Bed Making 101: How to Create a Cozy Bed Layer by Layer!

Just as often as I’m asked about all of the “pretties” (throw pillows, lighting, etc.) in our bedrooms, I get questions about the details of our bedding basics. Everything from what kind of duvet insert to buy to the best pillows and sheets – all the things that build the foundation of a great night’s sleep! So today I’m sharing a bed making 101 guide where I show you exactly what I put on our bed starting from the bare mattress all the way through to the final throw pillow. Together we’ll create a cozy bed layer by layer (and add a little summer color to our guest room in the process)! I’m thrilled to partner with The Company Store on this post since they’re so well known for their long-lasting, high quality bedding basics. Let’s get to it… (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here}) 

1. Dust Mite Proof Mattress Protector

Bed Making 101 starts with a quality mattress protector – this is KEY! Over years of use, mattresses can actually gain weight due to the accumulation of dead skin cells, sweat, and dust mites. I know… gross! So start by covering your bare mattress with a dust-mite proof mattress/box spring protector like {this one} that encases the entire mattress (top and bottom) and zips closed around the end:

Look for one that matches the height of your mattress (The Company Store offers them in 3 sizes – 9″, 12″, and 16″) instead of getting a “one size fits all” protector so you get the best fit.  When you buy a new mattress, put a mattress protector on it from day one (we did this with our king mattress and it’s now over 20 years old!). If you have an older mattress and haven’t been using a protector, it’s not too late – just give your mattress a good overall vacuum and put one on to protect it from this point on. 

2. Waterproof Mattress Pad

You also want to protect your mattress from spills and accidents so the next step is to add a waterproof mattress pad such as {this quiet waterproof quilted mattress pad}. The “quiet” part is key because I’ve had waterproof mattress pads before with a plastic layer that crinkled when you moved around on the bed which is definitely not what you want for a good night’s sleep! A good mattress pad also offers an extra cushioning layer: 

If your mattress isn’t as soft as you’d like, think about also adding a foam topper like one of {these}. They can make a HUGE difference in the comfort of your bed! I have these on some of the beds in our house but not on our guest bed since it’s a pillow top mattress and already pretty soft.

3. Sheets

Next layer is your fitted and flat sheets. In my opinion, the “best” sheets are organic cotton sheets but since they’re fairly expensive, we only have them on our master bed and use other types of sheets for the rest of the beds in our home. Here’s the 101 on the three main types of sheets so you can pick what’s best for you and your budget:

Cotton Sheets 

The pros of cotton sheets are that they’re durable and breathable (good if you “run hot”) while the biggest con is that they tend to wrinkle a bit more than some other sheet types. Options include 100% cotton or cotton mixed with materials such as linen or bamboo. I currently have {this bamboo/cotton sheet set} on our guest bed and really love them! I typically lay the flat sheet on the bed with the finished side down and fold it down from the top about 8″ or so over the quilt or coverlet:

Update! I also have and love these gorgeous blue floral cotton sateen sheets that are super soft and generously sized (unfortunately they have since been discontinued):

Organic Cotton Sheets 

Organic cotton sheets such as {these} have the same pros & cons as regular cotton sheets with the added plus that they’re grown, harvested, processed and manufactured without chemicals so they’re the most environmentally friendly choice. And it can be argued that organic cotton sheets are better for you and your health since they’re pesticide free and you do spend about 1/3 of your life in bed! My recommendation is that if you can afford them for your master bedroom, get them. If I had known when my kids were little what I know now, I would have bought them for my kids’ beds too.   

Microfiber Sheets

The biggest pros of microfiber sheets are that they’re inexpensive, soft, and wrinkle free. The cons are that they aren’t made with natural materials and aren’t as breathable (so not a great choice if you have night sweats or live in a hot climate) or environmentally friendly. 

Whatever type of sheets you choose to buy, pay attention to the size of the fitted sheet to make sure it’s deep enough to fit your mattress. I also like a generously sized flat sheet so that Jeff and I aren’t playing sheet tug-of-war at night – I was impressed that {this bamboo/cotton sheet set} on our guest bed is a nice, generous width and length. Also, beware of putting too much stock in thread count – some manufacturers inflate their thread counts by using double- or triple-ply yarns made by twisting 2-3 lower-grade threads together so a 500 thread count sheet from one company is often not going to be the same quality of a 500 thread count sheet from another company.

4. Pillows

It’s tough to make recommendations for pillows since what’s best for one person isn’t best for the next. Jeff prefers to sleep on a contoured foam pillow like {this one} since he has back problems and feels like it helps quite a bit. I tried sleeping on his pillow and it wasn’t for me! I prefer a down pillow made for stomach sleepers like you can find {here}. The key is to find a pillow that is the most comfortable for you and works best with your sleeping style. I love that The Company Store specifically tailors their down pillows to be soft for stomach sleepers, medium for back sleepers, and firm or extra firm for side sleepers – it totally takes the guess work out of choosing a pillow! For guest beds where you’ll have a variety of different sleepers, {this 2-pack of LoftAire pillows} is a good choice because they’re medium firmness and have synthetic fill for guest who are allergic to down. I love that they each come in a cotton storage bag!

