How to make the perfect bed in 12 simple steps

Author: Lisa Frederick on Houzz

I’m a hotel junkie. One of my favourite things about travel is collapsing at the end of a busy day onto a king-size mattress layered with smartly folded coverlets, piles of pillows arranged just so, and smooth sheets pulled tight as a drum. It’s a luxurious change from my less-than-perfect bed making at home (despite my best efforts, the art of the hospital corner eludes me).

However, as I often remind myself, that’s no reason to settle for sloppy sleeping quarters. Here’s a step-by-step guide to a well-dressed, pretty and polished bed.

1. Gather your bedlinen

The type and quantity of bedlinen you use depends on the style of both your room and your bed. However, most include the following:

• Mattress topper with elastic edging
• Fitted sheet
• Flat sheet
• Pillowcases
• Blanket (lightweight or heavyweight, depending on your climate and the season)
• Doona cover
• 2 European pillow shams (optional)
• Accent pillows (optional)
• Throw (optional)
• Bed skirt or box-spring cover (optional)

2. Break out the iron
   If you’re anything like me, you’d rather walk through the Gibson Desert at high noon in a jumper than put your iron to its intended use. (Full disclosure: the last time I unearthed mine, it had cobwebs on it.) But pressed linens are crisp linens, so face your nemesis. A standard ironing board is too small to handle sheets with ease – cover an inexpensive folding table, or even a large sheet of plywood, with heatproof foam or batting to give you more surface area to work with. Don’t forget the bed skirt and pillowcases while you’re at it.

2. Centre and straighten the bedskirt
   If your bed style doesn’t require a skirt, you can skip this step, though you may want to invest in a box-spring cover if your box spring is exposed.
   If you’re using a bed skirt, centre it in place, making sure the edges are even at the foot and sides. Use unobtrusive pins to anchor it in place.

4. Pull the mattress topper smooth
   Nothing ruins bedtime comfort faster than a lumpy bottom layer, and toppers are notorious for bunching in the centre of the bed.
   Elastic edges help, but for extra insurance, hold them in place with safety pins around the bottom edges. Or use corner fasteners, found at major bed and bath retailers.

5. Tuck the fitted sheet tightly
   For optimal fit, use an extra-deep sheet if you have a pillow-top or an especially tall mattress; otherwise a standard size should work fine. Pull it taut and tuck the edges beneath the mattress.
   As with the mattress topper, corner fasteners can keep the sheet from creeping inward.

6. Drape the flat sheet
   Now the tricky part begins. Centre the flat sheet on the bed, with equal overhang on either side. Align the top edge with the top edge of the mattress.

7. Add the blanket
   If your blanket is slightly shorter than the sheet, pull it down from the top of the mattress rather than up from the bottom. You want the bottom and side edges to be as even with the sheet as possible.

8. Tuck in the flat sheet and the blanket together
   Make your best attempt at hospital corners at the bottom. Hold the long edges of the sheet and blanket away from the bed and pull them atop the mattress to form a 45-degree angle at the corner. Lift the foot of the mattress slightly and use your hand to slide the draping bottom edges of the bedlinen beneath it. Be sure to smooth them out as much as possible to avoid the “princess and the pea” effect.
   Now tuck in the side edges so that they form a crisp crease. Can’t get the corners just right? Don’t lose sleep over them; simply do the best you can.

9. Turn down the sheet and the blanket tops
   Fold the flat sheet and the blanket down about 30 to 45 centimetres (roughly the width of a pillow). Then tuck the long edges under the mattress along the sides.

10. Add your desired topper
    Whether you go with a cosy quilt, a puffy comforter or a downy doona, spread it over the bed and centre it so that it hangs evenly. Leave the folded-down sheet and blanket exposed at the top, but be sure to cover their bottom edges.

11. Layer the pillows
    Start with the pillows you’ll sleep on – slip them into their cases, tag ends first, and align the pillowcase seams with their edges. Plump them up and prop them against the bed head or wall. If you’re using European shams, which are usually between 65 and 80 centimetres square, add those next. Then come standard-size shams, and finally, throw and bolster pillows (three are usually plenty).

12. Top it off with a coverlet or throw
    Fold the coverlet so that it’s about 45 to 60 centimetres across, and place it graphically at the foot of the bed. Or consider rolling it for a fresher twist.