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how to make the perfect bed, comfy bed, the perfect bed, home decor, home decor hacks, decor hacks, master bedroom

Before I get too far into this post let me tell you I do not have a Pinterest-worthy bedroom. In fact, after living in our home for 7 years, my bedroom is the most neglected room in the home. I often refer to it as a “catch-all” room. Our bedroom needs new flooring, different furniture, a new paint job, some shelves for my budding plant collection...(no pun intended) and so much more. My bedroom has never been a place that I want to retreat to. However, I have made my bed the perfect one for my husband and me. And that alone has really improved the feel of my bedroom overall.

We purchased a new bed a year ago this May, therefore I feel a lot more confident in telling you about my perfect bed. Prior to this, in nearly 12 years of marriage, we never had a bed that I would ever brag about.

*This post contains affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can make a commission if you purchase from one of these links.*

Picking Out Your Perfect Bed

a close up of a mattress that has been made

When picking out your perfect bed consider the firmness of the mattress. I always assumed that I slept best on a soft mattress. However, once we switched to the Doctors Choice Firm mattress, I realized how wrong I was! No more waking up with crooks and pains in my neck, back, and shoulders.

If it is within your means to splurge for an adjustable bed frame, I promise you will not regret it. Consider the likes and dislikes of you and your partner. Does one of you like to sit up late at night and read or listen to music…while the other sleeps? This is the case with my husband and me, so we went with a split king bed. This way he can sit up and watch a show and I can sleep to my heart’s content!

Special Features for Your Perfect Bed

Something else to consider is whether or not you need or want any special features on your bed. Of course, people have been sleeping happily for years without the extra light, USB ports, massage settings (though I can’t imagine how), and adjustable frames. However, it is something to consider if you would use them or not. The light feature under the bed can be helpful for children that may come into your bed in the middle of the night. Also, if your partner comes to bed later than you, be considerate and turn on the under-bed lighting so they don’t stumble over the four baskets of unfolded laundry…(Hence the “catch-all”)

To Frame or Not To Frame Your Perfect Bed

That is the question. When we first purchased our bed, we had spent money on all the special features that we wanted. (And haven’t regretted it) But we weren’t able to purchase a bed frame at the time. We had gone from a queen to a king, and we didn’t have an existing frame to use. You may think that you want a frame…however, you may grow to like the frameless look. Once I was able to style my bed the way I wanted I found that I really didn’t need a frame to help improve the look.

If you choose to have a frame just know that you cannot have a “platform” frame with an adjustable bed. The adjustable bed requires that the headboard, footboard, and sideboards fit all around the bed, without interfering with the wires and plugs…something to keep in mind. We have not found this to be a problem.

Now to the Fun Stuff

I had warned my husband that after years of trying to style the perfect bed (and failing) I was going to make it work this time! FINALLY, I have succeeded! I was always scouring Pinterest for the perfect bedding. How to style it, how to make it look cozy, how to layer it, how to make it feel like I was sleeping in 5-star luxury hotel. And if I had to guess, that is why you landed here on this lovely post of mine. So let’s find out how I made my perfect bed!

Picking Your Color Scheme

What are you more drawn to when you see pictures of other bedrooms in magazines or on Pinterest? Are you drawn to more earthy tones, neutral tones, bright colors, and patterns? This would be a great place to start. I’ve always been a patterns girl. I want the cute patterns, but more “adult” cute patterns ya know? Once I ordered a set of cat sheets that were adorable. Sadly they were the wrong size.

Sadly, I have found that in the size that I require, it is harder to find cute printed sheets. Over the years in our home decor style, I have found we gravitate more toward earthy, natural tones. I decided to go with a neutral color scheme for my bedding but with small pops of color.

What Color Schemes Are Already Around You?

As I stated before, my bedroom is in need of a new paint job among other things. However, if I were to repaint, I would still go with a white wall and natural wood furnishings. I want more plants incorporated into my bedroom, which would bring colors as well. This was part of my thought process when picking a color scheme. Below is my bed. (Let me tell you, it is wrinkly, I do not get my laundry done in a decent time frame, so it would be wrinkly no matter what…okay? Okay.)

