Typically I’m not a big Black Friday purchaser. It’s mostly because I’m disorganized and don’t plan ahead for things like holiday gift buying (kudos to those who are) but also because I’ve found that I end up buying things I don’t totally need for the sake of a good deal. However, that all changed this past year because I needed new bedding…like bad. Somehow a HUGE hole had found its way into my duvet cover and it was honestly really embarrassing. I am an adult after all (she says to herself). So to the internet I went. I found a great duvet covet and sheet set I thought would look AMAZING on their own (aka no throw blankets and no cute throw pillows). So while my bed didn’t look bad, it also didn’t look GOOD. Sure, could your girl use a bed frame instead of just a mattress on the floor as she dreams up what she wants to design? Yes. But, I also knew I needed some more layers to make it look as inviting as I had originally intended. Basically, this experience is what prompted this “Fix It Fridays” series that I hope you all love (hopefully the numbers are strong enough to keep it going!). Sometimes all it takes are some small tweaks to make an area of your home look awesome. No need to start from scratch because likely you have some great stuff to work with.
Since we are starting with bedding, I thought I would point out some things that are really important to consider when making your bed a visually and physically happy sanctuary:)
THINGS TO CONSIDER
- Make sure to have the correct sized “sleeping pillows”. If you have a king-sized bed or larger, king-sized pillows are going to look SO MUCH better. Trust us.
- If your pillowcases are the same color or pattern as your duvet or comforter, make sure there’s a visual break between them with at least a top sheet. One easy way? Fold your blanket down past your sleeping pillows.
- Make sure the main blanket at the end of your bed is a “bed blanket”. This means it’s big enough to hang off both sides of your bed. You don’t want that blanket that looks/is too small. Proportions are important.
- Unless you want a one-note bedding look that’s all the same color, make sure that your duvet or comforter isn’t the same color or tone as your bed blanket. Give it a little contrast:)
- We think simple is better, but if you want more than one (long) throw pillow, we wouldn’t recommend exceeding three.
- If you want a fluffy-looking bed make sure to get a fluffy duvet insert (and mattress topper for extra credit and comfort!)

So while the “monastery chic” bedding trend has become very popular editorially (the one large blanket that covers the bed and sleeping pillows), we think most people want and love a super cozy looking and inviting bed. We actually wrote a post called “The Right Way To Make Your Bed – Our 5 Best Formulas” a handful of years ago and made some pretty helpful graphics to guide you. These graphics will also very much come in handy as I help our wonderful readers jazz up their bedding situation. So take a peek before we move on!

Above is all about blankets, duvets, and comforters!

And this graphic above is all about pillows. Note that we are also a big fan of sleeping pillows being stacked on top of each other as well as ones that lean against one another:)

Ok! Now that you have an idea of what our advice is let me show you how to put it into action with these six examples. I want to remind you that when we asked people to submit their beds, we asked people who are looking to love their beds more, not ones that needed a total overhaul. Why? Because we believe that most people don’t need to throw out everything they already have to make them love their bed more. It’s all about changing the way you make your bed and/or adding a couple (or a few) things)to make it look how you dreamed it could. Now let’s dive in!
Helping “The Blues”
From the words of our reader, “Oh man it’s even worse in photos.” It’s vulnerable submitting your home to ask for help but this is by no means a bad bed! But there are some things I think will help:)

First things first, it looks like there are standard-sized pillows on a king-sized bed, thus leaving that gap for the blue throw pillow to nestle in between nicely. King-sized sleeping pillows are going to be a wonderful upgrade. Then I think adding a duvet and folding it back past where the pillows are, with a top sheet, is the move. It will immediately make this bed happier and fluffier looking. At the same time, folding that blue quilt back towards the bottom of the bed about 2/3rds, showing more of the duvet will kick things up a notch style-wise. And while we’re down there, we are BIG fans of bed blankets. Placing one over the blue quilt will add coziness and is a big opportunity to bring in some of the other colors that are in the room. Lastly, let’s get a new throw pillow or two. I personally don’t love it when a throw pillow is taller than the sleeping pillows. However, if you do then that’s great! Here’s a little product board with some suggestions:

