Many people choose to concentrate on the public areas of their home first and leave the Master bedroom looking something like this, thank you Young House Love.

Or maybe that is too drastic and yours is something more like one of these? Do you need a Master bedroom makeover?

It just hasn’t been thought for in a while. Well friends,  I’m fairly convinced – as I mentioned in my last post about the value of making your bed every day – that having a comfy and attractive bed is also another way to add a restful element to your life.

#1. Whatever you do, please do not purchase a bed-in-a-bag. Bed and bag should not be used in the same sentence. It’s just too commercial of a look…hotel, motel, Holiday Inn.

#2. A headboard is always a nice addition to any bed. There is a broad range of headboards out there in price point but sticking with something neutral that you can keep for a while is what I would suggest. On the budget-friendly end Tuesday Morning often has headboards like the one below for around $200.

#3. Next you’ll need some King pillows and a matching bed skirt. No matter what size your bed – full, queen or king – I would suggest purchasing 2 king shams and a bed skirt in the SAME color and fabric (solid colors are best). You will place the king pillows in front of the pillows that you actually sleep on. Adding the bed skirt in the same color/pattern is a great way to fake the look of a headboard by having substantial pillows stretching across the back of your bed and to coordinate that with the bottom of the bed.

Try to stay away from a ruffled bed skirt unless you are willing to go crazy with the iron between the ruffles…otherwise it will look sloppy from a distance. Do be sure to iron it if it’s wrinkled but a nice box pleated or simply straight skirt is best and should be easy to press.

#4. Next it’s time for the Euro pillows. These are usually 24-26″ square and add an interesting shape difference to the whole look of the bed. By the way, you can make all of these pillow purchases keeping the quilt, bedspread or duvet that you already have by purchasing colors that coordinate. If you buy solid King pillows, I would purchase Euros with a different pattern or color to add depth to the bed. Here are some examples of more subtle patterns and colors. I love these Swiss Dot or Jacquard Leaf Euro shams from West Elm.

Or seersucker…

Or linen with little tie details…

#5. Next is what I like to call the “splurge pillow”. This is a final pillow for the bed that you might choose to spend a tad bit more money on, whether that be to personalize it or to purchase it from a more expensive store because you love the fabric or look. Most stores that sell bedding will mongram things and there are some great etsy shops for pillows with fantastic fabrics.

If you’re not into big…here’s something more subtle and tailored. Two of these would look great in front of two large Euro pillows.

This etsy shop is great for fun and bright pillows, thanks to my client Caroline W. for the tip! 🙂

#7. Next, layer with some texture by adding a soft throw at the foot of the bed or by folding up a thin bedspread or other blanket. This makes the bed a nice place to sit for reading with your children or by yourself when you don’t want to get into bed but still need a little light cover up. Peacock Alley and Pinecone Hill are nice linen lines which have luxurious blankets and throws but you can also find soft throws at Target if you shop when they first come in because they usually get snatched up quickly.

#8. Now, if you really want a good night of sleep and choose to spend a little bit more on your makeover, don’t forget the Egyptian cotton sheets. They’re like sleeping in butter. You can purchase anything with 600 thread count or more in a range of prices and if you never thought there was a difference between sheet sets, let the education begin. They’re amazing and they only get better with age. Target has them and so do shops online like Gramercy, among many others.

#9. And for the grand finale, please use large lamps! This is key to an attractive bed. Many people buy tiny little lamps for either side of their bed which are better suited for a desk. In order to make your bed look and feel inviting, you need two substantial lamps (if you have two bedside tables) or at  least one lamp on a large table on one side of the bed. The lamp and shade should be big enough that the lamp should be around 26 or 30″, at the right height for the light’s arc to hit your book’s page when reading.

These are too small

These are much better

Shades Of Light has some great lamps.

Happy sleeping everyone!

-HP