Bed Secrets (No, Not That Kind): From Sheets to Styling, Here’s How I Make My Bed

Every time I take an outfit selfie, y’all ask about my bed, so let’s talk about it.

Welcome back to Hi Everyone. I’m so glad you’re here! If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. (Forward to a friend! Share on social! Whatever’s clever! Just know it is appreciated.) Also, FWIW, all products mentioned are independently chosen, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated.

After last month’s jeans story, I received a surprising number of DMs about something totally unrelated to the topic. Yes, some folks wanted to debate the merits of a button fly over a zipper, while others were extremely angry that none of my personal picks were under $100, but mostly I just fielded questions about my bed. My bed! I was not expecting that. Though, given the fact that it is the backdrop in all of my outfit pictures, I guess it makes sense.

To be perfectly honest, I was delighted because I spent a great deal of time researching all the components of my bed and feel pretty pleased about the current iteration. As someone who has always had difficulty falling asleep and struggled with insomnia the majority of my adult life, I find having a bed I am excited to sleep in helps, to a degree.

(Okay, full disclosure: What has helped me the most is the fact that I get up at the exact same time every single day, even on the weekends; I don’t drink caffeine after my morning coffee and basically stopped drinking alcohol five years ago; I exercise every day; and I switch from screens to reading at least an hour before bed, sometimes more. And honestly, having kids really significantly helped with insomnia because I’m so exhausted at the end of the day. But having a lovely bed matters too!)

And before we delve into all the details, let’s tackle some controversial things first.

1. Our bed is a queen.

Yes, figuratively, but also literally. I know so many people believe that a king-size bed is the key to a happy marriage, but this is what works for us right now. Frankly, I tried to make the move to a king when we bought our house, but my husband wasn’t into it, and I didn’t care enough to push it, so here we are. Also, it fits the proportions of our bedroom better. We are not a co-sleeping family, and our children barely have any interest in being in our room (probably because we don’t have a TV in our bedroom; yes, we are those insufferable people), so it hasn’t been an issue.

2. I am Team Top Sheet.

I need options when I sleep (which is part of why I have so many pillows—they all have different qualities!), and having one heavy comforter doesn’t work for me. Also, I love a clean bed and have been known to change the sheets in the middle of the week if I am in a mood or had a bad night’s sleep (fresh start!). Doing that with a duvet cover strikes me as more work than I’d like.

Totally fine if you disagree with both of these things. Hopefully, it’s less controversial than the fact that I exercise with my hair down, but if this has horrified you and you cannot read on, I understand.

BED DETAILS

Bed Frame: Pottery Barn Raleigh Upholstered Square Low Storage Bed

This bed works for the room in a number of ways: The headboard hits just below the windows on that wall, the under-bed storage space is super helpful (our house was built in the 1930s, so there’s not a ton of storage/closet space), and it’s peacefully neutral, which is what I wanted for this room. Ours is upholstered in Pot Barn’s Performance Brushed Basketweave in Oatmeal and has bronze nailheads, which are super subtle.

Under different circumstances, I would have probably chosen a velvet, wool bouclé, or Belgian linen, but this has held up really well and doesn’t fight with our chartreuse velvet bench at the foot of the bed, which is the real star, to be perfectly honest. This bed frame has two storage configurations—ours has two drawers on each side, or you could go for one larger storage drawer that opens from the foot of the bed—and yes, having bedside tables makes accessing the drawer closest to the headboard difficult, so I store more long-term items there and then have linens in the easy-to-open lower drawer.

Mattress: Naturepedic Organic Mattress

So technically, we do not have this mattress. We bought our current one a zillion years ago, and honestly, it’s time for an upgrade, especially because there have been such amazing advances in mattresses. However, this is what we will buy next.

The reason I know so much about this brand is because when our oldest kid moved from his crib to a bed, I did a ton of research and ended up buying him a Naturepedic Verse Organic Kids Mattress, which has been absolutely wonderful. The process of getting it was a breeze, he loves it, and it’s honestly lovely to sleep on. (Yes, I have napped in his bed.) The mattresses are made in America using organic cotton and wool; pass governmental flammability tests without using chemicals; don’t contain glues, adhesives, or polyurethane foam; and are GOTS certified, Made Safe certified, and UL/Greenguard certified. Oh, and the kids’ one has a waterproof side for the potty-training years.

The adult versions of these mattresses include all the good stuff that you get in the kids’ version (minus the waterproof side, of course), plus two of the styles, the EOS and Halcyon, are designed for customization, so if you decide down the road you need more support, for example, you can swap out certain layers to make the bed firmer. You can also customize it within the bed itself. So if you like a really firm mattress and your partner likes something softer, you can customize each side so you both get the mattress style you want.

