The Art of Good Bed-Making

The bedroom is the site of what mental health professionals call “regression,” a normal falling away of the more rational and controlled parts of our personalities – which is necessary to falling asleep. It’s where we unwind, release the day’s tension and share the most intimate part of our lives. For such reasons, it is recommended that one make the bedroom their first priority when tackling home decorating projects.

Obviously, the most important aspect of the bedroom is the bed. However, so little instruction has been given as to what goes into making the perfect bed, one that’s conducive to good health and a good night’s sleep. For centuries great thought and care went into dressing the bed. I remember once being told by an elderly Italian grandmother that even if I found myself in poverty or sickness I should always make a good bed for myself. That tidbit of advice stuck with me. To make the recipe for a perfect bed you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Undercovers: A mattress pad and pillow covers to provide an added barrier of protection against soiling. Waterproof or allergen-impermeable ones are available if needed and are good bets for children.


• Additional padding: Some prefer extra softness from the use of a feather bed, lambs wool pad or a man-made alternative. I’ve had a lambs wool pad for years and swear by their insulating properties. To clean it I run a vacuum attachment over it weekly when I change the sheets and launder every other month. If you are using a feather bed you’ll want to encase it in a cover to help keep in the feathers and prevent any poking.


• Skin contact linens – the bottom sheet (may be fitted), top sheet and pillowcases.


• Insulators – blankets, quilts, comforter or duvet


• Day cover to protect against dust – These are often your decorative bedspreads, coverlets or blanket cover.

HOW TO MAKE THE BED:

Sheets: Once you’ve placed the fitted bottom sheet on the bed place the top sheet wrong side up so that when the top hem is folded down over the blanket the detailed edging shows its right side. Fold under and miter the two corners at the foot of the bed. Mitered – or hospital corners – look neater and stay securely in place while you sleep. (If you’re not familiar with how to make hospital corners email me at clora@decorandyou.com or Google them).

Blankets, quilts, or duvets: Put on the blanket, right side up, over the top sheet so that the top of the blanket comes to a point about six to ten inches from the head of the bed. Tuck the blanket in at the foot and make corners at the bottom, same as the sheets. Then fold down the top sheet over the blanket. There should be a generous portion of the sheet turned down to protect the blanket from body oils. If you wish, add a second top sheet or some other thin, light spread over the blanket. You see that a lot these days in fine hotels. This adds a modest degree of weight and warmth and helps keep the blanket clean. Or in summer you can use a second sheet in place of a blanket.

Comforters/Duvets: Usually left untucked because of their thickness. These can add the decorative element to your bed. If you are not using the duvet for warmth it should be folded down at night before you sleep. Same for the comforter as these are items that typically require dry cleaning and are often expensive to replace.

Day Cover: The outermost layer of the bed can be a coverlet or tailored bedspread and is used to protect the bedclothes from soil and can provide another decorative element. Thanks again to fine hotels, day covers are finding their way back into many households. If you have a dust ruffle, the bedspread should not reach the floor.

Pillows: Once your day cover is spread you can place the pillows in any style you like. A contemporary style is to fold the top sheet over the comforter of blanket cover, leaving two, four or more pillows showing at the top of the bed. Pillows that are covered in decorative cases – or shams – are not for sleeping and should be removed from the bed each night.

Dust Ruffles/ Bed skirts: Ruffled or pleated decorative fabric placed between the mattress and box springs hang to the floor. They are totally optional and their only purpose is to make the bed look attractive – though they do come in handy for hiding things stored underneath. Simply vacuum dust ruffles regularly with an attachment.

Yes, making a proper bed may take more time than simply throwing over a sheet – but there are concrete and luxurious reasons to do the extra effort. So, take a cue from those high end hotel chains and turn your bed into a sleeping sanctuary – you’ll thank yourself in the morning, I promise.

A Word about Decorating Trends

This time of year we are overwhelmed with predictions for the New Year. Whether it's on TV or in the magazines, experts are telling us what we should buy in 2009 to look or be "hip". Our homes are no different. Most of us want our home decor to reflect current trends and to not look "dated". However, just as with fashion home decor trends run the risk of being 'in' one day and 'out' the next. So, what's a savvy homeowner to do?

