Posted on: July 9, 2007
Make Your Bed Hotel Comfortable
The secret to a great night’s sleep lies rests in the quality of your sheets, blankets, comforters and pillows. Here’s how to turn your blasé bedroom into a luxury suite
By Dani Altieri Marinucci
CTW Features
When choosing accent pillows, think usable. Make sure they'll support the neck and lumbar region for in-bed reading and TV viewing.
How about sleeping at the Ritz every night of the week forever?
Well, you may not get maid and room service but you can get the sweet comfort of snuggling down into a lavish bed night after night, and never leave your home.
Who better to advice us on creating a luxurious boudoir than the French? Linda Gray, Yves Delorme’s Midwest district coordinator says comfort and style are yours with a plan.
“Always start with what is closest to your skin,” advises Gray, especially if you have a budget. This way you can “build” your bedroom, one layer at a time.
Experts agree that bed linens made from natural fibers deliver the softest, most luxurious feel and wear the best. Their softness is enhanced with every washing.
“Let your hands do the work,” says Gray. Select fitted and flat sheets and pillow shams that are agreeable to your palm’s touch.
Next comes the pillow – the resting place for our crown – and it turns out that where you place it is as critical to bedtime contentment as the linens.
“We recommend at least two pillows,” says Gray, “a soft one on top and a firmer pillow underneath.” No matter whether you are a back or a side sleeper, the soft pillow cradles your head and neck while the firmer one gives proper support to keep the spin level.
Blankets, coverlets and comforters provide warmth and create an inviting layered look to your bed.
“Start with your fitted sheet, then flat sheet and pillows. Add a light weight quilt and fold your duvet at the foot of the bed for cool nights.” Most people prefer lightweight materials that still provide warmth. “Mohair is the lightest weight blanket,” Gray says. “It is very warm but truly weightless.”
Of course the mattress is extremely instrumental to a good night’s sleep. Look for one that offers support and comfort, “for every inch of your body,” advises Gray. And while most manufacturers guarantee against defect for 10 years, your weight and the bed’s activity level (is your bed the kids’ personal trampoline?) should be taken into account when calculating the mattress’s lifetime.
The finishing touch is the accent pillow. Choose beautiful but usable pillows; think about how they’ll support your neck and lumbar region for reading or movie viewing comfort.
Now, draw back the bedcover, fold over the top linen and slip between the sheets. The night is young!
