Bed-making tips from the pros

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Jonny Valiant

Jonny Valiant

Mattress shops, hotels -- and the U.S. Marines -- offer expert how-to's

Bed-Making Tips from … a Mattress Shop
Hästens, a high-end retailer, takes a minimalist approach when dressing beds. Its stores feature beds dressed in only mattress covers, fitted sheets, and down comforters. It's what's inside that counts: The Vividus mattress, at $59,750 (yes, you read that right), contains braided, permed horsehair to provide extra bounce.

Shown from top:

  • Queen Plush Innerspring mattress by Room & Board, $499. To Buy: 800-301-9720.
  • SpringFree by Sealy Posturepedic box spring, $1,899 to $3,199 for queen (includes mattress). To Buy: www.sealy.com for retailers.

Learn How to Create the Ideal Bed at Real Simple.

Jonny Valiant

Jonny Valiant

Bed-Making Tips from … the U.S. Marines
To pull sheets as tightly as possible on their "racks," or beds, Marines create hospital corners on all sides of the bottom sheet, then align the top sheet and the blanket with the head of the bed and make three six-inch folds down so 12 inches of the bottom sheet show. And, yes, you just might be able to bounce a quarter off it.

Bedding, shown from left:

  • Peruvian wool throw in chocolate brown by ABC Carpet & Home, $155. To Buy: 212-473-3000.
  • CandyStripe cotton-sateen sheet set in azalea, with scalloped stitching, by 1891 by Sferra, $229 for queen. To Buy: www.sferralinens.com for stores.
  • Samode fitted cotton sheet in sea glass by John Robshaw Textiles, $175 for queen. To Buy: www.johnrobshaw.com.

Jonny Valiant

Jonny Valiant

Bed-Making Tips from…the Four Seasons
Each flat sheet is tucked in with a three-inch "foot pocket" fold across the bottom so feet don't get squished. "In one Seinfeld episode, George went to a hotel and ripped off the covers because they were so tight," says Erik Wood, director of housekeeping in New York City. "No one has to worry about that here."

Bedding, shown from top:

  • Marrakech Egyptian-cotton-sateen Euro shams in chocolate by Ankasa, $75 each. To Buy: www.ankasa.com for retailers.
  • Tullgarn cotton duvet in white and chocolate, $225 for queen. To Buy: www.designersguildusa.com.
  • Marlin Egyptian-cotton coverlet in white by Lulu DK Matouk, $450 for full. To Buy: www.gracioushome.com.
  • Celine brushed-cotton throw in willow by Sferra, $70. To Buy: www.sferralinens.com.

From Real Simple: Surprising Upgrades for Any Bedroom

Jonny Valiant

Jonny Valiant

Bed-Making Tips from…Bloomingdale's
Buy an upholstered headboard and use a bed skirt in a similar color for a polished look, says Guy Barbarulo, an interior designer for Bloomingdale's. He also suggests 100 percent cotton sheets and a duvet with baffled (sewn) boxes, which keep the down from shifting. Keep throw pillows to a minimum, he says.

Pillows, shown clockwise from top:

  • Gin Lane pillowcase in moss by John Robshaw Textiles, $80 for standard. To Buy: www.johnrobshaw.com.
  • Washed Linen Collection pillowcase by Eileen Fisher Home for Garnet Hill, $75 for a standard pair. To Buy: www.garnethill.com.
  • Decorative pillows in pomegranate and hazelnut by ABC Carpet & Home, $200 each. To Buy: 212-473-3000.
  • Lowell boudoir sham in coral by Matouk, $55. To Buy: www.matouk.com for retailers.

More from Real Simple:
Nightstands That Really Work
Bedside Tables with a Twist
Unexpected Side Tables

Related: sheets, bedroom, bed

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From the Community…

Comments 1-5 of 5
  • 's Avatar
    Posted by Tue Jan 27, 2009 2:05pm PST

    Is anyone else sick of seeing beds piled up with lotsa pillows and throw pillows. What do folks do at night, throw them on the floor, put them in the closet, what? When one speaks of "dressing a bed", is that to mean overdressed?

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  • Sweet T's Avatar
    Posted by Sweet T Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:25pm PST

    Janet G, I hear ya. I worked for a bedding company for a while, and some of the bed dressing designs were so over the top, it just seemed excessive. I personally have a couple of decorative pillows on my bed which I throw on the floor when it's time for bed. However, I don't see much of a point in having pillows creeping over half the mattress.

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  • 's Avatar
    Posted by Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:16am PST

    man I have a king size pillow top bed,with a fitted sheet, 4 king medium pillows, bed skirt and a comforter. makes it easier in the morning.

    Report Abuse
  • aaru's Avatar
    Posted by aaru Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:55pm PST

    I've always felt that too many pillows on a bed was ridiculous! I`m glad many others feel the same. Lets make life easier. I have only two pillows on my bed and I would never have more than that, EVER!

    Report Abuse
  • MissUnderstood's Avatar
    Posted by MissUnderstood Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:59pm PST

    Everyone has their likes, dislikes, and purposes. Its an individual choice. Designers/stores overdress the beds simply as "Eye candy". I for one would never cover half the bed with an abundance of pillows (4 max) But as a home maker i believe in making home as comfortable and "Neat" in appearance for no other reason than for my boyfriend to come home to a "Home" and not a dump. So those questioning the abundance of pillows, while not "Functional" it does provide a "Comfy" feel when he comes home, same applies throughout my home.

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