Very long story short: While this is not our current mattress, it will be our future.

Mattress Topper: Pottery Barn Luxury Down Top Featherbed

This makes little sense, but I like a firmer mattress and then a fluffy featherbed layer on top of it. Basically, I want to squish into it but feel supported, and this featherbed we got as a wedding present has been dreamy. I’m pretty sure my husband would skip it, but I feel pretty strongly about it, so it stays (for now). And to answer your question: No, it is not hot.

Sheets: Parachute Linen Sheets, Pottery Barn Belgian Flax Linen Sheets, and Boll & Branch Signature Hemmed Sheets

When it comes to sheets, I’m mostly dedicated to linen, but I don’t feel strongly about it either way, which is why we currently have both linen and sateen. I slightly prefer linen, mostly because it lasts so much longer than a standard cotton style, and also I like that it just feels more substantial.

The old idea about having to break in linen sheets is mostly a nonissue these days; our Parachute and Pottery Barn linen sheets were perfectly soft from the get-go. Meanwhile, it took me a minute to acclimate to the Boll & Branch sheets because they’re very lightweight compared to the linen styles I’m used to. That said, they’re very soft and really excellent for summer.

There are so many incredible color options out there these days, but as I mentioned earlier, I like a really neutral bed, especially because there’s a fair amount of color in the rest of my bedroom. So I always go for white or ivory or use a mixture.

Comforter: Matouk Montreaux Down Comforter

Last year, after much research and debate, I finally invested in an extremely fluffy, medium-weight down comforter from Matouk, and I have no regrets. After watching it for ages, it briefly went on sale last summer—I bought the all-season weight—and I haven’t pounced that quickly since I found an 80%-off Prabal Gurung dress at a liquidation store in Vegas in 2010.

A colleague and friend with impeccable taste told me I wouldn’t regret the purchase of this comforter, and she was completely correct. It’s wildly lofty, ridiculously cozy, and truly makes our bed look luxurious. While I’d never spent that much on a piece of bedding in my life, the price per wear on it is pretty excellent already, and I know we’ll have it for ages.

Duvet and Decorative Pillows: Harmony Textile Stone-Washed Linen Viti Duvet and Shams, available at D.L. Rhein (310.280.0474)

As you already know, I am quite fond of all things linen, so it’s probably no surprise that our duvet and larger pillows are, you guessed it, linen. When we bought our house, we worked with an incredible woman—Deborah Gleiberman—who, in addition to interior design, also has an amazing retail store called D.L. Rhein. Our duvet and pillows are from said store, and when I tell you this French linen is literally the dreamiest thing ever, I mean it.

After four-plus years, it’s just as soft and beautiful as the day we got it and feels way more luxurious than any other bedding I’ve ever owned. For those inquiring minds, Deb is also a vintage queen, and our rug and bedside tables are both her vintage finds. In fact, if you’ve ever liked anything in my house, including all of our rugs, Deb is probably responsible for it. I cannot recommend her, her team, and her store enough!

Styling

In terms of how I make the bed, many of you have commented on how Virgo it is, and yes, I fall on the precise side of things. I like starting the day with one small aspect of my life seemingly in order and under control; it makes everything feel a little less chaotic.

In terms of the very specific way I make it, it’s pretty straightforward. The top sheet is pulled up as high as it can go, and then I tuck the edges of the sheet underneath the mattress/into the bedframe. I put the sleeping pillows in a pile and try to make sure that the open ends of the pillowcases are facing the center of the bed so that you see a neater outer edge. Then, I fluff the duvet and comforter, fold it back approximately halfway, and tuck the ends of the duvet under the mattress, same as the top sheet. The contrast of the neat tuck and the fluffy duvet always looks appealing.

BTW: If you are super delighted with any aspect of your bed/bedding, please let me know in the comments below. I'm always searching for perfection. Also! Per your request, I'm going to do some more stories like the jeans-try-on one from a few weeks ago. I've gotten requests for roundups of white t-shirts, bras, bathing suits that don't show your whole kit and caboodle, casual dresses, shoes, and more...so if there's a specific category you want me to try or a perfect item you think I should cover in my stories, let me know below!

As always, thank you for being here, and thank you for sticking around. If you have any questions or concerns, or want me to touch on any topics in particular, I’m all ears. Leave a comment on Hi Everyone’s Bulletin or DM me on Instagram—I’m @hillarykerr—my inbox is always open!