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Jun 11, 2025

How to Style a Bed Like a Designer (2025) | Architectural Digest

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Out

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

Out of all the spaces in the house, the bedroom might be the one that reflects our personalities most. With this in mind, learning how to style a bed can make all the difference between a peaceful sleep and waking up feeling groggy and uninspired. After all, it’s normal for the place we go to rest and recharge every day to reflect our character so it truly feels like a haven.

While it can be a process understanding how your individualism meshes well with bedding—think different styles of duvet covers, sheets, and more—it doesn’t have to be a giant feat to conquer. Below, we consulted interior designers from the AD PRO Directory to weigh in on how to style your bedrooms like a pro while making your space feel unique and practical. For those who recently moved into their first home and need tips to those looking to reinvigorate their space, these tips can help you reflect your aesthetic and create a beautiful bed with ease.

While it’s not always a must, a bed skirt is a great place to start when styling a bed—and it can instantly elevate the vibe of a bedroom. “Usually, I use custom bed skirts to fit a bedroom’s energy, but opting for a neutral, colorful option can round out the bed tidily,” says Miami-based designer Alex Tate of Mr. Alex Tate Design.

Bed skirts are known for their ability to add a bit of daintiness that doesn’t age or distract from the bed or room. Consider them your duvet’s inconspicuous, appealing costar. This design element comes in various shapes, patterns, and fabrics for the perfect effect of refinement and privacy for under-bed storage.

Matouk

Williams Sonoma

Pottery Barn

West Elm

Make your bed with a complete sheet set—including a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and pair of pillowcases—made of breathable materials. “Choosing a percale or linen [set is] perfect for every season and will feel breezy while sleeping,” says Meg Lonergan, founder of Houston-based design firm Meg Lonergan Interiors. Tate “prefers Williams Sonoma percale because of its texture and durability,” as you can typically find sets in a 200 thread count or greater that gets softer after each wash. As another option, the designers recommend smooth sateen for a more polished look and feel.

Once you’ve made your choice fabric-wise, select the design that speaks to your bedroom’s style. “Sometimes, nothing beats a crisp, plain white sheet, but for more eccentric bedroom dwellers, an embroidered or printed sheet set can go a long way,” Lonergan says.

Quince

Linoto

Williams Sonoma

Serena & Lily

For most bedrooms, duvet covers are where your personality can really shine through. “The duvet cover and duvet is where you get to have fun—it’s not about the most expensive choice, but the ones that make the most sense for the space,” Tate says. Whether you’re into cottagecore-inspired gingham designs, dizzying stripes, or clean color blocking, use the duvet cover as your touch of variance within your bedding scheme. Being based in Miami and having worked with several clients from across the country, Tate suggests using a medium-weight duvet insert, as it offers a nice feel and temperature balance throughout the night.

Boll & Branch

Piglet

Cozy Earth

Brooklinen

The next step is to include layers of pillows. And while you can stack everything from fluffy down pillows to statement lumbar pillows, make sure you don’t overdo it. “It’s important to have pillows on your bed, but they must be beautiful and functional,” Tate says.

“It’s optimal to start from your headboard forward when layering; add pillows to help create a differentiation,” Tate says. “Also, stick to seven pillows total on the bed—including throw pillows, like tassel-adorned or embroidered throw pillow cover options—to prevent overcrowding and spending 10 minutes a day rearranging and taking off accent pillows.”

Having the right decorative pillows and pillow covers will instantly create a fashionable twist to any bedroom with a fun amalgamation of patterns and colorways. What’s important is that any additions you make feel true to you and make you want to rest when you look at your bed.

Pom Pom at Home

Amazon

Salam Hello

Cultiver

Lastly, opt for a throw draped at the bottom of your bed for extra coverage. Aside from helping to conceal an unmade bed on lazy days, Tate notes that “a throw or accent blanket adorned in an eye-catching, neutral pattern can tie the bed and room together seamlessly.” While a throw blanket is sometimes overlooked to complete a bedspread, it’s one of the easiest ways to get cozy without undoing your entire sleep setup—and it can provide ambiance, texture, and contrast to your safe space. Think a fringe-embellished, premium jacquard, or cozy wool blanket.

SSENSE

Quince

Rejuvenation

Bearaby