Are you ready for bed making 101? I’m showing you the step by step of creating a cozy, stylish 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:
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. {This gossamer cotton blanket} is a favorite:
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 & 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.
I have this duvet 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 wrote an entire post on what to look for when shopping for one – check it out my duvet insert shopping guide {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}
Thanks as always for stopping by!
Kris, I love this blue and white combo- those embroidered pillows are gorgeous! And, would you believe I have never use pillow protectors? OMG that would solve so much! haha. Thank you for the tip!
Well get on it! 🙂 Thanks for your sweet words!
Hi!
On the subject of bed making, my question is how much is enough to spend on the bed? There is a $1600 queen size Crate and Barrel bed I like for our guest room, but am unsure of quality.
Thanks!
Steff Whitney
That’s always such a tough call! I think that for $1600 you should be able to find something of very good quality! I personally wouldn’t spend any more than that for a guest room.
Where do you put all the pillows every night?
We have a little loveseat in this room so the pillows can just be thrown on top of it 🙂
Looks beautiful and cozy and I love those embroidered pillow covers! Thanks, Kris, for all of your wonderful and very helpful tips.
Thank you Judy!
This is possibly a basic question, but I have a king-size bed and my duvet covers never seem to drape down the sides of the bed long enough for my liking, which is as pictured in this post. Any suggestions?
I’ve definitely had that issue before too – for example my IKEA duvet and cover just kind of sit on top without much draping. It’s just all about finding companies that sell more generously sized duvets and inserts. The Company Store’s are some of the most generous in size that I’ve found so you get the pretty draping.
I have an iron bed frame that shows the mattress and box spring and the black metal support bars on the bottom. I never know how to decorate with that. I’m kind of tired of dust ruffles
I hear you! I was feeling the same way about our guest bed which is why I ended up getting this upholstered bed – I was ready to ditch my bed skirt! I still have a similar situation in our master bedroom and found that using a more simple, tailored bed skirt gives me more of the look that I like!
Can you share where you got the upholstered bed frame. I’m in the market for a king size one. Thanks!
What a fun post. I’ve always liked Cotton Company and found their products to be of great quality. The throw pillows on the bed you show is amazing. The blue and white pillow is my favorite (with the embroidery work on it). Thanks for always giving us detailed and beautiful ideas for everyday living space in our homes.
Karen
Thank you Karen – you are always so sweet to stop by and comment! XO
Where is the mirror above the bed from? I love it!
Thank you! The mirror and other room sources are linked here: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/guest-room-sources/
This is such a thorough guide! I need a lot of help with the decorative aspects of layering a bed to look cozy, but you’ve given me great pointers for the practical aspects as well. Need this for both my own bed as well as the guest room we’re currently redecorating, so very timely!
I’m so glad that you found it helpful Lauren!
Kris, where do you put your SLEEPING pillows, the ones that match the sheets and which you actually put your heads on? I love how your bed looks, but where are the “real” pillows? Thanks.
They’re behind the decorative pillows! Look at pictures 1 and 5 in this post – you can clearly see them from those angles 🙂
What size pillows and configuration do you suggest for the decorative pillows on a king size bed?
I play around with all sorts of different arrangements! You can see my current pillow arrangement in our master bedroom in this post: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/favorite-spring-summer-essentials/
Love your Bed Making 101 guidelines. I also live in CT and those 90 degree days were really something. Thank goodness for Central AC!
Can you share with me where you got the lovely Roman Shade that is in the bedroom pics? We are remodeling a townhome we recently purchased and I’m looking for something like that (hope it won’t break the bank as some window treatments do)!
Any suggestions?
Thanks very much~
Hi Rosemary, I had the Roman shade custom made since the window is an odd size – unfortunately the fabric I used is no longer available. Wish I had an easier answer!
Where did you get your roman shade for this room
Hi Kristine, I had that custom made since the window is an odd size – unfortunately the fabric I used is no longer available.
With a King bed, what would be your rule on the number of pillows?
How was assembling the bed? Was it really difficult? It’s a great looking bed but I know sometimes they can be really hard to put together.
Hi Jeannene,
I’ve assembled two of them now since we bought one for our house in NC too. It’s definitely a two person job that took a little over an hour to put together. I definitely thought the assembly time was worthwhile for such a well priced piece!
where do you buy the pillow inserts? I have purchased the covers from The Company Store but they do not carry a 22″ or 28″ insert.
Hi Sandra – this post has some different sources for pillow inserts that I like: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/what-size-how-choose-arrange-throw-pillows/
Beautiful! I am so inspired. Can you share where you got the herringbone quilt and the duvet cover?
Oops! I see now that the coverlet and duvet cover are no longer available. May I ask what area rug that is? Thanks!
I LOVE LOVE this bedding. I found the duvet on their website. But, really would like the embroidered pillow look – any suggestions since you say they are not available now?
Love it! So many people don’t use a top sheet which seems gross and uncomfortable to me