I always leave a few other pillow options in our guest room armoire too so guests can choose what works best for them.

5. Pillow Protectors

Just like you should use a mattress protector, you should protect your pillows too, especially in your guest room! No one wants to be sleeping on the yellow stained pillow from a previous guest or one that’s filled with dust! {These pillow protectors} from The Company Store are perfect because they zipper shut but they’re still breathable so you don’t get uncomfortable air pockets or any plastic-y crinkling like you do from some others. 

After covering your pillows with protectors, pillow covers matching your sheets are your next layer.

6. Blanket

I don’t have a blanket on our guest bed right now because a coverlet and duvet is plenty for warmer months but you might want to add a blanket in the winter depending on where you live. When I have blankets on our beds, I sandwich them between the flat sheet and the quilt/coverlet. The Company Store has tons of blanket options from cotton weave to fleece, wool, and more:

7. Quilt or Coverlet 

I have a quilt or coverlet on every bed in our house! The main difference between the two is that coverlets are generally lighter weight but I pretty much use them interchangeably. Both work beautifully for layering and wash up really well. In the summer, a top sheet and quilt or coverlet might be all that you need! 

8. Duvet Cover & Comforter Insert

I always sleep with a duvet, even in the hottest part of summer because it’s so cozy! In our master bedroom, sometimes I put the duvet under the quilt and sometimes I put it over the quilt but in our guest room I always put the quilt/coverlet on first and then the duvet on top. That way it’s easy for guests to remove the duvet if they don’t want that added layer of warmth. 

And it reverses to a solid white so you could always put the white side up and just fold back the top several inches to show a peek of the chambray stripe. I have it folded in quarters (sometimes I do thirds but this duvet is nice and generously sized) at the end of the bed:

As far as choosing a duvet insert, I could write a whole post just about that (maybe I will…)! Since it’s summer, I chose the LaCrosse Light Down Comforter {here} which is the perfect summer weight to add a layer of coziness without too much extra warmth. Also, it’s an affordable price point and all of The Company Store’s LaCrosse items come with a lifetime guarantee. You can get this exact down comforter in other weights too depending on what you’re looking for including medium warmth, extra warmth, and ultra warmth based on the fill weight.  And The Company Store has a LaCrosse LoftAIRE version that is made of synthetic down for those with down allergies.

When selecting a duvet insert, the things that I look for other than the weight are (1) box construction so that the down can’t all shift to one end (2) corner loops that attach the comforter to the duvet cover at each end, (3) that the size of the duvet insert is a fairly close match to the size of the duvet cover, and (4) that it’s machine washable (vs. dry clean only). You can also compare comforters/duvet inserts by looking at the fill power – a higher fill power means that the down clusters are larger so the comforter will be lighter, fluffier, and more insulating. Generally you’ll find that the price goes up as the fill power goes up. You can find more information to help you choose the comforter that works best for you {here}. 

9. Decorative Throw Pillows

And finally, the most fun part… the throw pillows! The formula I most often use for a queen bed is two 26″ pillows, two 20-22″ pillows, and one 18-20″ or lumbar pillow. This is the beautiful trio that I chose for our guest room:

Update: Later in the year I swapped out the white linen pillows in the middle for these deep blue embroidered pillows and love this look too:

Especially when Hope is modeling her sweet plaid doggie pjs (yes, ridiculous… I know, I know!) along with them:

The 20″ white linen pillow covers in the middle are super versatile and I’m sure will make their way into many different rooms of our home. And the blue and white covers have the most beautiful embroidery – truly stunners up close:

As always, I recommend that you size up with your pillow inserts, choosing an insert that’s 2″ bigger than the pillow cover (so a 22″ pillow insert for a 20″ pillow cover, etc.). I like to have quality down inserts for the two largest decorative pillows (or Euro shams if you have those instead) since those are what most people use as back support if they’re sitting in bed reading or watching TV. But I think it’s fine to go with less expensive inserts for the smaller pillows since those are mostly there just to look pretty and aren’t used! You can see all of the different pillow inserts that The Company Store offers {here}. 

And with that, you’ve created a beautiful, cozy bed that’s going to give you an amazing night’s sleep!

I’ve gathered together a full list of sources for every piece from The Company Store that I shared throughout the post in case there was anything you missed! 

Dust-mite proof mattress/box spring protector | Waterproof quilted mattress pad | Bamboo/cotton sheets | 2-pack pillows | Pillow protectors | White basketweave coverlet & blue and white duvet cover – no longer available | Comforter used as duvet insert (LaCrosse light down) | Blue & white pillow covers are unfortunately no longer available

Guest room paint color, furniture, and accessory sources are linked {here}

Hope you all are having a great start to your week and that you’re finally getting the same break from the heat that we are (it got into the mid 90’s here a few days back which is a rarity in Connecticut!). Thanks as always for stopping by!