Tips on How to Make Your Bed

What are the benefits of making my bed every day?

There are so many reasons why making your bed is a great way to start your day. Many believe it leads to productivity and encourages you to make good decisions throughout the day. On a practical level it means your room looks tidier and encourages a good ritual which improves the rooms appearance. The way your room looks is said to affect your mood and if you care about yourself and your home then maintaining an organised environment is good for you.

According to a National Sleep Foundation poll bed makers got on average seven hours and 19 minutes of sleep per night, versus non-makers' measly six hours and 57 minutes. That adds up to over two and a half hours more shut-eye per week!

Should I make my bed first thing in the morning?

The act of making your bed is said to start your day off right according to many. It may be just a small accomplishment but making the bed can set the tone for the entire day. It can be part of a healthy morning ritual but also it is beneficial to climb into a bed that’s appealing and styled when it’s time for sleep.

Is there a right way to make my bed?

There are definitely different techniques according to who you listen to and individual preferences. We all want to snuggle up after a long day but there's nothing worse than coming home to a messy space, so it's worth taking the extra few minutes to plump up the pillows and shake out the duvet. Crisp, clean linens, a sumptuously fluffy duvet and cloud-like pillows are what all our snoozing dreams are made of. Although this might sound like a luxury for day-to-day life, once you've got these bedding basics a beautifully dressed bed is easy to achieve. Make sure to choose bed linen that complements your décor - if you're wary of committing to a style, classic white sheets always look good. Here are a few tips to consider:

• Make sure the duvet is spread evenly over the bed and symmetrical.
• Pillow talk! Make sure to fluff them up for that cloud nine feeling, smooth out the pillowcases and lay them at the head of the bed, stacking more on top if you’re a fan of a cushioned snooze.
• Finishing touches are just as important if you want the perfect bedscape. Decorative cushions can lean on the pillows and consider a snuggly throw folded in half and laid evenly over the bottom of half the bed.

How can I make my bed like a hotel bed?

Do not underestimate the importance of fine fabrics and fillings. Crisp white sheets feel wonderful to lie on, partly because they are cleanly laundered, but also because they are made from a quality fabric in the first place. Learn how to make your bed properly. Your bed needs to be smooth and wrinkle-free to feel like a hotel bed. Choose linen which does not require ironing, like Easycare or French Linen and opt for flat sheets instead of fitted sheets as this is what hotels do too. They are called flat sheets because you are able to get them totally flat on your bed, in a way that’s much easier than with a fitted sheet. Use a hospital fold to put the sheet on your bed – lay the sheet on your mattress, tuck the four corners under the mattress and with the leftover material sticking out at the corners, create a 45-degree angle and tuck them back under across each other. Hotels don’t scrimp on quality as they want you to have a superior nights sleep so invest in your mattress, you’re worth it!

What mattresses do hotels use?

Hotel mattresses tend to be of medium firmness and usually are pocket-sprung. Hotels regularly turn their mattresses and replace them frequently and these are things you should also consider too. Turning your mattress by 180 degrees helps preserve the springs and ensures you don’t create a dip by sleeping in the same place every night. And if your mattress is over 7 years old you should think about replacing it too

The Premier Inn use Hypnos mattresses  for extra comfort

What are hospital corners?

The bed-making technique of folding hospital corners originates back to the 19th century and the profession of nursing. During the 1850s, Florence Nightingale famously organized a group of women to aid the wounded during the Crimean War. Working for and assisting soldiers and doctors demanded nurses to be efficient, clean and organized in the war hospital. With a single sheet, hospital corners were used not only to keep the sheet firmly in place, but also allow nurses to easily change or resize the sheet without causing discomfort to the patient. Many people still use the technique for aesthetic reasons.

• To start, tuck the edge of the sheet between the mattress and the springs at the foot of the bed. Don't just stuff it in though, do it carefully to make sure it's smooth and unwrinkled.
• Pick up the excess fabric from one of the bottom corners of the bed and fold it over the top of the mattress - the edge of the sheet should form a 45 degree angle.
• Hold the folded edge in the place on top of the mattress and neatly tuck in any sheet hanging below the mattress on that side of the bed.
• Bring the folded piece of fabric down and let it fall, then tuck the hanging piece under the mattress. Repeat for the other side of the bed.

What can I add to make it more comfy?

Hotels tend to offer extra comfort by having excess quality pillows, cushions for support and style and if money is an issue you could consider a mattress topper to ramp up the comfort costing less than replacing the mattress.

Does a footboard hinder making my bed?

Footboards shouldn’t hinder the process and still allows for the tucking in of sheets and covers.

How often should a quilt cover / bed sheets be washed?

Although opinions may differ, it is recommended that you change your sheets weekly ensuring you have several sets of sheets so you don’t have to wait around for the ones you’ve taken off to wash and dry. You should aim to wash them at least 60 degrees to kill pathogens as lower temperatures don’t kill dust mites. Drying bedding in the sun is also a great idea if you can as the UV light helps to kill micro-organisms. Duvets should be twice a year and pillows every three months.