Looking for luxury bedding?  Find designer and  luxury bedding sets from all the top brands, from Amity Home, Ann Gish, Annie Selke, Ralph Lauren, Barclay Butera, Calisto Home, Eastern Accents, Dian Austin, Donna Karan, Fino Lino, French Laundry, Isabella Collection by Kathy Fielder, Matouk, Pine Cone Hill, Pom Pom at Home, SFERRA, Sherry Kline and Vera Wang.

The bedroom is truly one of the most important spaces in our home – given that we spend almost a third of our lives sleeping. Luxury bed linens go a long way in helping to create a space that provides comfort and beauty while reflecting your personality.

Your bedroom should be a relaxing retreat, with a luxurious bed acting as the focal point in the room. Quality bedding not only improves the appearance of the bedroom but also promotes a well-deserved and good night’s sleep. In fact, studies have shown that those who make their beds are happier, more productive and have a more restful sleep than those who do not make them.

Directly below the following images find a step-by-step guide with images on how to choose luxury bedding including:

1. How to lay the foundation
2. How to choose sheets that feel good on your skin
3. How to choose quality sheets and pillows
4. How to layer a bed that looks beautiful (with diagram)
5. How to choose bedroom paint color
6. Tips on how to choose luxury bedding including the top brands
Article by Interior Designer Tracy Svendsen. 

When choosing luxury bedding, find a style that sets center stage and helps tie the rest of the décor in your bedroom together. Be sure to dress it up with decorative pillows, beautiful lighting, accessorize with a rug and add art and room décor to complete the look.

The image above, courtesy of Interior Designer Ferris Rafauli, is a great example of a well-designed luxury bedroom, with a gentle and soothing neutral palette,  soft sumptuous fabric and an eye for detail.

Lay the Foundation

The first step prior to purchasing luxury bedding is to make sure to set the foundation. If you’ve been using the same duvet cover for many years, it may need replacing. A beautiful cloud-like fluffy duvet and comfortable pillows are necessary not only for comfort but for visual aesthetics as well.

Choose a Quality Comforter

If you want to have a luxurious bed to sleep in, think about splurging on a 100-percent down comforter that can fit inside a duvet, and pair it with equally splurge-worthy linens that have a high thread count. A good night’s sleep is priceless, and bedding is not the place to skimp. Your bed should be sumptuous and a heaven for resting your weary head at night.

The most important consideration when choosing a duvet or comforter is the measure of warmth, or tog rating, to ensure you sleep at the optimum temperature for the season. “For summer, a 2.5 to 4.5; spring, autumn, and general use, use a 9 to 10 tog; and for winter, a 12 to 13.5.” All season duvets are the ideal scenario, interior designer, Sue Smart advises, with “two duvets (of light and medium weights) which can be used separately during spring, summer and autumn and then buttoned together to make a very warm one for winter.”

Super lightweight comforters are ideal for warmer climates, summer sleeping or for those who prefer the bare minimum, with room temperatures of 74°F and up.

Lightweight comforters are perfect for warmer seasons and climates, or for those who keep their bedroom temperature cool, from 69°F to 74°F.

Medium weight comforters are a popular choice as it offers plenty of down fill for year-round comfort and is best for room temperatures 65°F to 69°F.

Extra warm weight comforters are a cozy choice in late fall or early spring and are perfect for room temperatures from 62°F to 65°F.

Ultra warm weight comforters are the warmest and are perfect for people who need toasty warmth in the coldest of winters when the temperature is below 62°F.

Fill power is another important consideration and refers to the volume a single ounce of down takes. The higher the fill power, the better the insulating quality of the down.

Image courtesy of: Luxedeco

Choose Sheets that Feel Good on Your Skin

When purchasing bedsheets, spending a bit extra pays off.
Most bed linens are made from breathable natural fibers such as cotton, silk or linen. Each one has specific functions that appeal to personal preference.

Cotton is by far the most-loved fabric for sheets. Many people opt for cotton as it not only looks fresh, it also feels soft. The highest-quality and softest sheets use cotton with extra-long fibers that can be spun into fine, strong yarns. Certified long-staple cotton includes Egyptian, Pima, and Supima.

