Shea McGee has been designing and creating thoughtful, sophisticated, and bespoke spaces for years, making her our go-to person when we need styling advice. Having founded her studio over ten years ago, Shea understands the importance of practicality, yet never neglects her elegant aesthetic. Her guidance is always refreshingly useful and easy to replicate in your own home.
Shea has once again delivered and provided us with her top tips for how to style a bed. Focusing on the main feature in the room, she talks through her bed-making process and the importance of the quilt. 'When you’re building a bed you need to know how you like to sleep and also the environment that you’re in. I am going to show you how to use a quilt on your bed in two different ways,' she says.
We're all guilty of being somewhat conventional when making a bed and not using it to really elevate the bedroom. But Shea's tips allow you to switch up your usual bed display with her go-to quilt styling methods.
Put the quilt underneath the duvet for a pop of pattern
Shea starts with a more unconventional way of styling the bed – putting the quilt underneath the duvet. Whilst this may sound strange, it's actually a clever way of emphasizing the duvet itself, which is enhanced by the little peek of the quilt.
First, Shea says to tuck in the quilt, by 'bringing it up quite far so that when I fold my duvet I get a little slither of this quilt pattern showing.' Remember to pull the quilt up the pillows to ensure it's not entirely covered by the duvet.
The beauty of this hack is its versatility. Shea chooses a floral block print design for her quilt and says 'I love the pattern and color palette of it. But you could go solid, you could go stripe, there are so many options.' Shea opts for a complimentary duvet color, which she describes as 'a really beautiful rust color.'
Arranging the duvet, she says, 'I’m going to pull the duvet cover so you get the reveal of the bed frame and you get draping around the bed.' This will prevent the bed from being entirely covered and allow the frame to complement the bedding. Focusing on the top of the duvet, Shea says 'You can do a fold in half' but she prefers to use a forward and back motion to get an 'extra fluffy band across the bed.'
Shea chooses this Hendricks Duvet Cover for her bed display. It's perfect for framing your bed as it's lightly frayed around the edges and will emphasize the drape.
A classic style, the block-printed quilt is a staple in bedding design. Shea chooses this neutral yet intricate style, which looks great dressed with nude shades or fun pops of color.
No bed is complete without a set of matching pillows. The Nettles design is classic in pattern, yet elevated with a pretty contrast trim, giving your bed extra texture and layers of design.
Position the quilt on top of the duvet for a bolder scheme
The second look is likely more familiar to you. It's a classic style that we all know and love. Shea shows us the styling process of her bed, but this time with the quilt on top.
Shea is clear that she doesn't have one go-to style and likes to style beds both ways. Referring to the quilt, she says, 'This look is all about the pattern, so you just choose what the focus is.' If, like Shea, you have a block duvet and a patterned quilt and wish to create an overall color-blocked look, then the first style is best for you. 'The other way is more about saturated color, having a bold moment with the rust.' she says.
However, if you want to bring pattern and delicacy to the bed, then bring your quilt forward. 'Here it's all about the pattern and the color of the quilt.' Style your patterned quilt with matching pillows, or position some contrasting, bright-colored cushions for a pretty clash of pattern and color.
'So go either way.' says Shea. Remember to consider the overall design goal and what the bedroom may need aesthetically and always invest in the best sheets you can afford to work as the perfect base.
'I always use a duvet personally because I like the fluffiness that it adds and it’s cozy to sleep with. However, if you really wanted to you could just do a coverlet but you need to know that it’s going to look very flat. And for me, a luxurious bed has layers and some of that down fluffiness that really adds to the look,' is Shea's last piece of advice.
Shea's quilt styling tips are small but mighty. Despite being easy to implement, her tips can drastically change the feel of your bedroom and provide you with a sometimes much-needed refresh.
