Updated: Nov 7, 2023 by Kris Jarrett

Bed Making 101: How to Layer a Bed for a Designer Look!

Get ready for bed making 101! I’m showing you how to layer a bed for a designer look that rivals a five-star hotel!

What’s just as important as having beautiful bedding? Knowing how to arrange it! Today I’m sharing a bed making 101 guide to show you exactly how to layer a bed step by step, starting from the bare mattress all the way through to the final throw pillow.

I’m also giving you my bedding recommendations, including the best duvet inserts, pillows, sheets, and more. By the end of this bed making guide, you’ll know everything that you need on your bed to build the foundation for a great night’s sleep (and look beautiful doing it)! (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})

Finished bed showing all of the layers it takes to make it, as described in this bed making guide.

1. Put on a Dust Mite Proof Mattress Protector

Layering your bed 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:

Great recommendation for protecting your mattress from dust mites!

Look for one that matches the height of your mattress instead of getting a “one size fits all” protector for the best fit. When you buy a new mattress, put a mattress protector on it from day one to extend its life. 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 so it’s protected from this point on.

2. Add a Waterproof Mattress Pad

You also want to protect your mattress from spills and accidents and have a layer that’s easier to remove and wash than a mattress protector. So the next step is to add a waterproof mattress pad such as {this quilted mattress pad}:

Waterproof mattress pad on bed under sheets

And 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. Next Up Are the Sheets

The next layer includes 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 primary bed and use other types of sheets for the rest of the beds in our home. Here’s the bedmaking 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 {these bamboo/cotton sheets} on our guest bed and really love them!

I 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:

Sheets folded back over the coverlet on the bed

Side view of a bed showing the different bedding layers

Organic Cotton Sheets

Organic cotton sheets such as {these} that are on our primary bed 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 ⅓ of your life in bed!

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. I’ve tried {these microfiber sheets} which get amazing reviews and they truly are super soft and wrinkle free.

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. Add Your Sleeping 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. Generally you want to choose a pillow that is soft for stomach sleepers, medium for back sleepers, and firm or extra firm for side sleepers.

5. Don’t Forget the 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} are perfect because they zip shut but are 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. Layer on a 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. {This gossamer cotton blanket} that comes in tons of color options is a favorite:

7. Add a 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!

LOVE this basketweave coverlet! One of the bedding essentials in this bed making 101 post!

My go-to quilt is {this Belgian flax linen quilt} that I have in three colors. They are pricey but I’ve had them for years and they look as good as the day I bought them. They wash up beautifully!

8. Make it Fluffy With a Duvet Cover & Insert

A duvet is key for making your bed look fluffy and inviting so I add it as the final bedding layer.

Fluffy duvet layered over quilt as part of bed making 101

On this bed, I have this duvet folded in quarters (you can also fold it in thirds) at the end of the bed:

Duvet folded in thirds at the end of the bed

In other cases, like you can see here in our primary bedroom, I cover the entire foot of the bed with the duvet and simply fold it back twice from the top:

Blush bedroom lamps on nightstand next to upholstered bed

What duvet insert should you use in your duvet? One of my favorites is {this duvet insert} that’s checks all of the boxes of what I look for. Another good and slightly lower cost option is {this duvet insert}. I love that it has oversized options that completely fill out even larger duvets.

Want to know more about choosing a duvet insert? I wrote an entire post on what to look for when shopping for one – check it out my guide for finding the best fluffy duvet insert.

9. Add 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. But check out my post on how to arrange pillows on a queen bed for more options. This is the beautiful group of pillows that I chose for our guest room:

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 since those are what most people use as back support if they’re sitting in bed reading or watching TV. {These down inserts} are my favorite because they’re nice and fluffy and more reasonably priced than many other down pillows. 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!

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

Fully made bed created using bed making 101 tips

I hope you enjoyed these bed making 101 tips! Thanks as always for stopping by!

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Bed Making 101: How to Layer a Bed for a Designer Look!

1. Put on a Dust Mite Proof Mattress Protector

2. Add a Waterproof Mattress Pad