Green Velvet Lumbar Pillow | Leather Bolster (affordable option) | Linen Duvet Cover | Knit Bed Blanket
I love the idea of adding that sage green lumbar pillow because it brings in the color of the nightstands, it has some fun fringe, and it looks good with the modern traditional look of the space. But if they want something warmer I will forever love that leather bolster. And while it’s hard to tell the exact colors of the bedding from this photo, a white duvet will work almost every time and help to break up the darkness of the existing blue quilt. Then to balance it all out I love that cream knit bed blanket to drape over the blue quilt for a soft organic feel.
Florals Not Fully In Bloom
This was what this reader said in her email, “Splurged on a boujee King upholstered bed frame and can’t seem to get our bedding quite right!” Well, I think I can help!

Everything in the room is great! But like I said in the “things to consider” part above, you want to visually break up the matching duvet and sham pillows by folding down the duvet and showing off that cute sheet set! Even if this reader just did that it would make a big difference. But I have some other ideas…

Velvet Lumbar Pillow | Ball Pillow | Textured Bed Blanket
It seems like this reader was going for a very serene color palette so I wanted to honor that by choosing soft but really pretty pieces. I love how that light sage green pillow picks up the green tones in the room and then by adding that little round pillow it adds some chic whimsy. It’s a fun but not fussing pillow combo. Lastly, I think adding an end-of-bed textured blanket will do the trick! How pretty is that high-low pattern?? I think it would be pretty nicely folded or organically laid across. Dealer’s choice!
Beige For Days
I will always love a fully neutral bedding combo. Beds are meant for rest and what’s more calming (for most people) than soft natural tones? And this bed is so lovely but this reader wanted to tweak it a little more which is why we are here.

You might have guessed that I want them to pull down that quilt so it’s further down the bed and also fold down the duvet and top set (if there is one) past the sleeping pillows. An instant improvement without spending a dime. But if they have some dimes to spare this is what I would do:

Rust Extra Long Lumbar Pillow | Mosaic Pillow | Layered Stripe Lumbar Bed Pillow | Knit Blanket
I love the idea of adding in some rust tones (if you can’t tell by the product board). I love the contrast of pattern scales of the two pillow combo so much. Oh, and I have also seen the shorter one in person and it’s beautiful. But if they want to stay away from the rust then I think that lightly plaided single lumbar would look great and mirrors the pattern of the quilt. And look this chunky throw isn’t a bed blanket size but would still look great draped over one end corner of the bed with either look.
Almost Great
This is the feeling I can relate to! “I saw the call-out on IG to send in photos of beds in need of styling… “Help! I feel like I have good pieces in the coverlet and accent pillow but it still looks so blah…. Help!”

This reader is not wrong! They absolutely have great pieces but with some added layers it will be perfect:) I would love for them to get a fluffy duvet to bump up the cozy, do our typical folded-back duvet and even further folded-back quilt look, and add a few more accents. Wanna see?

Tufted Geo Lumbar Throw Pillow | Ball Pillow | Grid Knit Throw Blanket | Premium Breathable Relaxed Linen Duvet Cover
Well in the graphic I said to add one more throw pillow but I lied, I want two because how cute are these? I like adding the lighter blue textured small lumbar to play with some more blue tones on the bed for variation and you know how I feel about a ball pillow…I think they are the best. Plus the cream ball pillow talks to the cream quilt they have. Then again, let’s add a white duvet for some neutral tone variations but then add that navy blue knit throw to visually connect the existing pillowcases to the end of the bed. Bam!
In Need Of Life
Here’s the deal with this bed – “We just moved to a new home and would love to make this feel more like ours.” I hope this reader sends us photos when the room is fully designed! But let’s help with the bed first.

This is the “monastery chic” look I was talking about where there’s one blanket that covers the entire bed. It’s not bad at all but since this reader asked for help here’s my two cents. Aside from the duvet/folded blanket at the end of the bed you all knew I was going to say, I think let’s add in some more dimension.

