I want to learn how to make a formal bed like in Stroud's showrooms.
With sheets folded just so, comforters folded at the foot of the bed
inside a duvet, pillow shams, dust ruffles, etc. I have all of the
proper items (and spent almost $600 to get them!) but then I realized
my bed never has the same "showroom" look as Stroud's or Bed Bath &
Beyond. I think it comes down to the little things...like knowing
where to fold all of the layers and how much is exposed and how much
is covered by another layer, etc. I have spend a fair amount of time
in the showrooms trying to "reverse engineer" it, but it is difficult.
By the time you unfold each piece to try and figure it out, you have
effectively "messed it up" and so its secrets stay hidden! I figure
someone out there either worked at one of these places in the past or
works in another capacity (designer, decorator, etc.) that have
allowed them to put together fancy beds.

Hi cbigger-ga,

You are absolutely right when you say that it is the small details
that make the difference between a beautiful bed and one that just
misses somehow. I have “staged” numerous houses being listed for sale,
which involves attending to every detail that might catch the eye of a
potential buyer. A sumptuous, luxurious bed is an important part of
the overall ambiance of a warm and inviting bedroom.

eHow:
http://www.ehow.com/ehow/ehowDetails.jsp?id=1987
has information on making the basic bed, but also includes some useful
tips, like the mechanics of perfect hospital corners, which is a small
matter, and not usually even seen, but a beautiful detail nonetheless.
You will need to register to access the above page, but it is simple
and free, and will give you access to 15,000 how-to subjects.

Go to:
http://www.ehow.com/home/home.jsp
click on “Register” 

The actual instructions are on this page:
http://www.ehow.com/ehow/ehowDetails.jsp?id=1987
If this link does not take you there after registering and logging in,
type “make a bed” in the “How To” search box.

After you have the basics down, you can get to the fancy stuff. Much
of what makes a sumptuous bed has to do with the fabrics that you
choose. You say that you already have spent a considerable amount on
the bed linens, so I assume that you are starting with beautiful,
coordinating fabrics and most of the essential components: sheets,
pillow cases, bedskirt, duvet and duvet cover, and lots of pillows. So
lets take a look at some of these details.

FABRICS

Beautiful fabrics in coordinating colors and patterns, and a variety
of texture, add to the impression of a sumptuous bed. Mix textures:
crisp cotton or linen sheets with a satin duvet, silk throw pillows
mixed with velvet. One of the most beautiful beds that I’ve ever seen
had a crocheted antique table cloth, purchased at a flea market,
folded and draped over the bottom two feet of the bed, falling to the
floor. This had been placed over the polished cotton duvet. In the
same way, antique crocheted doilies can be sewn on to pillow covers to
coordinate.

BEDSKIRT

Try layering two bedskirts, for an even more extravagant  look. Put
one under the boxsprings, and one between the mattresses, or a sheer
or lace skirt over a solid fabric.

DUVET AND DUVET COVER

Down is the most comfortable duvet filling, being warm in the winter
and cool in the summer. It is also fluffy and luxurious. You can put a
larger duvet into a smaller size cover, and it will be even more lofty
and sumptuous.

PILLOWS

Much of the impression that we get from looking at a beautiful bed
comes from the pillows, so pile them on, lots and lots of them—all
shapes and sizes. And don’t forget to mix in your beautiful fabrics
here. If  you sew, or know someone who does, you can really make the
most beautiful throw pillows with bits of material, a minimum of time
and limited sewing skills. Throw pillows are like jewelry on the bed,
and here is where you can make the most impact on the overall look.
One thing that you may not have been aware of in your inspection of
the display beds is that the pillows often cover the entire top half
of the bed! So fold your top sheet and your duvet way down to make
room for all of those pillows.


Wine Country Living
The Perfectly Made Bed
Making a Stylish Bed - Simple Steps to Achieve a Romantic, Classic or
Traditional Look
http://www.winecountryliving.com/lifesty4/bed1.htm
has photos and an excellent drawing showing every element of a
perfectly made, luxurious bed, and reveals the secrets used by the
Scandia Down store to design their showroom beds. The elements are
numbered and described, to help with placement and order. It gives an
especially good idea of how to handle lots of pillows.

There are three looks included in this article: Classic, Romantic and
Tailored. Each look includes photos and the very helpful numbered
diagram. See the buttons about 2/3 of the way down the page to access
the Classic and Tailored pages.


More ideas can be found at the following websites:

Home & Garden
Making the Bed
http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,DEID_project_32453,00.html

A Quick Course on the Basics of a Beautiful Bed
http://www.dupont.com/sleepproducts/bedding_101.html

I hope this has given you some ideas to put together your perfect bed.
Experiment until you find a look you like, and then don’t be afraid to
add to it or change it for the season. If you need additional help,
please do not hesitate to ask for a clarification.

Sweet dreams,

Beth  


Search Criteria:
www.ehow.com--search on “how to make a bed”
www.hgtv.com--search on “make bed”
Google search terms: “make a bed”

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Clarification of Answer by bethc-ga on 04 Jul 2002 14:33 PDT

Thank you for the lovely words and rating, cbigger-ga. I'm glad that
my answer helped.

Beth

Very complete answer. Thank you very much. I think this answer may
contain the ideas to get my bed to be just right.

I have one thing to add (my husband used to work at Bed, Bath &
Beyond): The beds have *lots* of padding before even the first sheet
goes on. You can duplicate this with featherbeds, eggcrates (foam) or
a combination of both. Then you can finally achieve that plush look.
Hope this helps!

I work as a Home Textile photo stylist and have found that drooping
shams make a bed look sloppy, and making sure the pillow corners fill
the entire sham corner makes a huge difference.  If there is a
flange/trim on the sham and it wont stand up, you can use a little
clear packing tape behind the corners to stiffin them up and keep them
from drooping, which will help produce clean lines to the overall look
of the bed.