How to style your bed for aesthetics and comfort

Beds are the single biggest piece of furniture in a bedroom, so they instantly become the focal point of any bedroom. Even more importantly, they’re where you sleep, and we all know how important sleep is. Research suggests that the average person spends 26 years sleeping (that’s a lot of sleeping!) so it’s important to have the comfiest, cosiest spot to get your ZZZs.

Styling your bed so that it looks and feels inviting is important for the overall aesthetics of the room and for your sleep. By styling, I don’t mean having a tonne of stuff on your bed because that’s just impractical. But instead, a few carefully chosen pieces to elevate your room and your sleep in a simple and minimalist way.

Here are some tips for styling a bed for both aesthetics and comfort:

1. mattress

Choosing the right mattress matters! No amount of luxurious bedding and duvets can compensate for an uncomfortable mattress. I never realised how important this was until I upgraded my mattress and the effect it had on my sleep was quite unbelievable. There is no one mattress that I can recommend as it varies on what works for you but if you’re unsure, any good mattress shop will be able to advise you and you can also checkout this article that explains the different types of mattresses.

2. sheets

Sheets are important for the aesthetics of your bed but also for your comfort. It’s worth taking into consideration if you’re a hot sleeper or not. If you are a hot sleeper, usually materials like linen or bamboo are great. But if you’re not and want something cosy and warm, flannelette sheets could suit you. They are brushed cotton sheets, so they also add texture to your bed while making it look and feel extra cosy.

In terms of colours, pale neutral sheets work best especially if your style leans more minimalist. White sheets are my favourite, but light greys and beiges can work well too. White and pale colours are also easy to style as anything goes with them and they always look fresh.

3. duvet

Firstly, the right duvet for each season will keep you comfortable and cosy all year round. Also consider the weight of the duvet — you can get very light duvets, or heavier ones so go for what you prefer. I invested in (AFF) this feather duvet and it’s been great because it’s very lightweight which suits me and it’s an all season duvet. It’s two duvets with different tog ratings so the lightest is perfect for summer, the heavier one on its own is great for autumn and for winter they attach together to keep me cosy and warm.

For extra comfort and it looks better too, always size up for your duvet. So, if you have a king size bed, go for a super king size duvet. This also means that if you co-sleep, there’s much less duvet hogging and tugging!

4. duvet cover

Duvet covers are the most visible thing in your room (unless you have a bedcover) and so I always recommend linen. Linen has a relaxed feel about it, it adds texture to your bedroom, and it looks so great. It also feels great against your skin. And to maintain a minimalist look opt for neutral tones whether dark or light.

White always looks crisp and beautiful and you can always add a little colour with throws and pillows. Other than white, soft beiges, dusty pinks and pale greys all work well. If you prefer darker shades, you can’t go wrong with colours like charcoal, dark brown and deep rusty shades.

4. throw and/or bedcover

Adding at least one extra layer to your bed is a great idea because it adds texture and interest to your bed. It’s also useful as an extra covering should you need it at night. For a very minimalist look, I love a bedcover that covers the entire bed. This looks so calm and soothing, perfect for a bedroom.

Alternatively, you can go for something that’s more of a throw that partially covers your duvet. This looks great too if you complement your duvet in terms of colour but contrast in terms of texture. For example, if you have a linen duvet cover you could go for a wool throw in winter and a cotton gauze throw in summer. This variation in texture will add depth and dimension to your room and to the large surface area that is your bed.

You can also have both a bedcover and a throw which will add even more interest to your bed. As before, keep the colours neutral and complementary and vary the texture.

Regardless of which style you prefer, adding textured layers to your bed is the way to make it look styled, all year round so don’t skip this step.

5. pillows

Two pillows per side look best visually as they add a bit of height and most people like having two pillows to sleep on. To keep the look cohesive, match your pillow covers to your duvet. This is the safest option but if you want to mix it up a bit, go for a different colour for at least one of the pillows on each side.

Mixing it up can work well if your bedding is all white or if you want to mix pale neutral bedding with another light or dark shade. For example, if you have a beige duvet, you could have one set of pillowcases in a dark brown or black or for a lighter look, go for one set of pillowcases in white.

The combinations are plenty but the key to keep in mind is to stick to neutrals and the same fabric as your duvet/other pillowcases as this will give you a stylish and intentional look.

6. throw pillows or cushions

Should you have throw pillows/ cushions on your bed or not? The answer is — it depends. Decorative cushions aren’t necessary especially if you prefer a minimalist, clean look. But if you like them and don’t mind removing them every night, they can look great too.

One caveat though: I suggest no more than 2-3 decorative pillows as more than this can make your space look busy. Also removing these pillows every single night and replacing them in the morning is fast going to become such a chore that they will probably end up lying on a chair or the floor most of the time.

Alternatively, if you have two sleeping pillows on each side, use a different coloured pillowcase for one on each side — like I mentioned in point no.5. This will look like you have throw pillows without the hassle of having to remove and replace them every day.

As you can see from the pics there are so many ways to style your bed once you have the basics in place. Choose a look that speaks to you and give it a try.