When the weather takes a turn for the worse and winter rolls in, a cozy bed is a must to make your evening routine a little bit more luxurious.
Between picking out the best bed sheets and enhancing the comfortable appeal of your best mattress, several steps go into creating a truly cozy bed you love to snuggle into.
This is how designers and bedding experts make their beds look cozy for a perfect oasis that makes it difficult to get up in the morning.
How can I make my bed look cozy?
Making a bedroom look cozy ultimately comes down to your bed and how you use layering in interior design, experts say. Without a cozy bed, your bedroom will not have the right draw that makes you look forward to cozying up for downtime before you go to sleep.
Here is how to achieve the fluffy look.
1. Get the basics right
Making a bed look more expensive and cozier to sleep in starts with the basics. For interior designer Nate Berkus, this means investing in a good set of ‘crisp, white sheets.’
You can then build your cozy look on top of it, being sure to educate yourself on how to choose the best bed sheets before investing to ensure your bed doesn't just look cozy, but feels it too.
‘Nothing feels more luxe than paying attention to the small details,’ he says.
2. Layer, layer, layer
Knowing how to dress a bed is also essential to making a bed look cozy. This means layering – and lots of it, continues Soledad Alzaga, interior designer and founder of the eponymous design company:
‘Layering is the secret to creating a cozy bed. Start with a good quality mattress and then mix and match different items for your bedding. Add comfortable textured or patterned duvet covers, shams, and a soft throw draped at the foot of the bed to create layers.’
You also want to layer your pillows, but with a degree of control, she says. ‘Choose plush pillow inserts, and cover them with pillowcases in cozy fabrics. Don't overdo it, too many pillows make a bed seem stuffy and not inviting.’ Too many pillows can also be bad for your neck, so work out how many pillows you should sleep with for comfort, and remove any extras whenever you settle down to sleep.
Created in a fully manual weaving process keeping with a tradition that dates back to the 15th century, this lightweight blanket with high volume is the perfect item to keep you warm on cold winter days.
3. Opt for natural materials whenever you can
Styling with natural materials is popular with interior designers for a reason – they look and feel cozy with little to no effort, making them perfect for making a bed look cozy. Alex Decker, interior designer and founder of A Decker Design, routinely decorates homes and designs rooms with cozy bedroom layers. She always starts by picking out high-quality textiles like alpaca throws.
When it comes to the bedding itself, picking the best linen sheets also creates a good foundation for a cozy sleep space with the added benefit of being hypoallergenic, helping you to sleep better too, shares Jessica Hanley, bedding expert and founder of Piglet in Bed:
‘Selecting the right material for your sheets can make a significant difference. I’d suggest using either linen or flannel sheets during the winter months for an especially cozy feel. Linen is a wonderful all-year-rounder, being breathable, thermoregulating (meaning it regulates your body temperature), and moisture-wicking. It’s also super soft and gets softer over time.
‘Flannel is perfect for colder weather, being soft and insulating, and also providing a warm, fuzzy texture that feels nice to nestle into.’
Inspired by a vintage check pattern, this Natural Plaid bed linen bundle calls to mind rustic and cozy cabin interiors.
These 100% French flax linen sheets serve as lightweight covers on their own, or as a luxurious extra layer alongside other linen pieces.
This Thistle flannel cotton bedding bundle. Woven from a blend of sustainably sourced cotton and TENCEL™ fibres, the buttery soft fabric is warm yet breathable, keeping you comfortable on cooler nights.
4. Consider your color scheme
The color of your bedding has a huge impact on your space, from bed sheet colors to improve sleep to bedding color to make a bedroom look bigger, so it is no surprise that it can also affect how cozy your bed looks, too.
‘Go for subtle or subdued hues and warm, natural shades,’ suggests Artem Kropovinksy, interior designer and founder of Arsight. ‘These make a room quiet and cozy, thus transforming your bedroom into a peaceful sanctuary.’
5. Choose high-quality inserts
It is not just what you put on your bed that makes it look cozy, it is the materials underneath too, says Jessica Hanley, bedding expert.
‘Lots of people decide to invest in good quality sheets made from natural materials but then forget the all-important inserts. Merino wool is an excellent alternative to feathers and synthetic fillings as it has a number of natural benefits that contribute to good quality sleep. It’s moisture absorbent, hypoallergenic, dust mite free, and a natural thermoregulator,’ she explains.
Made for all year round natural comfort, this insert comes in two weights, and is made by hand and filled with carded Merino sheep's wool, encased in 100% organic cotton.
FAQs
How do you feel cozy in bed?
Besides making your bed cozy using plush bedding and layering pillows and throws, you can feel cozier in bed by adding cozy subdued lighting into your space with warm-toned light bulbs or cozy lamps such as sun lamps or salt lamps.
You can also add fragrances such as sleepy lavender or comforting cinnamon and vanilla to add another element to your space. Of course, having some comfortable pajamas also helps.
How do hotel beds look so fluffy?
Luxury hotel beds are sometimes seen as the epitome of cozy thanks to their fluffiness. This is achieved by using plush bedding such as natural down duvet inserts – sometimes even using two inserts in one duvet cover for ultimate fluffiness.
They also layer a sheet under a duvet or comforter for an added layer of warmth and use multiple pillows to offer your head the perfect place to sink into and rest through the night.
Making a bed look cozy doesn't just come down to what you put on the bed itself, reminds designer Nate Berkus. ‘Lighting is also important as you want the space to always feel calming, and layering warm hues is perfect for winding down and feeling more comfortable,’ he says. ‘Add framed photos on night tables and decorative boxes to hold remotes and sleeping pills, mouth guards, etc,’ he adds, to contribute to the overall look of the space.
