Today, you’ll learn how to make your bed the RIGHT way. At this point in my profession, I can confidently declare that I am a bed-making (styling) expert, precisely as my parents envisioned for me when I was a child. Mom and Dad, I did it!! But, like with anything, after years of doing something and making HUNDREDS of beds, you forget that it’s not that straightforward for everyone. There are a million ways to make a bed, but not all of them look beautiful, so we’ve come up with some fool-proof formulas that are GUARANTEED to work and will give you the inviting bed of your dreams. There are also likely to be a few blunders and misunderstandings that you should be aware of in order to avoid them.

PIC CREDIT: EMILY HENDERSON

This is a formula that WORKS and is actually quite simple and minimal, while still looking put-together on the bed. You’re done when you have four back pillows and one long lumbar pillow.

Yes. Four’sleeping’ pillows, in my opinion (as shown through all of these examples). While you only sleep on one, you’ll need both for the’sitting up’ portion of the evening (reading or watching TV…..ooooohhhhhhh). Consider each layer to be a’set,’ and yes, the sets can vary (but keep both pillows within the set or pair the same). For the leaning, you might want a firmer pillow behind your squishier’sleeping’ pillow. Plus, four pillows seem far more welcoming and effectively balance the bed’s length and width.

 

PIC CREDIT: EMILY HENDERSON

By the way, if you’re desperate to know what my favourite sleeping insert is, it’s this one.

I have an inventory of ‘prop’ pillows that are fluffier and firmer since the softer the pillow, the harder it is to shape for images. But I prefer a soft (but not flat) pillow. Sara has a memory foam cushion, and when I found out about it, I almost fired her. Monstrous.

VERY IMPORTANT: You must have king pillows if you have a king bed. A regular size will appear to be much too small.

PIC CREDIT: EMILY HENDERSON

Your two sets of pillows can be different, as I previously stated – we like to have two different colours or patterns. It can be faint at times, or it can be more prominent at other times (to pull in say, the throw blanket at the end).

Euro shams aren’t required. They’re the square pillows that you used to put in front of your sleeping pillows instead of two additional. We still use them now and then, although they aren’t necessary and can make a bed appear fussier and more ‘decorated.’ They aren’t ‘out,’ but they aren’t as in as they once were.

 

PIC CREDIT: EMILY HENDERSON

We’re working our way up from the most basic to the most elaborate. I realise this doesn’t appear to be all that different, but there are occasions when you want to add another colour, pattern, or layer to your outfit. If that’s your style, maintain the lumbar and replace it with a square, circle, or smaller rectangular cushion (I actually have TWO long lumbars on the mountain master bed that I haven’t filmed yet, but I love both – the larger linen one is in front of the smaller leather one).

 

PIC CREDIT: EMILY HENDERSON

Brady’s bedroom (above) has a giant king sham that serves as the ‘lumbar,’ which works perfectly, and then he added a rectangle lumbar in front (I’m not sure I’ll ever say lumbar again, it’s such a horrible term).

 

PIC CREDIT: EMILY HENDERSON

The double lumbar is still in use, as you can see (although the one in front is obviously just a rectangular pillow).

 

PIC CREDIT: EMILY HENDERSON

You can blend a round/circle pillow with a thin lumbar pillow, as we did in that bedroom, if you appreciate mathematics.

 

PIC CREDIT: EMILY HENDERSON

This formula is for you if you like to use a throw pillow (or if you already have some and don’t want to buy a lumbar). In front of your base four, we like to use two or three various sized (and shaped) pillows. It’s crucial to have one that’s roughly 24 inches long to properly ground the mini collection – especially on a king (a queen/full may tolerate 20 inches). We’ve compiled a list of our favourite combinations.

One large, one medium, and one tiny is an excellent formula we use. Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please Yes, they can be a variety of colours, patterns, and textures. At the end, bring in the colours from the headboard and your blankets/throws. You don’t want a quilt with a lot of vibrant or bold colours and then nothing at the top of the bed to balance it out. Use those colours once more. We created an entire piece about mixing pillows HERE and compiled a list of our favorite combinations.

 

PIC CREDIT: EMILY HENDERSON

You may certainly do just two, like we did (please note the blanket style activity – lover (aka Scott) adores blankets).