As a professional decorator, I have found that the number one thing to keep in mind when decorating your space it to do what makes YOU feel comfortable, happy and functional - no matter what may be the newest fad. That's why I often ask to see a clients closet or visit a room that they absolutely love - even if it's in a hotel or out of a magazine. More than likely those are the colors they can live with comfortably for years to come. I've seen more people fall for a current color scheme - say the recent trend in pale blue and chocolate brown - and then spend a lot of money furnishing an entire room in that scheme. Though they may not ever wear blue or have any brown in their home they still want what's "in". Sadly, after just a few short months many have grown tired of the scheme or find they aren't as comfortable in the space as they had hoped -- they have fallen victim to fads...

Luckily, there are many ways to keep up with the latest trends while still maintaining your personal sense of style - and save you valuable dollars in the long run.

Accessories: An inexpensive way to introduce a trend into your decor is to use accessories while keeping the same pieces of furniture you already have in a room. Another trend we're seeing is bringing funky, vintage items into otherwise modern rooms. It's the juxtaposition of old/new that makes it current. Other trends in accessories include silver, mercury glass finials, large glass apothecary jars filled with items that complement your color scheme and groupings of large, white porcelain vases or bowls really add visual impact.

Color: Painting always breathes new life into a space and costs next to nothing. Color trends we see that can be used for years to come include combing raw neutrals like grays and beiges with more organic pops of color, like terra cotta, lavender or green. Another theme recycled over the years is picking two main colors for a room, including the walls, furnishings, and flooring then adding a splash of a third color through the use of accessories, art and florals. Black and white is still a classic scheme for creating drama but we are seeing the addition of a third bright color like turquoise or hot pink to update the scheme. Color experts predict that current economic conditions will attract us to bring shades of yellow into our home as it brings thoughts of joy and happiness to our psyche. For that same reason we are seeing less shades of blue - unless used in combination with yellow.

Fabrics: Bold fabrics certainly make a statement about your style. One fabric trend that has withstood the test of time is animal prints. They are viewed as modern, but take on a neutral effect because they are so classic. Even the most traditional room can look current by adding a little animal print on an accent chair, ottoman or toss pillows. Another pattern trend is large scaled damask prints - and I mean large, often the motif can be over 20" in scale. They can turn those old wing back chairs into real conversation pieces.

Dimension. This is the area of design most overlooked by do-it-yourselfers and not an expensive or complicated one. Dimension is the overall feeling of a room more than a certain item. It is the easiest way to give your space new life while keeping your existing furniture and making minimal investment. Dimension is achieved through the proper use of lighting, flooring and wallcoverings.

Make sure you have more than just an overhead light in a room. I once heard that by lighting everything you are lighting nothing - it is so true. Be sure your bedside or endtable lamps are of proper scale, the bigger the better. Go glam and add a chandelier to your bedroom or bath. Pick up inexpensive can lights at your local hardware store to uplight your trees or light up a dark corner, turn a piece of art into a focal point by accenting it with light, you get the jist...

Wallpaper Rocks! I know, I know - you think of your grandmother's cabbage roses when you think of wallpaper - or you think you are married to it for life. Not the case. Today's wallpapers imitate the best textures, add art to your walls and can be removed in minutes. I think wallpaper is an absolute must in windowless powder rooms. Acoustics improve immensely with the use of wallpaper so it's great in media rooms and rooms with vast, cathedral ceilings.

Dont' forget what's under foot. Flooring is key in keeping up with trends. Hardwood floors have been in demand for years. So, if you're lucky enough to have them, don't cover them up with wall-to-wall carpet. Bring in the drama and artistic flair with a new area rug -weavers keep up with color trends and you'll find one to fit your taste and achieve the trend you desire. Bring the color up to mid and eye level with toss pillows and artwork for a complete designer look.

I hope you've learned to enjoy the trends but proceed with caution. Know your true likes and dislikes before you splurge on some new trend - and when in doubt, contact a professional or send me an email - I'd love to help.