Learn everything you need to know to perfectly make your bed in this simple tutorial! From start to finish, I’m showing you how to make your bed in easy steps, as well as sharing my special designer secrets!
Ever wonder how interior designers make a bed? Or walk into a luxury hotel and think “I wish my bed looked like that…” Well, today I’m here to tell you that it can!
I’m going to give you my “designer secrets” to a perfectly made bed, and even better than that, I’m going to walk you through the steps for how to make your bed look like it belongs in a luxury hotel. ๐
HOW TO MAKE YOUR BED PERFECTLY
Since the bed is typically the main focal point in a bedroom, understanding how to make it well is really important
! Making your bed look beautiful is the key to making your room look nicely decorated and styled.
This method can apply to just about any type of bed – platform, daybed, basic frame – you name it.
This tutorial is much more focused on how to place your linens, pillows and accessories.
What You Need to Make A Bed
BED MAKING ESSENTIALS
- Sheet Set (Fitted Sheet, Flat Sheet and Standard Pillowcases)
- Comforter (Typically includes Sham Pillowcases)
- 2-4 Standard Pillows (For both shams and standard pillows. 2 for Twin and 4 for all other sizes)
- 1-2 Down Throw Pillows (1 for Twin and 2 for all other sizes)
BED MAKING EXTRAS
Bed Decor Items to Consider
In addition to the items listed above, there are two things I’d encourage you to have (or get) to give your bed a finished look: a headboard and a bed skirt.
If you don’t have these things, making the bed (even as I’ve described here) won’t give it the truly “finished” look you typically see in designer rooms or hotels.
Headboards don’t have to be expensive (in fact we made this stunning wood one for less than $150 and there are tons of DIY alternatives to buying an expensive one) and you can get bed skirts here and here for less than $20.
Trust me, you’re going to want a headboard and bed skirt to get your bed looking top-notch. ๐
RELATED: 15 EASY WAYS TO MAKE A SMALL ROOM LOOK BIGGER
How to Make Your Bed
STEP 1: Tuck in your Sheets
Begin by covering your mattress with your fitted sheet.
Then, center the top of your flat sheet at the head of your bed (against the wall or headboard) and tuck it under your mattress on the three sides. If your wall is in a corner and sits against two walls, put the corner of your sheet in the corner and then tuck the other two sides under your mattress.
**DESIGNER SECRET: You should always lay the flat sheet with the nice side down so the nicer side of the sheet touches your body when you’re in bed!**
STEP 2: Fold over your comforter
Next, center your comforter at the head of your bed, grab the top of both the sheet and comforter and fold them back towards the foot of the bed about 2 feet.
Then tuck all three sides of the comforter under the side of your mattress.
**DESIGNER SECRET: Choose bright or patterned sheets and use this folding-back technique to show them off!**
STEP 3: Layer your Pillows
Start with your standard pillows covered with the standard pillowcases. Most likely, one of these two layers will be the pillows you actually sleep on. Prop them upright against the wall or headboard all the way at the head of the bed.
Next, prop your shams against those, and then finally, place your down throw pillows in front.
**DESIGNER SECRET: To make a down throw pillow stand up pretty – fluff it between your hands a few times, prop it where you want it to go, and then chop down the top with the side of your hand to give it a bit of a crease along the top!**
STEP 4: Add finishing touches
Fold your additional comforter or quilt in thirds and lay it across the foot of the bed about 1 ft from the end of the bed.
Drape your throw blanket across the corner at the foot of the bed that is closest to the bedroom door (since that’s the first one you see when you enter the room.)
Finish it off with an additional lumbar or accent pillow in front of your down throw pillows and a pretty tray placed in the middle of the bed filled with books and greenery.
**DESIGNER SECRET: When draping a throw, grab it around 2ft from one of the corners and then casually lay it across your bed. Don’t worry about how it’s gathered until after it’s draped and then just simply adjust any portion that needs to lay more naturally!**
And now, your bed is perfectly made.
Easy, right? It really doesn’t take much to make your bed look like it was assembled by a professional!
Of course, don’t get me wrong, my bed only looks like this about 4 times a year…
I tend to make the bed perfectly when we’re expecting out of town guests (that generally want a tour of the whole house), photo shoots (like this one) and holidays. If you’d like to see what my bed looks like on a normal day, click here.
As always, let me know if you have any questions. Now, go make your bed! ๐
I deleted the post you were referencing, but here’s a look at my normal bed: https://joyfulderivatives.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DSC_8192-2.jpg ๐
Thanks for the great tips! I did click, but nothing — wondering what your “every day” bed looks like, because I just wanted to see… inquiring minds lol
Hi,
Amazing and Useful Tips.
Hi Megan! That comforter is a down cover from IKEA – looks like they don’t have the same one anymore, but here’s a (aff) link to one that appears to be the newer version and same color. ๐ https://fave.co/2vcw0Hu
Hi Rachel! This looks so pretty! Can you tell me the color of your comforter? I’m looking for a pretty linen one that is similar, but can’t decide what color to get.
Megan
http://www.lifeonshadylane.com
So glad! Thanks. ๐
Super useful tips. You’re so talented ????