Neutral color scheme King bed |How to Make the Perfect Bed

Why I Bravely Chose Light Colors

I have two wild boys, two inside cats, and a Boxer puppy…Now, before you put me in the insane asylum for picking these light colors, allow me to explain.

Okay, I can’t explain. But I will tell you I have had no regrets, and by some miracle, I have maintained the quality of my bedding.

The main reason I chose the lighter color scheme was just for aesthetics. I wanted my bed to look visually appealing. The soft creamy colors really spoke to me. Do I need to defend myself anymore? Also, as I stated previously, if I were to redecorate my bedroom, I would choose more earthy, neutrals anyway.

How I Keep The Bedding Clean

I am a bit of a crazy person when it comes to kids on my bed and how clean they need to be on the bed. I do not allow dirty feet, mouths, or clothes on my bed. The dog does not sleep with us, nor is she allowed on the bed. The cats do occasionally venture up there, but because of other kitty-related issues in the past, I try to keep them out of my room for the most part. Now looking under the bed at the very tempting material that my cats love to use as their claw sharpener, is another story…maybe that’s the benefit of that bed frame!

Where Did I Find My Bedding?

While I did carefully choose some of my bedding while some of it just happened. Some items on my perfect bed are favorites that I have had for years, some were picked from other rooms in the home. And others were by sheer happenstance that I came across them. I will break down for you what is on my bed. Below I have linked some options so you can visualize what your perfect bed could start to look like!

Sheets for Your Perfect Bed

If buying sheets for a split-king you need to order a split-king sheet set. I know that shouldn’t be so hard, but it has taken me a whole year to order the correc t set. (I kept ordering Twin XL sheets…don’t be like me.) This has made all the difference! I found these she e ts. They come in a variety of colors, have deep pockets, and are dark enough that I don’t worry too much about them getting any stains on them. I ordered the color “mushroom”

Coverlet | Quilt

Here is a good place to incorporate a bit of white in your bedding if you want to. I have two types of coverlets on my bed, one for pretty, and one for comfy. The comfy one goes right on top of my sheets so I can pull it up over my face and make a nice little cozy cocoon. The nice thing about having one for comfort and one for looks is that if you lay your comfy one on top of the sheets, you can’t see it when you make your bed.

Duvet Cover

I couldn’t be happier with my duvet cover from West Elm. We chose the “Natural Flax” color, but in general, I went for an “oatmeal” color scheme. I prefer a duvet cover over a comforter because a duvet cover can add more fluff to your bed. (This duvet looks a lot like mine, for cheaper, and has lots of neutral colors.) In this article, she suggests stuffing a duvet cover with two inserts! How genius is that? Something I could definitely be on board with. That brings me to my next suggestion for the perfect bed.

Duvet Insert

Though a duvet cover can be used without an insert, especially if you get too hot in the summer…I do suggest at least one duvet insert to make your bed perfectly fluffy. This is the one I have and love it. What I especially like about this duvet insert is that it has convenient corner tabs that allow a duvet cover to tie into. You will need this so that your cover and insert do not shift apart too much and cause bunching. Make sure that your insert is not a darker color or pattern than your duvet cover, this could cause the pattern to show through, or throw off the color of your duvet. Consider a down filled duvet insert for extra, extra fluff! No double insert necessary!

Footer

This is a blanket that is mainly for decoration, though I have found it makes the perfect napping blanket. Since it sits on the bottom of the bed, but on top of the duvet, it can easily be removed and replaced. So when you want to take a nap, but do not want to mess up your nice bed, you have a footer! (I am only about 50% sure that this is what it’s called.)

Throw Blanket To “Top Off” The Perfect Bed

You’re probably wondering why I didn’t just call the footer a throw blanket. Generally, that is what it would be called too, however, I wanted to differentiate between them because I have both. You could end your bed making there, or skip the footer, and use it instead as a throw blanket. But my bed needed that special last step…an oversized knit blanket. This is purely for decoration because this blanket is too large in my opinion to be used for comfort or warmth.