When it comes to luxurious cotton sheets, classic Egyptian cotton is the gold standard. It’s the perfect combination of comfort and luxury and has very little piling. It’s made from a long staple fiber and has high breathability as the air can flow through the sheets allowing you to rest comfortably throughout the night.

Egyptian cotton outlasts less expensive sheets, while also providing a smooth, crisp finish. Egyptian cotton may initially feel a bit rough on the skin but softens with wear and several washes. It’s by far the most popular bedsheet choice. A few drawbacks can be the high cost, the initial stiffness and that they don’t drape as well as other options, such as silk or satin.

Silk bedding is perfect for those who want hydrated skin and glossy hair as the protein-infused structure of the silk strands naturally tames hair and keeps moisture close to the skin.

It’s also a natural heat regulator and assists in maintaining the correct body temperature. It’s a great option for those that suffer from allergies, asthma or eczema as it’s naturally hypoallergenic. Silk bedding is perhaps the most luxurious of any sheets, but the look and feel aren’t for everyone.

Pure linen bedding provides a relaxed, lived-in look and works well for those that aren’t bothered by a less ironed look. Linen sheets have a distinct texture and after being washed several times, linen bedding gets softer and shinier with each wash. Unlike cotton, linen when cared for correctly has the potential to last up to 2-3 decades before needing to be replaced. It’s the reason many Europeans prefer to invest in high-quality bed linen rather than other options.

Satin and Sateen are both characterized by a glossy, smooth finish. Satin bedding is known for being luxurious with an elegant shine. It’s perfect for both warm summer nights and cooler temperatures as well.

Sateen is made from the mercerized fibers of any cotton plant and woven in a satin weave. It has a luxurious sheen and provides far more ability to drape than Egyptian cotton.

If you are looking for bedding that is immediately soft and smooth, that drapes beautifully, sateen is a good option. A few drawbacks are that it can retain heat and can have difficulty gripping your duvet, due to its smooth surface.

Image courtesy of: Pinterest

How to Choose Quality Sheets

Thread count is often used as a measure of quality as it is the measurement of the ‘fineness’ of the fabric – or the number of threads per square inch. “Thread count refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch. Generally, the higher the thread count, the softer the sheet, and the more likely it will wear well-or even soften-over time. Good sheets range anywhere from 200 to 800, although you’ll occasionally see numbers over 1,000.” ~ hgtv

Anything over 1,000 doesn’t guarantee top-quality sheets. It could mean the yarns are twisted together, which doesn’t necessarily improve the soft feel of the sheets.

How to Choose the Right Pillows

To ensure that you have the best bedding experience, a high-quality pillow is essential. The most important quality in a pillow is ensuring that it has the correct balance of support and comforter. This depends largely on the position you generally sleep in, and so a great rule of thumb is to choose a pillow that keeps the spine in natural alignment to prevent causing aches or pains in the back, neck, and shoulders.

Back sleepers: choose a medium-firm pillow
Side sleepers: choose a medium to firm pillow
Front sleepers: choose a soft to medium pillow

Image courtesy of: Luxedeco

Texture and layering is a key trend in bedroom interiors. The look achieved should be ‘casual elegance.’ Layering up bedding and accessories creates an effortless and well put together appearance. Stacking your bedding elements is the key to making it look lush.

Textile designer John Robshaw travels the world to discover the most luxurious linens to create layers of exotic touches for his bedding collection. “Layering and having seasonal options is always key. For instance, have a couple different sets of patterned sheets that you can swap out for variety, or coordinated quilts on hand when it’s too warm for a duvet. I think more is more.”

There’s Nothing Like a Well-Made Bed

A well-made bed makes a personal style statement, and whether you want something refined and elegant, the appearance of immaculate hotel bedding or something more casual – pulling it all together is key for visual impact. The following image courtesy of Pottery Barn shows how to stack the bed with just the right amount of pillows.

When choosing your bedroom color scheme, it’s important to keep in mind that this is a place to relax, unwind and rest. For most people, this is achieved by using soothing and gentle colors. On the other hand, its also a very personal space – so if you prefer brighter colors, then go for it!

