How to style your bed like a designer – simple tips for a luxurious look

Just as the sofa is often the focal point of your living room, the bed tends to take centre stage in your bedroom and can often dictate the aesthetic of your space. While styling a bedroom is a familiar concept to most, lots of people aren’t aware that styling the bed itself can be transformative to your interior. With a few simple tips for a luxurious look, your bed can quickly become the star of the show – here’s our guide to how to style your bed like a designer.

If you’ve visited a nice hotel or showroom or looked at interiors on Pinterest, you may have noticed that when it comes to the bed, professional designers have mastered the art of layering textures, colours and accessories to make it appear luxurious and inviting. And the good news is, you can do the same.

1. Start with Quality Bedding

First and foremost, your bedding is absolutely key to creating the aesthetic of your dreams. Think quality and texture – it should look good and feel good. And not just for the areas you can see – it’s worth investing in high quality breathable bed sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases. There are plenty of different luxurious finishes to choose from, such as cotton percale, linen and sateen.

As well as the material, the colour is equally important. Neutral tones enable you to create a timeless look – and the likes of whites, greys and creams give you the opportunity to inject colour or pattern through additional layers. If you like the idea of a bolder shade, rich colours such as forest green or navy will bring the wow factor but make sure to team it with white or lighter sheets and accessories to stop it monopolising your interior.

Designer tip: For a really polished, luxurious look, use a cohesive palette of two to three complementary tones.

2. Layering is key

When it comes to making your bed look the part, layers are the key.

Start with a valance – particularly if you have divan or ottoman bed – this helps you to conceal the drawers and create a seamless look.

It’s not just about style, it’s also about comfort – if your mattress isn’t as comfortable as you’d like it to be, you can either invest in a new mattress, or a mattress topper. Your mattress or mattress and topper should then be covered with a fitted sheet, which should be smoothed out to avoid any creases.

The next layer is a flat sheet, which is folded back over your duvet. It’s a great option for warmer nights and a provides a practical layer between you and your duvet, meaning you need don’t need to wash your duvet cover as often.

A duvet comes next, followed by a quilt in the colder months. Not only does this add depth and texture, it provides a stylish contrast. Adding two pillows per person, one pillow should be placed under the duvet and one on top.

Finish the look with a throw placed at the bottom of the bed and some additional cushions, which can be different colours and textures to add that extra contrast and visual interest.

Designer tip: Use an odd number of layers, it stops things from being overly symmetrical.

3. Add decorative pillows for maximum impact

To style your bed like a pro, you need to think about your pillow set up. The pillows you sleep with should be placed at the back, and to provide depth, propped upright. Then come the decorative pillows, which will give your final look that added flair and creativity. Ideally, two to four pillows of different shapes and textures will help to bring the look together. In terms of colour, try to keep within your chosen palette, using textures such as boucle and velvet to provide a stylish contrast.

Designer tip: Give your cushions a fluff and a karate style chop to create that signature designer finish.

4. Perfect the throw blanket

A throw is the perfect accessory for your bed – it not only looks good, it adds that extra layer of cosiness as and when you need it.

There are lots of different ways to style it – draped across the foot of your bed, placed across the middle or even placed in a triangular shape to one side. Before settling on a position for it, try different positions to see what suits your style best. When it comes to texture, a throw is a wonderful way to add some contrast your aesthetic – from chunky knits to lightweight linens, find a finish that complements your bedding and also stands out from it.

Designer tip: If you don’t want to be militant about the placement of your throw, a relaxed look can work just as well, with a slightly tousled throw adding to the cosy vibe.

5. It’s the little details that make the difference

You’ve done all the hard work and now it’s just a case of adding some small details to really complete the look and elevate your style. You’ve made all the decisions on your bedding, layers and textures, are you happy with the bed itself? Could a statement headboard take your design to the next level? With the option of choosing a fabric and colour to suit, a headboard could tie into your theme beautifully and create a soft, inviting aesthetic.

Smaller accessories will also make a difference. From candles and soft lighting to plants and room spray – these extra touches will enhance the overall ambience of your interior.

Designer tip: Less is more. Introduce a few key accents to stop the room from feeling cluttered.

6. Keep it neat and tidy

When looking at bedroom designs on Pinterest, you’ll notice that the beds are free from wrinkles and that every accessory has its place. Keep your pillows fluffed, regularly change your bedding and shake out your blankets to elevate your space and make all your hard work worthwhile.

Designer tip: The use of a steamer will help to keep your duvet covers fresh and free of wrinkles.