Tips and Ideas for Sprucing Up Basic Bedding (How to get a Luxe Look for Less)

Sharing a few tips / ideas today for sprucing up basic bedding to get a luxe {I would say luxer but I don't think that's a word} look for less.

As a puppy dog lover I quickly learned that precious dry cleanable fabrics did not make sense (cents, hehe) for use in our home.  So everything I have is 100% washable.  Of course these ideas are also child-friendly, but why stop there ... maybe I should just say life-friendly tips, because honestly, its amazing how mishaps seek out dry-clean only bedding and gorgeous designer pillows.

So first up, here's Mr. Beaver, my primary (but not only) reason for 100% washable bedding ...

Mr Beaver is laying on a patterned flat sheet.  Although our bed is a queen size the striped sheet is only a "full".  Since I use this (and other patterned sheets, ya know, switch them up from time to time) simply to bring color and pattern to our bedding, the sheet doesn't actually have to fit our bed.  The bed is "made" with white sheets and the patterned sheet is a topper layer before the comforter is placed, and I leave the comforter folded at the end of the bed.  Great patterned sheets for king or queen size beds can cost $$ but full size sheets are less expensive and for some reason easier to find and sometimes even marked down.  (I think because master bedrooms are typically king or queen size, so the full size gets overlooked.)  BTW, picked up these great striped Kate Spade sheets at Home Goods last week and they didn't have them in king or queen.

Moving on to the striped pillows.  Those are "pretty" pillows, we don't actually sleep on them.  You have something like that too, right?  But Mr. Beaver will sometimes knock them over while making a pillow fort for napping, so in fact he does sleep on them, but no worries.  Let's take a closer look ...

The two sets of white pillows behind the purty striped ones ... that's our sleeping pillows.  A set of firm pillows in the back.  A set of very soft pillows in the middle.  Reminds me of a Billy Joel song ... bottle of red, bottle of white, whatever mood you're in tonight.  The pillow forms in the striped pillowcases are actually older and slightly worn and lumpy sleeping pillows that I've recycled promoted to purty-duty.

But they are so plump looking you say ... they have great form and fullness and don't
slouch?  Here's why:

They're wrapped with bath towels.  Plumps older or sparse pillows right up ... fills out the pillowcases.  Big bucks look by using what you've got.  Also provides a protective barrier for the pillows ... drool or other ... wash pillowcase + towel = pillow OK.

Another similar trick tip ...

The "duvet" on our bed is actually just a simple and inexpensive but nicely satin trimmed oversized poly blanket (from Costco last year but they still had them this week when I was in the store).  Because its poly it is very washable, I know from experience.  It is a lightweight blanket and lays very flat / thin.  Because one of us is a "cold" sleeper and the other a "hot" sleeper I purchased two blankets: with two blankets layered the cold sleeper is happy and the hot sleep just peels back the top layer.  Couldn't do that if this was a down-filled comforter.

Now having those two layers of blankets does create a luxe{r} looking plumped layer on the bed, but I've got one more tip and it doubles as a clever storage option ...

{Storing extra pillows not currently used on the bed tucked into a comforter folded along the bottom of the bed.    Gives the illusion of a plump luxe down-filled duvet,}

{a} from the headboard looking toward the ...
{b} end of the bed, you notice something inside the blankets ...
{c} when I lift the blanket I reveal more pillows ... today it is the Euro's.

And I'll even throw in another tip I picked up from Emily Henderson of HGTV and Design Star fame ... she revealed that when photographing bedrooms the pillow sham flanges are often made firm to stand upright by applying duct tape on the back of the flange.  So if you have droopy pillows maybe try some duct tape on the backside!?!?  But really, hearing that tip also helped me put those gorgeous bedroom pics into perspective ... it may not be everything it appears to be.  And that's when I started thinking these ideas may be share-worthing and interesting to you.

So, may I suggest:
1) consider purchasing full size sheet sets because they're less expensive and use the pillowcases and flat sheet as a quick-change way to spruce up your bed.  The fitted sheets can also be used to sew more pillows or cover cushions around the room.

2) wrap pillow forms in bath towels to create the rich look of an overstuffed pillow

3) tuck pillows into a folded blanket at the foot of the bed to create the plump look of a down-filled cover

So that's my look-for-less bedding tips.  Do you have lots of comfy pillows on your bed?  Are you duvet or comforter or bedspread folks?  Do you make your bed every day?  (I confess that I didn't used to but for the last 2 years made the bed daily, you can read about that here.)  What great bedding tips will you share with us?

Till next time folks ... thanks for stopping by,

Robin

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