Your bedspread plays a crucial role in your bedroom's aesthetics. Choosing between silky sateen or crisp percale, a comforter or duvet insert, and whether to include a top sheet can significantly affect the overall vibe of your space.
I consulted a panel of expert interior designers about their morning bed-making routines and their favorite bedding brands. Their insights will help you find a style that resonates with you.
From minimalist elegance to a maximalist approach, these designers reveal how to create a bed that feels luxurious and enhances your bedroom design.
Tips for a Designer-Style Bed
Experts unanimously agree that investing in quality bedding is essential. 'Never compromise on quality when choosing bedding,' shares an award-winning designer. 'You spend a lot of time in bed, so it should be a restful sanctuary. Opt for the finest luxury sheets and duvets, crafted sustainably for your comfort.'
1. Minimalist Vibes
Adopting a minimalist approach, a principal designer emphasizes simplicity, often skipping the top sheet, which can become tangled. She prefers cotton percale for its coolness, cotton sateen for a silky touch, and linen for its relaxed, sophisticated appeal.
Sticking to a neutral palette of soft creams or warm ivories creates a serene backdrop, allowing for vibrant accent colors like deep blues or earthy mustards to add personality. Recommended brands for this aesthetic include Rifle Paper Co., Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and Anthropologie.
I adore the subtle stripes on this cotton sateen sheet set, which offers a smooth, silky feel and a beautiful sheen.
2. Maximalist Style
A principal designer embraces layering with flat and fitted sheets for a luxurious bed. She suggests that a top sheet provides a polished look and separates the duvet from the fitted sheet.
Cotton sateen and percale are popular choices, while linen and silk provide unique qualities but require more care. White sheets are a classic choice, easy to clean, and serve as a fresh base for decorative elements like duvet covers and throw pillows.
The Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set remains a top pick for its unmatched comfort, cooling properties, and washability.
3. Effortless Sophistication
A designer known for creating luxurious retreats favors skipping the top sheet for a European-style bed, opting for a duvet with a cover for easy upkeep and an inviting appearance.
Her preferred materials include breathable linen and crisp cotton percale, with brands like Parachute, Brooklinen, and Boll & Branch being her go-tos. Earthy tones and subtle textures add depth without overwhelming the space.
This Parachute Linen Bundle is ideal for hot sleepers, featuring a flat sheet, fitted sheet, duvet cover, pillowcases, and shams in soothing earth tones.
4. Personal Touch
A designer with a passion for creating the perfect bed shares her formula: fitted sheet, top sheet, quilt or matelassé, folded duvet, sleeping pillows, and decorative shams, allowing for one additional decorative pillow.
She mentions that two shams are sufficient, and for children's beds, simplification is key. For a child's room, she often uses one sleeping pillow and a single decorative sham, omitting the duvet cover for an easy throw at the bed's end.
The Jeffen Linen Blend Sham Set from RE/FINE is a fantastic budget-friendly option, complete with a linen-cotton blend for durability and breathability.
5. Calming Ambiance
A designer prioritizes comfort and timelessness in bedding, favoring high-quality linen for its breathable feel and cotton percale for a crisp touch, reminiscent of luxury hotels.
She prefers duvets with quality covers for coziness and easy cleaning, often forgoing the top sheet for a minimalist look. Neutral tones evoke serenity, with soft prints adding subtle visual interest.
The Matouk Positano Collection features crisp, cool cotton percale with a refined hemstitch.
6. Hotel Quality at Home
A designer shares her tips for achieving a hotel-worthy bed. She prefers keeping the top bedding white and clean, as it's classic and easy to maintain. Cotton percale is her go-to for its breathability and softness with use.
Duvets are preferred over comforters for their versatility and sharp appearance. Recommended brands include Frette, John Robshaw, and Boll & Branch for their quality and distinctiveness.
The Boll & Branch Down Duvet Insert ranks as a top choice, filled with ethically sourced feathers.
7. Mix and Match
A designer embraces a playful approach to patterns and colors, asserting that matching bedding sets are outdated. Customizable mix-and-match sets allow for unique styles.
Brands like Piglet in Bed offer a fun 'Build a Bundle' feature for personalized bedding designs. Mixing fabrics keeps the bed fresh, pairing relaxed linen with crisp cotton.
The Piglet in Bed Heritage 100% Linen Bundle allows for a bespoke bedspread, mixing and matching for creative combinations.
8. Accents Matter
A designer highlights the importance of throw pillows in adding character to a simple white bedspread. Handwoven patterns integrated with modern fabrics can enhance depth and dimension.
Her favorite geometric print cushion adds a pop of color, breaking the monotony of white sheets.
Ultimately, there's no one-size-fits-all solution for the best bedding materials. Your choices will depend on personal preferences, regional climate, seasonal changes, and your unique style.
If you're seeking guidance on selecting quality bedding, explore our essential bed sheet buying rules.
