Dec 19

Dec 19 7 Essentials for a Cozy Bed

Sleep. I love sleep. I’m a morning person, but still…sleep is so good. And so important! Did you know, according to The Mayo Clinic, sleep deprivation (getting less than seven hours of sleep a night) can cause high blood pressure, weight gain and diabetes, just to name a few? Getting a full night’s sleep let’s your brain recover from the day’s work and also allows you to respond to every day life with a clear understanding and helps eliminate stress. Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, make sleep a priority. Today.

But don’t fret. I’m here to give you tips on making your bed not only comfy and cozy, but also… beautiful.

#1: A good, comfortable mattress

First and foremost, you need a comfortable mattress. Mattresses are so specific to the person. So figure out what you like. Do you like a softer mattress? Maybe a pillow-top? Or do you prefer something firmer? Or, do you need the Goldilocks of mattresses? Unfortunately, this is not something I can help you with. You're on your own here. But, I don’t think you need to spend a lot of money on a mattress. My husband and I went through a couple of different mattresses until we bought a condo at the beach and slept in the bed that was left behind…and it was so good! We found the tag and sleuthed the internet to find out that the mattress was actually one of those that came in a box from Amazon. For a king size it is less than $800.00. But, investing in a good mattress is never a bad idea, besides, you spend a third of your life in bed. So, figure out what you like and what suits you the best and go with that!

#2: Nice sheets

It doesn’t matter if you have the best, most perfect mattress that you just spent your entire life savings on, if you put cheap, scratchy sheets on it, it’s not going to be uncomfortable. Y’all, sheets are important. Invest in some nice, good-quality sheets. My favorite sheets are percale sheets. Percale sheets are a tight weave that offer a smooth, cool, crisp feeling. Kind of like a man’s button up shirt. My favorite ones are these Casaluna sheets from Target. Many people, including my mom…especially my mom, love microfiber sheets. They are very soft, but, be careful, some are very thin and then eventually start piling after a few washes. Although, I have to say, these microfiber sheets from Amazon which are very highly rated (4.5 stars and over 270,000 reviews!) are soft and silky and wash really well. And, to boot, less than $40 for a king-size set! So, be kind, drink your water, and sleep on nice sheets.

#3: Lots of fluffy pillows

Raise your hand if your significant other says you have too many pillows on the bed. Psh. Never! Think about it. When you go to a super-nice hotel, they don’t have just two flat, wimpy pillows on the bed. They have piles of super fluffy pillows! Now, you can go with down or feather-filled pillows, foam pillows or fiber-filled pillows. It all depends on your preference and what is most comfortable to you. But, if your pillows are pancakes, please go ahead and replace them. Do I need to mentioned where we spend one third of our life again? ;) My favorite sleeping pillow is this one from Sam’s Club. I’ve repurchased this one a few times already and solely slept on this one for at least six years now. My husband’s favorite sleeping pillow are the contoured memory foam pillows.

So what about the propping pillows? You know, those pillows that are used to prop yourself up to read or watch TV in bed? For me, they are the king-size pillows I use the pillow cases for (since our sleeping pillows are standard size and I use silk pillow cases). My favorite are these pillows from Amazon. They are super fluffy and haven’t flattened out after many months of use. Costco is another great place to find pillows when they have them in stock.

I like to use down or feather-filled pillows for the shams that come with the duvet cover or comforter. I told you, lots of fluffy pillows! I like these because they can easily be fluffed and will give your bed that luxurious, hotel vibe. Ikea has the best, most affordable down-filled pillows. I’ve had a set of these for years that I used on my guest bed and are now being used on my daughter’s bed and they still look great!

#4: Duvet and duvet cover

I don’t know what it is about a duvet, but they just elevate a bed and make it look so much more luxurious and comfy. Sure, it’s a pain to put a duvet cover on the duvet - it’s like a giant pillowcase. But, how much easier is it to wash just the cover rather than a whole comforter?! I think I also like it because they are typically fluffier than a standard comforter and there is not the usual stitching or tacking that can often be found on comforters. You can find some of my favorite duvet covers below. Spoiler alert: I like white/cream bedding. ;) But as for the actual duvet, you can go for down or down alternative. I typically go with down alternative - mainly because I live in the south and down is typically warmer. You can really find these anywhere: Target, Amazon, etc. Pro tip: insert two duvets into one duvet cover for an ultra fluffy bed!

#5: Quilt or blanket

It’s all about layers, y’all. I never make a bed with just sheets and a comforter/quilt. Even in the dead of summer, my bed is layered up! A) because it’s practical. If you only need a blanket, you can shove the comforter to the end of the bed, but if you get cold in the middle of the night you can snuggle underneath both the quilt and duvet. B) because it makes your bed look and feel more cozy. Adding a different texture, pattern or color with a quilt or blanket will really elevate how your bed looks when it’s made. See below for some examples.

#6: Accent pillows

Ok. These won’t really help you get a better night’s sleep, but they sure do make your bed look pretty! I make my bed every morning because I love walking by my room during the day and seeing it made. I also love crawling into a made bed at night. I just feels clean and crisp rather than jumping into a disheveled bed from the previous night. Accent pillows are like the accessories or jewelry for a bed. Just that little bit of something extra that, like in a wardrobe, elevates the entire bed. With accent pillows you can, again, add texture and color but also adding a different size will make your bed look more visually appealing.

Accent pillows come in all sorts of shapes and sizes: there are euro pillows, square, rectangle, bolster, lumbar, round, the list goes on. Don’t be afraid to mix sizes, colors and patterns with these. Have fun with it! See some examples of how I would mix and match these in the images below.

#7: Throw blanket

Did I not tell you I loved layers? Finally, throw a throw blanket at the end of the bed. It, too, gives the bed another layer of texture, color, and/or pattern and will finish the bed off for that uber-comfy looking (and feeling!) bed. Not to mention, a throw blanket is great for a mid-day nap. ;)

That’s it. Seven essentials for a comfy bed! I’d love to see what your bed looks like. Post a picture of your super-comfy bed and tag @thebeauforthome on Instagram. I can’t wait to see!

If you need some inspiration, keep scrolling!