Long Lumbar Pillow | Boucle Lumbar Pillow (12″x24″) | Linen Duvet Cover | Linen Sheet Set
I decided to go with the general color scheme they already have but a little brighter. I love these two pillows because they look a bit more playful but not fussy. Plus the ochre and camel are so good. But to make sure this bed stays serene, I love that oatmeal-toned duvet paired with white sheets. I think all together with their existing blanket would look layered and so pretty. Oh and let’s keep the throw they have! The pattern is great and clearly works with everything else:)
The Final Step
When I saw this room my jaw, I instantly loved it! Do you see that chandelier, the wall color, the bed frame?? Here’s what the reader wrote, “We worked with a fabulous designer (Becky Carter) for the design of the room, furniture, etc but I’m at a loss for how to make our bed up. I feel like I missed that day of Grown-up School. Right now I’ve got Serena and Lily linens on our king bed. If you’re open to giving us advice I’d love to make our bed styling live up to the rest of the lovely room!”
First off, if someone could make a “Grown-up School” I would happily attend. But none of us should feel bad about not knowing how to do everything because like most things they take practice. Secondly, Becky is amazing and everyone should check out her work (including this house which I didn’t clock until I was writing this post!).

There are so many directions to take this bedding because the room is designed in such a stunning and eclectic way. I opted for what I’m calling “quiet fun”, pulling from colors that are already in the room. But first things first, let’s pull back that beautiful white duvet past those pillows:)

