The Strategist Guide to Making a Bed
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The writers and editors at the Strategist spend a lot of their working hours thinking about bedding (testingmattresses, studyingthe difference between percale and sateen). So it’s not terribly surprising that when it comes to their own beds, they’re a bit obsessive. Here’s how they style theirduvets,quilts,shams, and unattractive orthopedic pillows.
Okay, if I were to walk into your bedrooms right now, what would I see?
Lauren Ro, writer:We have a king-size bed, and I top it withCompany Store’s Premium Alberta Down Light Warmth Comforter. I change up the cover depending on my mood — I use alinen one from Parachute in duskfor a casual, lived-in look, andSnowe’s Percale Duvet Coverfor a polished vibe. It has a border trim that makes it look a bit formal without appearing too fancy. For every setup, I use a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, two standard pillows, two king pillows, and two mini-shams with scalloped flanges.
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Simone Kitchens, senior editor:I don’t like a sad-looking low duvet. Aesthetically, my bed needs to be pillowy, so I top mine with aParachute Down Duvetthat’s super-fluffy orQuince’s Premium Down Comforter. When either one is paired with mymauve percale duvet cover from Parachute, it stays lofty.
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Parachute Down Duvet Insert
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Quince Premium Down Comforter
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Liza Corsillo, writer:Contrary to almost everyone in this group, I’m not trying to create the perfect marshmallowy bed. I basically want it to look like a more modern take on a cozy spare bed in a grandma’s summer cottage. I prefer a flat and neat surface. I use linen fitted and flatsheets from MagicLinenwith a coverlet or quilt on top. I rotate between two quilts from Schoolhouse, then sometimes in the summer I’ll use alinen duvet cover, also from MagicLinen, without anything in it.
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Schoolhouse Stillwater Floral Quilt
Crystal Martin, senior editor:That’s what I do too. My apartment is too hot for a duvet, but I like buying duvet covers for styling purposes. I use them like blankets. I make up for the flat look with a ton ofpillows. There are six on my queen bed. I have twoEuro shams from Piglet in Bedand twomuslin standards from Bluebellthat are just decorative, and then the two that I sleep on.
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Amelia Jerden, sleep writer:My bed might be the simplest. Fully made, it consists of eitherbamboo sheets by Ettitudeorlinen sheets by Parachuteorsateen sheets by California Design Den; an old quilt; and usually an extra-fuzzy blanket from Target, which I fold into quarters and lay at the end of the bed. I just have two pillows, one for me and one for my partner.
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Are you partial to white bedding?
S.K.:I’ve moved away from it. It’s not easy to keep looking good, so my sheets are this beautiful olive, almost moss green. We just covered this brand in theSecret Strategistnewsletter calledStudio Sutram. It has beautiful pigmented sheets and duvets in solids, and you can build a tonal mono-color look with them.
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Studio Sutram Fitted Sheet
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Studio Sutram Duvet Cover
L.R.:I’ve been liking theBria sheetsbyBella Notte. They’re sateen and supersoft. I have them in a deep purple called fig.
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Bella Notte Bria Flat Sheet - Fig
A.J.:My paisley quilt serves as a statement for the entire setup, so I keep the rest of it pretty simple. Mysheetsare either white or a sage green that matches the green in my quilt.
C.M.:I’m not afraid of patterns either. The Euro shams I mentioned are gingham, and the standards have an allover petite floral pattern.
Are your sheets tucked or untucked?
A.J.:Idoknow how to do hospital corners, but I am too lazy to do that on a regular basis. I usually just fold the top sheet over the quilt or hide it underneath.
L.C.:My sheets stay hidden too. I don’t tuck anything in. I really hate when the top sheet is tucked in and my feet feel trapped.
We have some orthopedic-pillow fans in
the group. Do you display those on the bed?
S.K.:This is such a problem for me. I have two super-sculptedTempur-Pedic pillowsthat are on the smaller side, but they look so bad in a regular pillowcase, so I hide them underneath king-size pillows. They sort of meet the flap of the duvet in a nice way. Nobody makes good Tempur-Pedic pillowcases.
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C.M.:I also have embarrassingorthopedic pillows: There’s a cutout for my head.
L.C.:I have been getting really into quilted pillow shams. I have some vintage ones from Pottery Barn in navy blue with little ties, but thePick-Stitch Handcrafted Cotton-Linen Quilted Shamsit currently sells are similar and they camouflage any mess underneath. I also take a minute to throw on a tiny pillow with an embroidered sleeping cat on it at the very end.
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