Decorating
12 Ways to Style Your Bed Beautifully
How you stack your pillows or layer your throws is key to a successfully styled bed. These smart sleep spaces show how it can be done
If making your bed is an event that occurs less frequently than a total eclipse, you might want to look away now! But if you do make your bed each day and feel like moving things up to the next level, read on. Turns out, there are numerous ways of doing it. In fact, your bed is simply a blank canvas on which to work some styling magic. Try the intentionally dishevelled look or steer towards something more minimal; go for symmetrical rows of cushions or neat stacks of pillows; make it match or create a clash. These 12 ideas point the way to beds styled to perfection.
Try the reverse
Surely the rule is pillows at the back, then cushions stacked in front? This bed shows how that arrangement can be mixed up a bit. Try lining up three cushions in a contrasting fabric against the headboard behind the pillows, which are neatly stacked in front. All the comfort, but a whole new look.
Surely the rule is pillows at the back, then cushions stacked in front? This bed shows how that arrangement can be mixed up a bit. Try lining up three cushions in a contrasting fabric against the headboard behind the pillows, which are neatly stacked in front. All the comfort, but a whole new look.
Steer away from the stack
Alternatively, arrange your pillows so they sit up straight like cushions and avoid the stacked pillow look entirely. This adds height at the bedhead without the need to scatter on heaps of cushions if that’s not your thing.
Alternatively, arrange your pillows so they sit up straight like cushions and avoid the stacked pillow look entirely. This adds height at the bedhead without the need to scatter on heaps of cushions if that’s not your thing.
Keep it simple
A double bed is a big ingredient in any bedroom and can dominate the space. Choosing matching bedding in a soft shade helps to reduce its impact. Stick to a very simple mix of bed linen, too: a duvet cover and pillowcases that match will suffice. Also, stick to tonally similar shades – here, the overall soft pastel palette gives this room coherence.
A double bed is a big ingredient in any bedroom and can dominate the space. Choosing matching bedding in a soft shade helps to reduce its impact. Stick to a very simple mix of bed linen, too: a duvet cover and pillowcases that match will suffice. Also, stick to tonally similar shades – here, the overall soft pastel palette gives this room coherence.
Find a full cover up
Bedspreads are classics of the bedroom and do a very simple job – they cover the bed. It creates a uniform appearance and can conceal a duvet cover or pillowcases that have seen better days. Choose something plain for a minimal look or go for full-on vintage folk with crochet, as in this colourful sleep space.
Bedspreads are classics of the bedroom and do a very simple job – they cover the bed. It creates a uniform appearance and can conceal a duvet cover or pillowcases that have seen better days. Choose something plain for a minimal look or go for full-on vintage folk with crochet, as in this colourful sleep space.
Go solo
Add a single cushion in a contrasting tone to break up plain, matching bedding. This idea creates a little variety against a uniform background without disturbing the light, uncomplicated look.
Creative ideas to make your bedroom work twice as hard
Add a single cushion in a contrasting tone to break up plain, matching bedding. This idea creates a little variety against a uniform background without disturbing the light, uncomplicated look.
Creative ideas to make your bedroom work twice as hard
Create an invitation
There is such a thing as an over-styled bed. If you find you don’t want to get in at night because it involves messing up the neatly stacked cushions on it, then things have gone a little too far. Instead, keep the look casual and simply make the bed with a corner of the duvet loosely turned down to invite you back in at night.
There is such a thing as an over-styled bed. If you find you don’t want to get in at night because it involves messing up the neatly stacked cushions on it, then things have gone a little too far. Instead, keep the look casual and simply make the bed with a corner of the duvet loosely turned down to invite you back in at night.
Make it modern minimal
Go further still, eschewing hotel-y cushion piles or layers of throws, and get back to basics with white bedding and a neat, simply made bed. This modern minimal look works well in a room already high on pattern or colour and prevents a sleep space feeling too busy.
Discover 11 ways to avoid a ‘floordrobe’ in your bedroom
Go further still, eschewing hotel-y cushion piles or layers of throws, and get back to basics with white bedding and a neat, simply made bed. This modern minimal look works well in a room already high on pattern or colour and prevents a sleep space feeling too busy.
Discover 11 ways to avoid a ‘floordrobe’ in your bedroom
Line them up
For some beds, symmetry is the only acceptable look – especially if you’re after a glamorous effect. Keep the duvet cover smooth and simple; think of it as your stage. Now add legions of cushions, stacked one against the other for a layered look. Start with pillows, then add smaller cushions, but make sure they are arranged crisply and symmetrically.
Try the ‘interior designer’s chop’ to the top edges of your cushions, too, to create the dipped-down look of the ones seen here.
For some beds, symmetry is the only acceptable look – especially if you’re after a glamorous effect. Keep the duvet cover smooth and simple; think of it as your stage. Now add legions of cushions, stacked one against the other for a layered look. Start with pillows, then add smaller cushions, but make sure they are arranged crisply and symmetrically.
Try the ‘interior designer’s chop’ to the top edges of your cushions, too, to create the dipped-down look of the ones seen here.
Top and tail
Give your bed a shot of pattern at its head and its foot – with bright cushions and a throw laid out in a beautifully neat strip. Try using different but related patterns that share the same tone, for a look rich with variety but also harmonious.
Give your bed a shot of pattern at its head and its foot – with bright cushions and a throw laid out in a beautifully neat strip. Try using different but related patterns that share the same tone, for a look rich with variety but also harmonious.
See double
One throw is great, but two? Now you’re talking! Drape two beautiful throws across your bed to create bands of colour. Avoid pattern to simplify the look and choose shades from the same palette, be that bright, earthy or pastel.
Discover ways to bring nature into your sleep space
One throw is great, but two? Now you’re talking! Drape two beautiful throws across your bed to create bands of colour. Avoid pattern to simplify the look and choose shades from the same palette, be that bright, earthy or pastel.
Discover ways to bring nature into your sleep space
Is this bed messy? No! It’s actively resisting the neat, folded style in favour of an alternative appearance – the consciously casual look. Easy to pull off and a tiny bit sexy, too, this idea works best with a mix of throws and duvet covers in different fabrics. Linen bedding does the job beautifully – and it actively dislikes being ironed. Bonus.