Quilted Sham Pillowcases | Extra Long Lumbar Pillow | Round Velvet Pillow | Quilt | Oversized Throw Blanket
So to add a little “soft drama”, I love the idea of these dark gray-blue shams and end-of-bed quilt being folded at well, the end of the bed. As I’ve said, I visually prefer that any sham and throw pillows that sit in front of sleeping pillows are not taller than those sleeping pillows. But again, that’s just a preference. So going back to my design plan, I really love that super extra-long burgundy lumbar pillow for even more drama. But to liven things up, adding in that round fringed velvet pillow is perfect and a little playful. Lastly, I wanted to add a large throw blanket on top of the blue quilt that had a little pattern which is why I chose that pretty, organic striped one. There’s already a decent amount of small-scale pattern with the headboard and rug so a simple stripe I think balances really nicely!
Well, I think that’s about it for me today. I really want to thank everyone who submitted! I’m so sorry I couldn’t do more but hey, if you like this one enough maybe I can do more in this category:) So regardless of whether your bed was picked or if you are looking at your bed right this minute wanting to give it a refresh, I hope this helped.
Love you, mean it.
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Veronica Crawford | From: Our Bedroom Update (Also How I Feel About Having A TV In The Bedroom)
I hope you do keep doing this Fix it Friday series. This was really useful! Plus, it’s fun to see inside readers’ homes. And now of course, I’m convinced I need a lumbar pillow for the bed. 😉
This was a fabulous post! I love the idea of Fix It Fridays – bite sized information that is inspiring and fun. Keep it coming!
I love this post!! Please make it a series. Such great ideas and clear explanations
I admire the design of these but even more the mentality that makes a bed daily. My bed has two duvets on it for warmth, plus a wool blanket and a spaniel. Superfluous pillows and cushions would get anointed with dog hair and paw prints, thrown on the floor at bedtime and then left there for days until it was time to strip the bed, so would spend at most 12 hours every week on the bed doing their job of looking pretty, and the rest creating clutter and extra washing. I don’t have room for a chair or bench for the cushions to sit on the rest of the time. Kudos to the marketing team who came up with king-sized pillows, too, I’ve never heard of these before. What a great way to sell people new pillowcases.
King pillows have been around for decades, made larger to fit a larger mattress. It is not new or something for marketing. My parents had a king bed when they got married in the 1950s and always had king sized pillows to fit their king sized bed. (I think some of those soft, wonderfully worn king pillow cases are still in my mom’s house to this day!)
I agree – I’m not into extra pillows in the bedroom that don’t get used nightly, whether that’s at my home or at a hotel. Maybe just one long lumbar, but even that’s a stretch. Otherwise they’re just taking up floor or chair space.
Love the idea of Fix It Fridays!
Oh, how I wish I had not missed this call out! But now I have a few templates to follow and some excitement which is also what I needed. Hand raised for more of these type of posts Jess!!!
Very helpful! Inspired to try some of these ideas. I love the idea of Fix It Fridays!
Thanks, Jess. My bedding game could be taken up a notch. Right now, all of my bedding coordinates. I think a contrast top sheet pulled down and an extra throw pillow will help a lot.
One thing that can make a difference is if you are using a top sheet, it should be put on the bed with the print side of the sheet facing down when you make your bed. This is so if you pulled the sheet back, the print/pattern sides are showing. And if you fold the sheet down over your quilt or duvet, then the “right” or print side of the sheet is what is showing. Otherwise when you fold the sheet down it will look inside out. Basically your body should be touching the “right” or printed/patterned side of the fabric when you sleep.
For some reason this was a big one with my mom growing up and it stuck with me! I see a lot of people (ahem, my spouse, cough cough) doing it the other way. Which of course is fine if you like it that way! 🙂 Or if life is busy and it is all you can do sometimes to get clean sheets on the bed. But if you’re wanting it to look styled that can be an easy thing that can make an impact.
My best friend’s Mom -shout out to Madelyn!- who was responsible for teaching me anything I know about cleaning and/or keeping a home favored this approach and I randomly just started utilizing this ‘right side down’ approach (why now at almost 54 I wonder..?). Except only until I turn down the bed to climb in, do anyone’s eyeballs ever see that pretty floral sheet (as the cat always seems to know e x a c t l y where I don’t want him walking immediately after using the cat box!) -a fleeting moment by nature but one I look forward to every night (thanks Maddie : ).
to Jess: a hearty Yes Please! vote for more Fix-it Fridays inspired by the strangely-but-wildly-accessible conundrums of actual readers!
My college roommate tuned me into this because she liked sleeping with the pretty side next to her! At the time I thought it was one of her endearing quirks until a decade later I had bought some pretty print sheets that I wanted to “show”. Now I always think of her when I am making the bed!
