Making It

On the restyling and staging side of real estate, we generally deal in extremes. Homeowners we work with typically have loaded their homes down with way too much stuff OR they live in virtual starkness with nary an accessory anywhere. Rarely do we end up at Baby Bear's place where everything is "just right."

Strangely though we have noticed that regardless of which extreme we are dealing with, there is one issue that nearly everyone has in common. No one knows how to make a bed! I don't mean they are leaving their beds unmade for home showings and listing photos (some are). What I mean is that they don't know the right way to make a bed.

The Bed-in-a-Bag folks have made bank peddling the simplicity of their perfectly coordinated bedding. And in theory it should be easy, but every week I am reminded that the Bed-in-a-Bag concept is not fool proof. People keep making the bed like they did in 1970. Well, you may want to brace yourselves for this . . . . You are doing it wrong!

Bed-in-a-Bags, comforter sets, quilts, etc. are . . . COMFORTERS AND COVERLETS. They are NOT bedspreads. Yet, tons of you are still making them up like a bedspread. (Actually, many of you aren't even making up the bedspread correctly. The pillows should be enveloped and tucked into the bedspread. More on that later.)

So, if you will pardon the hodgepodge of colors and styles in the photos -- (my bedroom is currently in the midst of a rennovation and nothing matches right now) -- I'm gonna show you the right way to make up a comforter, coverlet, or bedspread.

For a COMFORTER or COVERLET: 

1.  Pull comforter up so that it hits just slightly (1/4 to 1/2 inch) below the top of the dust ruffle, upholstered box springs, or bedrail.

2.  If you have excess fabric at the head of the bed, fold the comforter/coverlet back.

3.  Place pillows and/or shams ON TOP of the comforter. Dress up with coordinating throw pillows.

That's all there is to it!

For a BEDSPREAD:

Bedspreads typically cover the mattress and boxsprings. Because I only have a coverlet, you will just have to imagine that it goes all the way to the floor.

1. To start, pull the bedspread up so that just barely touches the floor on three sides. Then fold the top of the spread back so that the exposed sheet is at least half as deep as your pillows.

2. Place bed pillows at the head of the bed, across the fold of the fabric.

3. Pull exposed part of the fold over the top of the pillows. The push your hand into the fold of the fabric, under the pillows, to "tuck" in the pillows.

4. Add decorative pillows in coordinating fabrics to dress up the look. The ornery miniature schnauzer is optional.

 Now GO MAKE YOUR BED!