Hey, We Know You’re Staying Home, So Make Your Bed! (2024)

There’s something so satisfying about climbing into an immaculately made bed after a long day. When the pillows are already fluffed and the sheets are perfectly tucked, the simple act of going to sleep feels luxurious. And yet, I’ll be the first to admit that this two-minute task hasn’t always made the cut in my rushed morning routine. At least, that was before the COVID-19 pandemic forced me and my colleagues into working from home every day.

Now that I’m stuck in my Manhattan apartment for the foreseeable future, making the bed has risen to the top of my daily to-do list. Luckily I also have a longtime obsession with all things bedding, and Serena & Lily has always been my favorite. So to feed my current compulsion, I chatted with Kirsty Williams, the company’s chief design officer, who shared all her best styling secrets. Then I put them to the test at home—read on to see the results.

ELLE Decor: How often do you switch up the bedding on your bed?

Kirsty Williams: I prefer to do it seasonally. In addition to crisp percale sheets in the summer and cozy flannels for when the temperature drops, I love linen sheeting for spring and fall. Its ability to keep you both cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s chilly is perfect for those in-between months.

ED: What’s your best advice on how to mix more than one pattern on a bed?

KW: Find a unifying element. This could be a color palette that occurs in both patterns or a color that is dominant in one pattern and secondary in the other. Playing with scales of a pattern also adds interest.

ED: Foolproof equation for making a king bed? A queen?

KW: For a king, you need a duvet cover, fitted sheet, flat sheet, two king-size pillows, and three Euro shams. For a queen, it’s the same but with one less Euro sham.

ED: What’s your favorite color palette when it comes to bedding?

KW: It all depends on the atmosphere you’re trying to create. An all-white bed or a white bed mixed with natural flax always feels very calm, restful, and sanctuary-like, while mixing shades of blue on a bed gives off an approachable, casual, coastal feel.

ED: How many pillows is too many?

KW: You certainly can have too many pillows! A couple of Euro shams, two standard shams or pillows, and a decorative pillow is a perfect amount. Avoid layering your bed with so many pillows that it looks silly and uninviting.

ED: Do you steam or iron your bedding at home?

KW: Neither. Life is too short to iron or steam bedding. I’ve found that if you take your sheets out of the dryer right before they are completely dry, you can smooth them flat to be mostly wrinkle-free. That said, there is nothing wrong with a few wrinkles!

ED: What’s the best way to give your bedding an update without changing out everything?

KW: Bring in a new quilt. With a quilt or coverlet folded at the end of the bed, you can play with patterns that are bolder and more striking. You can also add some lovely texture and details with a tonal quilt or coverlet.

ED: And the number one mistake people make?

KW: Not having fun with it. Don’t take it too seriously. Play with your bedding and mix it up!