What a lovely and useful post! We are opening a rental vacation house soon and you have showed me how to dress the beds in a simple and beautiful way.
Thank you, Jess.
“Fix It Fridays” is a fabulous idea!! This is great.
More Fix It Fridays please! Loved this post! Although I do think there is a way to put your pillows on top of the duvet. You just have to have enough pillows so that it doesn’t look flat. I love mixing patterns on my bed – it really brings it to life.
Love this as a series. I can’t imagine no top sheet though. Do people really have the energy to take off the duvet cover and wash it once a week when they change sheets? Or are they just not changing sheets as often?
No idea if it is true, I had always heard that no top sheet and just a duvet was a more European custom. When my son was little, having just one thing to pull up to make his own bed was much easier for him so we did it that way. It really helped establish the make-the-bed habit. Now he’s older and prefers a top sheet.
Yes, we do it! My husband is a sheet-kicker lol and I hated having them balled up by my feet. We also have to wash the duvet anyway because our dog constantly jumps up on it (we encourage this) but that makes it really dirty on the top. So for us, it ends up just being one fewer thing to wash and deal with. Plus making the bed every morning is super easy!
I grew up in the UK where we just use duvets and change them regularly. I’d only ever seen the top sheet/blanket combo in hotels until I moved to the USA! I reckon the time you lose in changing the duvet cover more frequently is probably balanced out by not having to make up wrinkled top sheets every day 😉
Yes. I hate top sheets. I wash my entire bedding sets weekly. Putting the insert into the duvet takes 2 minutes once you know how to do it.
Are people really making their beds everyday? I’m a fan of the “rumpled” look. There’s a sexy quality to it and it’s low maintenance. Also, any suggestions for styling a wedge pillow? I need it for sleeping reasons, but there’s only one on the bed, with my sleeping pillow on top of it. My partner sleeps with a single flat pillow, so the pillows are asymmetrical.
Agree- would enjoy suggestions for styling a wedge pillow
Love the Fix It Fridays!💗
As a design addict, I watch and follow all manner of design shows and online sites.
I’ve noticed some things thatseemed unusual to me.
So much so, I asked some of my friends and they then paid more attention and then noted the same things.
An Australian view:
A) In the UK, people don’t seem to fuss as much about how they make their beds.
We noticed many, many bedspreads, quilts, etc., pulled up from the end of the bed, up to and over the pillows.
B) In the USA, so many people choose to put the head of their beds in front of windows when there are other options.
Neither of these two are a thing in Australia.
We make our beds nicely, but not quite as much as Americans.
It’s weird for someone in Australia to choose to place a bedhead in front of a window.
Nuances of different cultures… makes me wonder about other cultures’ bed making.
Germany? Italy? … I don’t mean magazine shoot-specific, but more normal open house sort of presentation.
This could make a good blog topic (Arlyn?).
I’m an Aussie too and I think because it’s so hot here we don’t put beds in front of windows. Especially east facing ones. I also like to have a window to look at in bed.
I wouldn’t put a bed in front of a window for safety reasons in the US, but I would in Europe. I see it making more sense if the window is not facing the street and if the number of doors and windows prohibits other placement.
Rusty and all Aussies that follow blog,
The Aussie TV Show, Fisk now streaming on Netflix is hysterical! Since we are in the winter months in US, I would love a post on favorite TV shows, movies and books.
i love this fix it topic on rotation.
Great post! I wish I would have seen the call out for pictures. My bed needs so much help. And I know exactly what to do to fix it, my problem is that I cannot choose a color scheme/find anything I like!
Love the idea of “Fix it Fridays!” Keep ‘em coming!
Would the owner of the amazing medium blue bedroom (last in the post) please report to the blog? Love the Workstead Shaded Vault Sconces, Room & Board Silva Bench, Soho Home Lorenzo Chandelier and Alderton pillow. Are the side tables, bed and rug vintage? What color is your paint? I want to cut, paste and copy your entire room!
Haha, yes, please report to the customer service desk, blue bedroom owner! Must know more about this bed! Everything in this room rocks but it’s still calming.
Thank you! Glad you like the room! Becky Carter did such a great job planning it out for us and I can’t wait to try dressing my bed up now. 🙂 The side table is vintage, rug is vintage, the bed is from De La Espada (Carlton bed) with custom fabric, and the wall color is PPG freedom found.
I was so in loe with this room I didn’t even bother to click through to the linked AD article which says: “painted PPG’s Freedom Found, vintage Art Deco nightstands flank a De La Espada bed upholstered in Lee Jofa fabric.’
Great post! Love the practical insight!
This is so fun! I LOVE the suggestions you made for that last bedroom. Those dark gray blue shams and the blanket with the stripe would look absolutely perfect.
Non sequitur but I can’t comment on the Rugs USA post anymore. I had finally narrowed my den rug down to the Rowena or the Fountain only to discover neither are on the RugsUSA site anymore! Are they just sold out or is there some other issue?
More are on the way!! So grateful you want to use one<33
