under the mattress.
- Extra fabric is better than not enough. Too little fabric means that a sheet could slip off the corner of the mattress. Fitted sheets that are extremely tight on a bed signify that there is too much strain on the fabric. This results in premature wear.
Flat sheet
- Not all people care to use a flat sheet. But that also means that the item on top of the bed will need to be cleaned more frequently, whether it be a blanket or duvet cover.
- Flat sheets are easier to clean than duvet covers, blankets, coverlets or matelassé .
- When you use a flat sheet with decorative details (embroidery, hem-stitching etc.), place the flat sheet upside down on your bed. Then, simply fold it back and the decorative details will be on display.
Decorative Shams
- These come in different varieties. Euro Shams measure in at 26” x 26” and are placed at the headboard (2 or 3 are used on a queen, and 3 or 4 are used on a king). A standard sham measures 20" x 26" and a king sham measures 20" x 36".
- Consider using feather inserts for fillers. This is recommended because down is more expensive than feather and not necessary to use in decorative pillows.
- Poly inserts are not as good of an option as feather as poly doesn't fill out the sham as nice as feather does.
Sleeping Pillows
- We suggest using down pillows or a combination of down and feather, unless you are allergic to down. Down or a down/feather combination remain the most popular fillings for sleeping pillows.
- Try using 2 or 4 standard size (20” x 26”) sleeping pillows on a queen or full size bed. Use 2 or 4 king size pillows (20” x 36”) on a king bed.
- Some people do not care for king pillows, because they are long and difficult to maneuver during sleep. If you fall into this category, consider using 3 or 6 standard size pillows, which will fit perfectly across a king bed.
Pillow protectors
- We have seen too many nasty-looking yellow pillows, inundated with body oil. In order to keep a cleaner pillow, try using a pillow protector. A zipper allows you to take them right off and they are easy to launder.
Pillowcases and bedspreads
The importance of pillowcases should need no further explanation. However, there are other decisions that need to be made at the top of the bed, one of which revolves around bedspreads. At one time, bedspreads were very popular, but that time has passed. Nowadays, they need to be custom made because bedspreads are hard-to-find items as a result of the variation found in today’s mattress’s.
Blankets
- Blankets come in cotton, down, wool, or polyester. Our down blankets can be purchased here.
- Most blankets have a nap. We recommend covering the blanket, so you don’t see hand prints and impressions. This can be accomplished by using a Matelassé or quilted coverlet (short bedspread).
Duvet cover
- These are pretty much the equivalent of large pillowcases which are intended to cover the duvet or down comforter.
- When buying a duvet cover, try to find one that is made from a sheet weight fabric. Heavy textured fabrics are very weighty, which makes for an uncomfortable night of sleep.
Down Comforter
- A down comforter is probably the most popular top of the bed item. They come with an excellent weight to warmth ratio.
- If you are allergic to down, there are other options, such as silk and synthetic fills. If you do not allergic to down, you should consider it because it is a superior bedding item.
In the below video, we show how to tell when it's time to replace your down comforter.
In this video, we explain what to look for when purchasing a new down comforter.
Decorative pillows
- Adding accent pillows to bring a bit of texture, color and intrigue to the top of the bed.
- Decorative pillows are made in a variety of sizes, with the most popular ones being a boudoir (12” x 16”) or other square pillows that measure 16” x 16” or 18” x 18”.
Decorative throws
- These bring more color and life to the top of the bed. They also are a great benefit when reading or watching television.
- Throws are comprised of different materials, such as cotton, wool, cashmere and synthetic fabrics.
- The majority of throws measure approximately 50” x 70” +/- in size.
- A throw can stretch almost across the entire width of the bed, placed at the foot or set on a chair in the room.
- A throw also comes in handy when one person needs a bit more warmth than the other.
Vero Linens has everything you need to make your bed look perfect. Choose from our selection of goose down comforters, Italian duvet covers, feather sleeping pillows and other fine bed linens.
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