Pillows, Pillows, Pillows…and More Pillows

I can’t believe I was trying to wrap up this post without talking about the best part! Pillows! Recently I have decided I need to replace my sleeping pillows more often. I have been using Serta brand firm pillows, and I love them. I’ve always struggled to find a good pillow for my neck. While I love mine, and I can certainly tell when I have gotten my husband’s less firm pillow, though they are both from Serta. Of course, your pillowcases do not have to match your fitted and flat sheets, but mine do. However, I also use standard queen pillows for extra decoration. This is a great time to add more color to your bed with the decorative pillows. I just purchased these pillowcases and love the pop of color they bring to my bed!

Euro pillows are my next suggestion. Now, I only have two Euro pillows, but three would be the best to have on my king bed. I have been on the lookout for a set of 3. Feel free to mix it up. This may also be a good time to add a pop of color or tone it down or even out the color with your pillows. Remember, Euro pillows are 26×26, something to keep in mind when shopping.

My smaller throw pillows are my favorite pillows on my bed, besides my lumbar pillow. I found my throw pillows at TJ Maxx years ago. These throw pillows have a removable cover that is easily washed. Something else that helps to keep things clean!

At last, the final pillow. The lumbar pillow is a great pillow to top your perfect bed!

Tips For Making The Perfect Bed

Get at least two sets of sheets. This way when you do get to washing your sheets, you have another pair to go on the bed right away.
When you put your flat sheet down, put it on with the wrong side facing up. This is especially good when you have a printed sheet. When you make the bed, fold the flat sheet back to reveal the print! #perfectbedhack
Tuck all your sheets in nice and tight, especially at the bottom of the bed. There is something so nice about climbing into a bed that is nice and tightly tucked.
Allow the coverlet to hang down a bit at the bottom. On my frameless bed, this covers up the ugliness at the bottom of the bed. I promise you don’t even notice there is not a frame.

The Dirty Truth

When we upgraded to a king-size bed, with all the fluff, I did find it took longer to wash my bedding. But if I am home all day I can get the bedding washed and dried that day. I usually start with the bigger items, which will take a bit longer to wash and dry. Some may suggest bleaching your white sheets, but be careful about bleaching mattress protectors as this can be too harsh on the material that protects the mattress. Also, I have refrained from washing my bedding in bleach in case it attracts my cats and encourages them to pee where I do not want them to. Just some things to keep in mind.

What Are You Waiting For?

You may be hesitant to spend a bit of money on your bed, and I understand, I felt the same way. However, think about the value of sleep. When you feel good about your bed, your bedding is part of that. Sleep is so sweet on the perfect, comfy bed! I feel it adds value to my home when I have a nice bed to enjoy. Generally, I am not a good example of making my bed every day, but when I realized how good it made me feel to make my bed and see it, I definitely try to make it a priority.

So stop scouring Pinterest for your perfect bed. Go out and make it happen!

Needing more inspiration? Check out the previous post about how to organize with some storage hacks!

how to organize kids toys, organization, organization hacks, toy storage hacks, storage hacks,

We have all been there. Sitting in the middle of our child’s room, piles of toys surrounded us, wondering what insanity led to this moment. Wondering how we are going to crawl our way back out of the black hole that is toys. Worry no more! I am here to save you with this post “How to Organize Kid’s Toys”!

*This post contains affiliate links. This means I can make a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase from one of my links.*

First let’s discuss for a moment how we got into the situation we are in, surrounded by a sea of toys…most of which aren’t getting played with. Studies have shown children are easily overwhelmed with toys, especially when those toys do not ignite their imagination. Of course, each child is different, so what ignites one child’s imagination, may not do it for another.

How to Organize Your Kid’s Toys

I have read other suggestions that say to pile all the toys in the middle of the room and sort through them. This seems way too overwhelming to me. I tend to give up mid-project if it is too much to handle. Especially if you have many toys, this approach seems like it would go bad quickly.

How To Organize Kid’s Toys By Type

Organizing by type of toy allows you to see how much of one thing you have. Are there any duplicates? If so have all fights over the toy ended? Eliminate all unnecessary duplicates if possible.

