Your bedroom is undoubtedly the most personal room in your house. Where kitchens and sitting rooms are designed to host guests and visitors, bedrooms are created for their occupiers only–and without prying eyes, you are free to create something that really reflects your tastes and personality.
The bed is the indisputable centrepiece of any bedroom scheme. An excellent vehicle for textiles, it can be hard to resist the temptation to chuck all your favourite fabrics onto one bed, which can result in a messy look where everything vies for your attention and the eye has nowhere to rest. How to create a cohesive look? We've asked the experts, from our decoration editor Rémy Mishon, who has created endless beautiful beds for the magazine, to some of the finest interior designers working today.
Where to start
The first thing to assess is your personal preference. As Rémy Mishon explains, 'you need to first consider what you actually like the feel of, rather than just the look of. Choosing aesthetics over comfort is not a battle worth waging when a good night's sleep is at stake.' Think about how you sleep too and, when it comes to making the bed, consider whether you want to prioritise speed or the end product.
The frame
Next, think about your bed frame. The bed base will end up dictating much more of your bedding than you might think. If you have a hard wood or cast iron frame, you'll need some seriously well stuffed cushions in order to sit up and read, or have your morning coffee comfortably in bed. ('I always wondered what Peggy Guggenheim used to stop her hair getting caught on her bed frame,' adds Rémy.) If you have an upholstered headboard, you'll be able to lean against the frame without a great wedge of cushions to support you.
Beyond function, certain bed frames suit certain bedding. As interior designer Charlotte Boundy says, ‘With a divan base and upholstered headboard, a tailored valance in matching fabric is essential for a seamless finish.' By contrast, Charlotte 'prefers to leave the space beneath a cast iron bed exposed. as it’s visually lighter and allows the craftsmanship of the frame to take centre stage.’
Metal bed frames are trickier to work with, so require careful planning. Interior designer Laura Stephens loves cast iron beds, but says ‘they can be a challenge to style. If there’s a high frame at the end you can end up wrestling with the bedding trying to tuck it behind the frame and it rarely looks neat.' However, when she does opt to use them, she tends to ‘use smaller bedspreads which can just be folded and draped over the sides of the bed rather than over the end of it. They are also, even with cushions, not comfortable to sit up and read in.’ For a child’s bedroom I recently addressed this problem by creating a pretty, frilled back cushion (about 7cm thick so the bars couldn’t be felt through it) with ties at the top to keep it in place on the iron frame. It worked brilliantly and allowed her to keep her lovely cast iron bed.’ Interior designer Daniel Slowik adds, ‘an iron bed frame doesn’t tend to have a valance so I think they look best with tucked in sheets and blankets. You don’t want great spaniel ears of duvet hanging over a big black hole.’
The flat sheet & blanket versus duvet debate
While most people sit firmly on one side of the fence, those undecided should consider how they actually sleep before deciding whether invest in a duvet, or a flat sheet and blanket combo. As Rémy puts it, ‘some people loathe a duvet and prefer an old school sheet and blanket approach, whilst others associate a flat sheet and blanket with teenage memories of uncomfortable nights in European hostels. Do you like to take the form of a human taco as you sleep, swaddled like an overgrown baby? Or do you like to kick your duvet around in the night so an overheated foot can gasp for air?’
For interior designer Laura Stephens there's 'something glorious about gliding into a bed made up with blankets and a flat sheet. I do enjoy not dealing with the bulk of a duvet, and controlling your body temperature by adding a blanket or two feels very luxurious. I've discovered Sleep Dohars by Shades of Cool London and I love them for this.' Top100 designer Octavia Dickinson agrees. ‘I was brought up with sheets and blankets, and while I’ve adapted to duvets, I still think sheets and eiderdowns look the best, particularly on old fashioned metal-framed beds where you want to see the lines and form of the frame. Duvets often hang over and hide this. When I’m photographing a bedroom, I almost always make the bed with sheets for this reason.' Daniel Slowik says ‘flat sheets, blankets and eiderdown are my ideal. They look neater somehow. Duvets tend to come out lumpy on the sides but many people prefer them. I would always encourage a top sheet and definitely a bedspread with a duvet.’
Admittedly, making a bed up with a flat sheet and blanket combination is more time consuming than using a duvet. As Laura says, ‘this method of bed dressing is incredibly labour intensive and most of us simply don’t have time for arranging sheets and blankets (and attempting hospital corners) each morning. I can barely get my teen to drag her duvet off the floor and place it somewhere vaguely in the direction of the bed so the thought of badgering her to layer blankets each morning is inconceivable. However, I do hope to enter my blankets ‘era’ maybe when there are fewer demands on the morning routine!’