Excellent! thanks!
Did you check Wayfair? They carry both the Rowena and Fountain rugs.
Love this series idea, and the tips here. Thank you for putting this together, Jess!
I also found it unexpectedly helpful to see the last reader’s house in the photo she sent in in comparison with the same room in the AD tour. I understood that houses are typically styled differently for photo shoots, but is it also typical for the actual furniture to swap out like this? Would the different bench be an everyday comfort thing, for example, or does that mean that the designer wanted the dramatic bench for the shoot, even though the client couldn’t afford it / didn’t like it? I’m curious because it always helps to understand how “real” those sorts of photos (where everything looks perfect, perfect, perfect) are. Anyone know how this all works? Regardless, special thanks to that reader for showing her room! Seeing that you could pay an uber talented designer, and still have loose ends at the end of the day was strangely encouraging. 🙂
Great questions! The bedroom bench hadn’t arrived before the photo shoot so they put in a bench from another part of our house. Some of the art is mine but in other areas I hadn’t made up my mind yet so it was staged with borrowed art. I took a reeeaaally long time deciding on art. I did eventually pick art but it was at the framer’s when I snapped this photo.
Oh! Thank you for sharing! It honestly was so helpful for me to see the whole house tour and then to think through all of this. Your house is insanely beautiful — the windows are possibly the most beautiful windows I have ever seen! I keep thinking about them.
Love this! I’ve had the same blue velvet quilt from Target for years now, and it’s still in great shape so I cannot justify replacing it. I can, however, add a few things to the bed to make it look “fresher and fancier.” 🙂 Very helpful, thank you.
I like this post. Gonna go play with my bed and pillows.
Great series! How about one with a couch – like throw pillows or gallery wall to tie in colors, patterns, and textures?
This is so helpful! I really appreciate all the links too!
Love this post! And the FIF series is a fabulous idea. So nice to see real rooms needing a little help to make them even better. I often read that people go too small with their lamps and some of these look a bit small (mine are too) . It’s a work in progress, right? Thanks!
Mine is so very wrong but thanks for showing me how to make it right!!
Love the Fix It Friday concept and these bed formula options and companion suggestions for livening things up. Nice work and looking forward to next Friday!
Is there any chance that we could get a follow up post-suggestions? Would love to see those suggestions in action!
Love this. Keep ‘em coming!
OMG — I loved this. Why? you talk about 4 sleeping pillows and don’t even mention pillow shams until the end. Shams are such a pain in the ass. So why do I feel like I have to have them on every bed. I feel like you just freed me! I am going to march upstairs and take them off every bed (I’ll put them in the closet, in case I have a panic attack about it later)
I adore seeing real life situations like this and talking about what small tweaks you would make — so relatable. And I got some great ideas!
Really useful post format and I look forward to more of them. FYI, couple of typos in the photo and product board for Beige For Days.
Is the assumption here that everyone uses a duvet? I feel like the lone weirdo who does not lol.
I also say “no way to the duvet” but it’s getting hard to find good comforters or quilts. Everything is a duvet now.
Excellent post! Please continue with Fix it Fridays. Would love to see several with a focus on storage solutions in older homes with ideas for living room, office, kids rooms.
Love this post! Very helpful. Where do “Euro Shams” come into play?
I keep euro shams behind my regulars pillows. Regular pillowcases match my sheets typically and my euro shams match my duvet cover. That way they are sort of staggered.
Love this new Fix it Fridays series. Please keep it going. Love seeing real life situations with quick, achievable and very effective fixes for us all to see. Well done. Love it.
I’ve never understand how people make the top sheet folded over the duvet work. I have a queen sized top sheet and queen sized quilt on my queen sized bed…but the sheet is much narrower than the duvet? So when I fold it over the duvet, it doesn’t reach all the way down the sides and looks silly. Are people buy larger top sheets to make this look work?
I loved this! I am looking to fix up our bedroom, and this is the perfect first step: the bed. I was clueless on where to start, but this was SO helpful. Thank you! Hoping to see some more Fix It Friday posts 🙂
I feel like my bed is *almost* there and these tips have given me some great ideas of what else to try. I’ve wanted to layer a solid textured throw blanket over my patterned quilt at the end of the bed, but it seems nearly impossible to find a throw that’s wide enough to drape all the way across a king size bed. Any great recommendations without breaking the bank for this admittedly totally superfluous extra layer?
Ohh love this series! Can’t wait to see what other ones y’all come up with.
Just here to say this was so useful!! Thank you for breaking it down and giving lots of real life examples. My bed has always felt off and now I know I need to get sized pillows and a bed blanket! Love these kinds of posts so much!!
A lot of these bedrooms could also use some art. They are all pretty minimal.