How to Organize Kid’s Toys By Catagory

Gather all your action figures, Barbies, Legos, or other similar toys. If you have enough of that toy create a “category” of it. Set aside broken toys if there is not enough to make a category, and sort through them as well.

Try Not To Be Too Sentimental When You Organize Kid’s Toys

Trust me, I understand being sentimental about toys. For the first 6 to 7 years of my son’s life, I was buying toys based on my childhood memories. Just recently I’ve been able to give up the toys they had since they were toddlers. I am into vintage Fisher-Price Little People. However, we got good use from those toys for years, and it was time to make room, so we sold them off.

Allow Your Child to Have a Say But Set Boundaries

Set boundaries for your child, but allow them to have a say in what stays and what goes. For example, do you need to keep 5 of the same toy? Pick your favorite, best-quality toy and stick with it. Take into consideration what you have room for as well. Maybe present this to your child too. “You have room for only a certain amount of these toys. Pick your favorite one that is in the best condition.”

Choices Are Important

girl in brown button up shirt holding blue and orange plastic toy organizing kids toys

If your child is having a hard time giving things up, make sure you give lots of choices. Don’t push things too much. Observe for a while to see if certain toys are being played with, or if they are being left behind more often than not. Optionally, remove toys without their knowledge, and if they are not looking for them in the next several weeks or months, then you can feel safe to permanently remove them.

# 1 Tip: Only Keep a Few Catagories When Organizing Kid’s Toys

Over the years, our categories have changed a few times. For example, you may have one or two large categories. I will give you some examples of our categories throughout the years.

Legos
Trains
Fisher-Price
Playmobil
Marvel/DC Action Figures
Imaginative Play (dolls, doctor, food…)
a few odds and ends like action figures or smaller figurines that don’t have a specific category of their own.

Currently, our categories are:

Legos (take up a lot of space and require more storage)
Trains (take up a lot of space and require more storage)
Transformers (small collection, but a new favorite toy)
Dinosaurs
a few odds and ends like small figurines that still don’t have a specific category.

Try To Buy Within the Catagories

This is easier said than done when others may be involved in buying toys for your children. So consistency is vital when it comes to sorting through things that no longer get played with. Make it a regular part of your monthly cleaning schedule.

Don’t be too hasty when getting rid of things either. We have a large collection of train tracks, and they are a favorite of my boys, but they don’t get played with on a daily basis. However, they do get played with regularly and the collection is ever-growing.

What Do You Have Room For?

When figuring out how to organize kids’ toys, you need to make sure you know what you have space for. Currently, my sons are into Transformers. As their collection grows, I will see a need to eliminate or greatly reduce another category, such as the Dinos. We have not bought Legos in a while, but we have a good collection of them, and I have plans to grow the train collection just a bit more. Try living by a simple rule, when new toys come in, old toys need to go out.

What Containers Are Best for Storage?

assorted-color plastic toy lot how to organize kid's toys

I have been organizing things for years, and I have spent years looking for the perfect container. I have always opted for clear containers, something that can fit into a drawer. However, I had always been on the hunt for something that was uniform. I seemed to always have containers, upon containers, but they were all different. I had been looking for so long for the perfect storage that I had quite the collection of the wrong storage.

That is until The Home Edit came along. Or more accurately, came along at my local Walmart.

Why I LOVE The Home Edit Bins

In a previous post, I discussed how I use The Home Edit in my homeschool room organization. Mainly in my home I use the 10×10 bin and it comes with smaller bins that fit inside, but here’s the best part. They stack together. I love that they fit together so well, and are stackable. What is even better is that they are sold at Walmart. In my opinion, for what you get, you can’t beat the price. This line of products has become exclusively what I use in my home. Find your Home Edit bins here.

Here are other containers from The Home Edit that I recommend:

This is an example of all the things that can fit in one 10×10 container. Look how pretty!

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

All in all, it’s important to not get overwhelmed in the first place. Stick to a few simple rules for yourself and your family and you will be a pro at organizing kid’s toys in no time!

How to Make the Perfect Bed