Octavia provides an alternative idea. ‘If sheets and blankets feel like too much work, then go for a happy medium: a top sheet with a duvet. It looks smart, and offers guests a few options. They can tuck themselves in, leave it loose, or ignore it altogether. Personally, I prefer linen to cotton for its texture and natural feel.’ Charlotte Boundy's personal preference is similar. She says, 'I like a neatly pressed flat sheet, layered with a duvet for comfort and warmth, and finished with a quilt made from a suzani or antique textile to lend depth and texture.’
Angelica Squire, however, is ‘definitely a duvet girl. I love the weight of it and always opt for natural fillings rather than anything synthetic.’
Must you iron your bedding?
Lazy and time-poor people should cover their eyes! The consensus is ‘yes’, you should iron your bedding. Laura Stephens says, ‘Despite being relatively low maintenance when it comes to bedding, one thing I feel makes a real difference is ironing your sheets. Slipping into bed with a crisply ironed duvet cover on is one of life’s great joys which I’m not prepared to give up. Despite claims of ‘easy care’ or ‘no need to press’ bedding, I find if sheets aren’t ironed, the whole bed resembles a scrunched up tea towel very quickly. Ironing sheets keeps things looking lovely for longer - especially with a super quick smooth over with your hand in the morning. Anything which provides a calm soothing start to a night’s sleep is worth that little extra effort.' Daniel Slowik agrees. ‘Bedding should always be the crispest of crisp and perfectly ironed! Nothing better than fresh starched, ironed cotton sheets.’
The cushion conundrum
How many cushions is too many cushions? Rémy has 'fond memories of my grandmother's emperor size bed being covered in what must have been at least 12 cushions–at least. The whole thing was so grandiose but visually, it somehow just ended up making sense. My grandparents loved to lounge in bed and there were always grandchildren sitting up having their breakfast on a tray in between them whilst they read the paper, so many of these cushions also had a very practical use for both propping up backs and nesting trays on. It was glam, over the top but also very enticing.'
With that said, Rémy suggests an assessment of 'how many cushions you can genuinely be bothered to remove before you can get into bed. If you're under the sheets and nodding off in mere minutes then perhaps it makes sense to keep your cushions curtailed and go ham with interesting pillowcases and a lovely blanket. Alternatively, keep your bedding simple and add a single beautiful cushion and a blanket to compliment it.' Angelica Squire encourages the same. ‘Whilst lots of cushions can sounds appealing aesthetically, consider how long it will actually take you to make your bed in the morning when you’re no doubt starved of time. Don’t go overboard!'
Daniel Slowik is ‘happiest with two cushions to pick up the scheme. You don’t want to spend your whole evening throwing off cushions and then wading through them!’ Octavia Dickinson says, ‘There’s no hard and fast rule for bed cushions. It entirely depends on who’s using the bed and who’s making it. I wouldn’t bother carefully selecting beautifully curated cushions for a teenager’s room. They won’t put them back properly and they’ll end up looking a mess on the floor. For main spare rooms, I like a pair of large 65cm white linen cushions, with a set of small ‘little pillows’ in front. Volga Linen do lovely gathered and hemstitched covers that can be personalised with initials.’
For Laura, 'the most successful way to use cushions on a bed (and certainly the most practical) is to use two large square plump cushions (I always buy duck feather inners which are one size larger than the covers for extra ‘plump’). They are super useful to support the whole back plus provide a lovely opportunity to add an interesting fabric (and, ideally, a trim) into the mix. I find some (not all) clients particularly resistant to the tedium of taking more than one or maximum two cushions off the bed, and likewise, putting them back. For me, the limit is either a large square and smaller bolster (for extra support and ideally the same length as the large square) OR a large square with a single bolster in front to finish the look.’
To bolster or not to bolster
Interior designer Daniel Slowik says, ‘I’ve always enjoyed a matching bolster and fitted bedspread in the right context. Very 30s. Think Syrie Maugham or Lady Baillie at Leeds Castle. It’s simple, tailored and very chic.’
