Primary Bedroom: Bedding

Your primary bedroom is more than just a place to sleep; it's your sanctuary where you go to relax and unwind after a long day. As such, it should be a space that's comfortable and cozy, designed to make you feel at ease. One of the most important factors in creating this ambiance is your bedding. So, let's go over my bedding base, which includes a fitted sheet, top sheet (*although in a lot of cases, I don’t think they are necessary), 4 sleeping pillows (2 on either side), duvet cover, and an optional folded quilt or throw at the edge of the bed. 

Duvet Covers & Sheets

When it comes to bedding for a primary bedroom, most people tend to stick with a white duvet cover and white sheets, and I include myself in this group. However, there have been occasions when I have added a solid color duvet to a primary bedroom, but this is usually only at the request of my clients. Guest bedrooms are different, as I am more open to being a little more playful and adding a colorful duvet, but we will discuss that in a later post. In terms of the primary bedroom, the decorative pillows and quilt–or folded blanket–at the edge of the bed are where you will want to add pops of color, additional texture, and pattern.

Photo Credit: Charlotte Lea Photography

I absolutely love my Cozy Earth Bamboo duvet cover and sheets on my primary bed! It's like sleeping in a buttery cloud, it's so soft and cozy. But, let me give you a quick disclaimer because I'm always honest here. This fabric needs a little love and attention, as it can get pretty wrinkled. So, be prepared to spray a wrinkle releaser every few days as you make the bed. I have a set of Cozy Earth bamboo sheets and a set of organic cotton sheets from Target that I alternate. I love them both, but the Target sheets don't require as much attention and are great for when you don't want to put in any effort and want to save $$$. If you don't like bamboo duvet covers and sheets, you can always go with linen, which happens to be another favorite fabric of mine for primary bedding.

Below are a few sheet sets from Target that I love–

Let me tell you about my rocky relationship with linen. Back in 2007, when I was living in China, I had my wisdom teeth taken out in Nanjing. The dentist and his assistant put a worn-out, dirty linen rag over my face with a hole in the center to extract my teeth. To say the experience was traumatic would be an understatement. I remember my husband, Taylor, lifting the linen rag slowly to see my tear-streaked face. Needless to say, I had an instant loathing for linen, which seemed completely justified. However, I'm happy to report that I've moved on from that traumatic incident, and I'm now back to loving that textured, sometimes scratchy (if you're buying cheap quality) fabric. Linen duvet covers and sheets are one of my go-to bedding options. They add a subtle texture to the bed, but be warned, they require a bit of attention if you hate the sight of wrinkles. A lot of people embrace the few wrinkles that come with linen bedding, but if you're not one of them, then it's best to give your linen a bit of love and care.

Below are some of my favorite tried and true linen options–

PS- don’t be scared of linen bedding from H&M–it’s goood. If inexpensive linen freaks you out, then Matteo LA linen is for you. Matteo is great, but too many other (more affordable brands) are 100% comparable, in my opinion.

Photo Credit: Charlotte Lea Photography

Quilts & Throws

A quilt or throw at the edge of a bed can be a great way to add a touch of pattern or texture to your bedroom decor. It can also add some depth and dimension to your bed, making it feel more inviting and cozy. While it's not necessary, it can certainly enhance the overall look and feel of the space.

Here are a few of my favorites. A lot of these are still on sale–

Decorative Pillows: Size Combinations

I love to play with different decorative pillow combinations for primary beds. There are two styles I am particularly enjoying right now: one is more modern and the other is more traditional. For my own space, I decided to go with a modern look.

*My exact pillow sizes shown in images above are (2) 20”x32” and (1) 14”x42”*

If you’re still here, thanks for continuing this wordy post :) We’ve gone over all the bedding basics for primary beds. I’ll be updating my blog a little later this week with some fun decorative pillow fabric combos to complete the look!