How to Layer Bedding: Our Designer’s Tips to Style Like a Pro
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Want to know how to layer bedding like a pro? Of course, you do. After all, we spend a third of our lives snoozing, so we may as well do it in the best possible surroundings.
It’s simple to boost your bedding with some lovely layers and embrace the luxurious sleep you deserve. You won't believe how much some perfectly arranged pillows , textured throws and plush accessories make the whole bed much more tempting to crawl into after a long day.
In this guide, we'll teach you our designer’s bed layering tips, which will not only leave your bed looking beautiful but make it so much warmer and comfier, too.
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How to Layer Coloured Bedding
Pops of colour give a bed so much character. Whether you want a big, colourful bed or a classic white bed with charmingly colourful accents, there are so many ways to layer colour on a bed.
Choose a base colour for your bed in a soft pastel like pink or blue, then add accessories like cushions and throw blankets in a darker shade of the same colour. This gives your bed so much dimension.
For a bed that really stands out, try totally contrasting colours from opposite ends of the colour wheel.
Fabric design whizz (and one of our fab founders) Molly Freshwater says: “I think of my bed as a picture that I colour in with patterns and texture. It could be green and naturals, pink and white… mustard and grey? It's your choice, but more than one is a big tick from me.”
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How to Layer Patterned Bedding
We love a pattern here at our Secret Linen Store, from florals to stripes to spots and dots.
Generally, if your duvet cover and pillowcases have a pattern, it’s best to opt for block colour accessories and vice versa. Match the colour of your plain bedding to a colour featured in your patterned bedding, whether that’s the spots on your spotty dotty bedding, the petals on your floral patterned duvet, or the background colour of your bedding design.
Of course, throwing out the rule book is always encouraged, and mixing and matching patterns brings so much excitement to your interior decor.
Layer your stripy bedding with more stripes for a zany and fun look. If your duvet and pillow covers boast thick stripes, opt for cushions with thin stripes in the same colours. Does your primary bedding feature horizontal stripes? Accessories with diagonal stripes make for such a marvellous contrast.
Molly’s top tip? “A bottom sheet doesn’t need to match, or be plain, it just needs to fit and be within your colour scheme. I'd suggest trying one of our striped sheets underneath, it’s a lovely surprise when you pull back the duvet at bedtime.”
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How to Layer Textured Bedding
We love playing around with different textures. Not only do they look lovely, but they’re also such a sensory treat to touch.
Top your linen bedding with cotton quilted cushions for contrast and a soft, plush feel, or try a fluffy throw to cosy up your cotton sheets. Our textured waffle throws are so warming, while our fringed linen blankets have a relaxed and tactile feel.
How to Layer Pillows on a Bed
There’s always a debate on pillows , but our design gurus say six. Yep, that’s six whole pillows... four will be fine as long as two of them are square, since square pillows are so large and plush.
Another bonus of layering lots and lots of pillows is the opportunity to play around with pillowcase patterns. We love mixing pillowcases, going for two of each design. Think two plain pillows and then the square pillows in a striped case. As long as the colours go, mix them up and have some fun.
How to Layer Cushions on a Bed
Add even more plushness to your bed with cushions on top of your pillows. A single accent cushion looks beautiful nestled in the centre of your pillows, or lay a single cushion directly in front of both pillow piles for that little finishing touch.
One of our favourite ways to layer cushions on a bed is the classic triangle formation. Place two same-size cushions next to one another, with a smaller cushion at the front. This arrangement is a go-to for a reason: It always looks smart and sweet.
You could also arrange multiple cushions in a row in front of your pillows. This looks particularly pretty when you tilt your cushions onto their sides for a gorgeous diamond shape. Or alternate between tilted and straight cushions for a diamond-square-diamond-square arrangement.
How to Layer Blankets and Throws on a Bed
Nothing says snug like a throw on a bed. Laying one of our cotton blankets directly over your duvet will have you feeling warm as toast even on the coldest winter night.
One way to style your throw against your bedding is to fold it in half horizontally and lay it over the bottom of your bed to contrast against the colour and patterning of your duvet cover. Fancy putting a fun twist on this style? Fold the throw diagonally instead.
You could also rotate the throw and lay it over your duvet in a diamond shape, allowing the pattern or embroidery of your bed linen to poke out at the corners.
How to Layer a Bed Like a Designer
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Want one last tip from a styling pro? Molly says:
“If you take a scroll through our photography, you will often find that I have dressed the beds with one or 2 layers on top of the duvet. My secret tip for a lovely layer is adding a 100% linen flat sheet ... this is a great way to add texture and colour to your bed. The best thing about this method is that it looks best when it’s literally thrown on top. Linen looks great because of the way that it reflects light and holds colour.”
At our Secret Linen Store, we’ve got all the bits and bobs you need to layer up your bed beautifully. Want some more styling tips for your home? The Bedspread is brimming with ideas.
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