‘I love how a single bolster looks,' continues Laura Stephens. ‘It makes a bed look neat and finished and avoids you having to take multiple sets of cushions on and off when you get in and out of bed! However, a single bolster is not the most practical option day to day. If there are two of you in a bed, sharing a single low bolster to sit up and read does not lead to the most harmonious end to the day. I tend to style guest rooms (where beds are less frequented) with a lovely long bolster which looks smart and quick to style when changing the bedding.'
Angelica agrees that ‘a single lumbar or bolster can be more impactful than too many layers of sizes and patterns. Less is often more. We’re finding more and more, where space allows, clients are opting for emperor sized beds which are really quite large and in this case, a single long lumbar or bolster doesn’t work because it becomes ridiculously long! So in this instance I’d go for a set in front of each pillow stack.’ Charlotte Boundy, favours ‘a simple yet considered approach, typically styling with either a pair of embroidered cushions or a single, sculptural bolster to introduce form.’
Layering
When it comes to building up layers, most interior designers are in agreement that white bedding is the best starting point. Once you have that base, you can add whatever cushions and blankets you want.
Octavia Dickinson is one such example. ‘I am a firm believer in white bed linen. There are very few exceptions to this rule, usually limited to children’s linen which can take a small decorative motif. I tend to look to The White Company, Cologne & Cotton, Porthault or Maison T, but the overall look should still feel fresh and white.’ From there, Octavia will layer a variety of textiles on top. ‘I adore an old-fashioned eiderdown, but they can feel a bit much over a duvet. They are, after all, essentially another duvet. In those cases, I prefer layering with bedspreads and throws. A vintage American red-and-white eiderdown is impossibly inviting, but often very expensive. I love collecting bed textiles so I can swap things in and out as the seasons change. If you find a beautiful bedspread, snap it up—they’re surprisingly hard to come by at a good price.'
Laura Stephens is in agreement. She likes to keep things relatively simple so that making the bed is less of a struggle. As such, she recommends choosing one large quilt or bedspread in addition to a duvet cover. This breaks up the ‘vast expanse of white’. 'I tend to simply fold the blanket down and place it two thirds along the end of the bed. If sheets are white I like to use the quilt as an opportunity to enhance the room scheme, so pull out a colour from the headboard, wallpaper or window treatment to keep things cohesive. Niki Jones does the highest quality softest velvet bedspreads which are backed with linen. When they’re turned down it looks like there’s an extra layer of a different fabric which is a nice touch and adds a relaxed feel to the bed.
Rémy Mishon generally uses plain bedding in a good colour as a base for sheets and pillowcases. ‘Once Milano, By Molle, Bed Threads, Designers Guild and La Redoute all come up trumps. For crisp white cottons with smart edging or pretty detailing then I try The White Company or Cologne & Cotton. I can be partial to a pattern, though often that lies in a good stripe from Toast or Piglet in Bed.'
She continues, ‘If you have a patterned headboard or bed hangings, adding a simple complementary throw that picks up on a less obvious colour from within your pattern is an easy win. Add some cushions in a different scale pattern, or a lovely texture in your colour palette and be done. If your bed is more exposed or has simpler textile surroundings, you can have some fun with bolder patterns: you could add a beautiful embroidered quilt with some big cushions in a punchy colour and a single, small, pretty in front. Alternatively, mix a patterned quilt with a contrasting throw, or a mixture of patterned cushions with some plain.'
Where to shop
Rémy loves makers and smaller brands such as Lora Avedian, Repose, Montes & Clark, 510 Laundry, Sarah K, JP de Meyer, Haines and Nushka. For effective throws, quilts and cushions that plump up your scheme, she recommends trying Zara Home and Caravane. For children's bedding, Angelica Squire loves The White Company, Cologne & Cotton and Maison T.
Laura Stephens says, 'Friends of ours who run The Beckford Arms in Wiltshire once told me the secret to their fantastic bed sheets which are crisp, wash brilliantly and easy to iron is Richard Haworth. He supplies to hotels but you can also buy single quantities of bedding. It’s my 'go to' for high quality, reasonably priced bedding which lasts for years. In addition to Niki Jones, Toast does great quilts and I’ve purchased some lovely, pretty bedspreads from Zara Home over the years, plus sleep dohars for summer instead of flat sheets from Shades of Cool London. Octavia Dickinson uses a 'wonderful supplier called Glanmar, also known as EPOC Beds, who offer a brilliant range of bases and mattresses, and can also make bespoke pieces for four poster beds.’
MAY WE SUGGEST: Dear Fiona: does preferring a duvet make me a sloppy housekeeper?
