If you want your bed to look perfectly styled, like it came straight from the feed of a high-end home decor store, here are three tricks of the trade:

Layers:

Designers and home decor stores alike always use layers when assembling bedding. The five basic layers are:

• Sheets- White or soft pastels make for a clean, crisp, neutral palette
• Coverlet- Fold and tuck around the mattress
• Quilt or Duvet- Folded at the foot of the bed
• Pillows- For a king size bed: (3) euro-sized pillows placed closest to the headboard, (2) king-sized shams placed in front of the euros, (1-3) accent pillows
• Throw Blanket- Draped at the foot of the bed

Texture:

Incorporating the layering basics above will naturally add some dimension and texture.  Additional texture should be used sparingly.  For example, if your coverlet has a lot of texture, we might recommend a smooth linen for the the duvet and shams.  One or the other should have texture but not both.

Color:

Choose coverlets in a neutral tone and bring in color or bolder patterns with accent pillows and a throw. Euro shams give height and also provide a great background for additional layering.  Bringing in pattern with euro shams can add interest while still keeping the overall palette soft.

Whether you want a soft, relaxed look or a bold, eclectic look, these are just a few guidelines (not hard and fast rules).  At the end of the day, your bed should make you feel pampered and well-rested.