It is important to consider pre-existing factors such as the size of your bedroom, light exposure, as well as any bedding, furniture or décor you want to incorporate. Keep in mind that lighter shades make a space feel much larger in size.  Also think of the mood you want to create, something in cooler shades for a modern and elegant bedroom, or warm shades to provide instant coziness.

Neutrals

Neutrals such as shades of beige, gray, ivory and tan provide the perfect backdrop for a calming retreat. You can use a tone on tone approach, and keep everything soft and muted, or bring in color with area rugs, artwork, room décor, colorful bedding and artwork.

Pastels

Using soft pastel shades can also provide a soothing feel to your bedroom. Pastels are bright, fresh and look stunning in a bedroom flooded with warm sunlight.

Darker Hues

Darker hues instantly add a beautiful ambiance if you use warmer shades such as charcoal gray, or rich greens and blues.

Base your color scheme on the bedding 

Luxury bedding is such a major investment, it just makes sense to use it as inspiration for room color. The images below show how bedding can be used to provide a sophisticated color palette for the bedroom. I used Adobe Photoshop to derive the color samples. It’s also easy to simply bring the bedding into paint stores to select a wide range of color samples.

I always bring a large selection of paint samples home and tape the samples to the bedroom wall to view how the light in the bedroom affects the color throughout the day and evening. I also have the samples sitting on my desk while shopping online for easy color matching or carry them with me when I’m out shopping for decor, area rugs, wall etc. It helps to keep the color palette cohesive in the room.

– A few basic items to include on the bed: bed skirt, encased mattress protector, mattress topper, mattress pad, fitted sheet, flat sheet, coverlet, comforter, duvet cover, decorative shams, euro pillows, pillow protectors, down or memory foam bed pillows, pillowcases, bed scarf and throw blanket.

– Think about including a coverlet to layer under quilts or duvets or use them as an accessory to add a splash of color, pattern or texture to the foot of the bed.

– Quilts also can add fresh color and a modern take on traditional a comforter. Similar to a coverlet, a quilt can be draped over the end of the bad for a burst of color. Consider adding complimentary pillow shams for visual interest.

– Duvet covers are a great solution if you want to switch up the look in your bedroom from time to time. You can choose one to use year-round, or change according to season. A reversible duvet cover is another option to easily update your space without having to purchase a second cover.

– Choose subtle color in soothing shades and a restful palette of monochromatic tones to create a relaxing, not cluttered atmosphere that’s easy on the eye.

– Keep the design of the bedroom as simple as possible, choosing sophisticated and elegant linens, furniture and décor.

– Include other sensual feeling fabrics throughout the room to match the bedding such as a soft cashmere throw, silk or textured wall coverings and silk draperies.

– Throws are a great styling device for beds. Keep their placement informal and casually draped.

– Use the bedding to create a color palette that works throughout the whole room.

– Keeping sheets and comforter simple allows you to have fun with accent pieces.

– Mix cushions on the bed in different shapes, color, sizes, and textures for a current look. According to designer Scott Charles, lead home stylist for West Elm’s Chelsea location in New York City – if you are wondering why your blanket doesn’t look as plush as the bedding on display in stores: its because the duvet is usually stuffed with two down feather inserts to create that fluffy lush look.

– Top luxury bedding brands to consider are Frette, Sferra, Westin Home Collection, Ralph Lauren, Annie Selke Luxe, Callisto Home, Charisma, Dian Austin, Donna Karan, Eastern Accents, Fino Lino Linen & Lace, John Robshaw, Lili Alessandra, Peacock Alley, Matouk, Pine Cone Hill, and Waterford.

Sources

1. How to Choose Bedding. Luxedeco. https://www.luxdeco.com/styleguide/how-to-choose-bed-linen-and-bedding-buying-guide/
2. Comforter Buying Guide. http://www.thecompanystore.com/comforter-buying-guide.html
3. HGTV. 6 Tips for Selecting Luxurious Bedding https://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/bedrooms/6-tips-for-selecting-luxurious-bedding-pictures
4. Buying Luxury Bedding https://www.woodsfinelinens.com/buyers-guide/luxury-bedding-buying-guide/