BED and NIGHTSTAND

A bedroom’s calm is all too easily breached by tossed-aside clothes and teetering piles of reading material. It’s also easy to shortchange this private retreat in the style department—yet delighting in the décor will definitely improve your mood.

Better the bed

Your bed is the most important piece of furniture in your room—and where you spend roughly one-third of your life. Be pragmatic but also a bit indulgent.

• Prolong the life of your sheets by alternating sets with every washing; this will also allow you to make your bed while you’re doing the laundry.
• Use protectors to extend the life of your pillows and mattresses—hypoallergenic ones will further shield them from dust mites and pet dander, among other triggers. Waterproof covers are a must in kids’ rooms.
• Even with protectors, you’ll need to replace old pillows if they no longer pop back into shape when folded over.
• Threadbare comforters are not just eyesores—they won’t do their job of keeping you warm at night (or protecting the down inserts, if it’s a duvet cover). Swap them out for fresh ones.
• To keep your comforter from shifting inside the cover, try this trick: Turn the cover inside out and sew two pieces of fabric tape to all four corners. Then tie the fabric tape around each corner of the comforter and turn right-side out.
• Reversible duvet covers or bedspreads let you freshen up your room on a whim—bonus points for those where both patterns are visible when it’s folded back.
• Use decorative pillows and throws to layer on the comfort—but don’t overdo it, since they’ll add to the bed-making.
• Park a bench or chest at the foot of the bed to house the extras during the night (not on the floor). Stack blankets on a wooden chair, where they won’t be forgotten. Just be sure these pieces don’t get buried under piles of clothing.

Neaten the nightstand

Be intentional about these sidekicks—they play a supporting role in ensuring a good night’s sleep (see page 137 for more).

• Chairs and stools, vintage ladders, even desks and dressers are all appropriate stand-ins for the standard bedside table. Choose the one that provides the amount of storage you need.
• A floating shelf or cubby leaves the area underneath open for other storage or just keeps the space airy and light.
• In lieu of a table lamp, sconces or pendants free up surface area on the nightstand—or use an elegant floor lamp.
• Cords and chargers do not make for a restful environment; better to tuck these in a drawer or hide them in a bin.
• Make use of bedside pouches or “caddies” (sold online and at houseware stores) that tuck between the mattress and bed frame for holding reading materials.