The thing that your mind and body crave the most after a long and busy day is a perfectly made bed that invites you to jump in and tuck yourself to a restful night of sleep. Even if you have had a comparatively calmer day, the sight of a tightly fitted sheet and neatly arranged pillows increases your inclination to fall asleep quickly. However, maintaining a neat and ready-to-sleep bed on a regular basis requires some bit of know-how and quite a bit of dedication on the sleeper?s part.?From picking the appropriate bedding to taking care of your mattress, and from managing your bed space to choosing the right color. It is really amazing to wonder how much off a difference these small steps can have on your overall sleeping experience. Let us therefore quickly go through some of the simplest steps for making the perfect bed without much hassle.
#01 Taking Care of your Mattress
A mattress is perhaps the most important piece of your bed. Comfy blankets and plush pillows will not be able to work their charm if you wake up every morning with a feel of tiredness and malaise resulting from body aches. Get rid of your old and saggy mattress and invest in one that provides the right balance between comfort and firmness. Do not forget to get a good mattress protector that prevents against the liquid spills and accumulation of dust, dead skin cells, bed bugs, etc., especially if you are using a mattress that can be used on the floor. Allergens such as these not only decrease the durability of your mattress but can also drastically increase its weight which makes it harder to clean them regularly.
#02 The Right Way of Laying Sheets
The best way to make a bed is to strip it completely every morning. You will of course have to lay aside all the bedding except the fitted sheet and make sure there are no creases. After your base is ready, spread out your top sheet neatly over the fitted sheet and tuck it properly. If you are going for a patterned top sheet, allow the finished side to be laid face down to reveal the patterns. Although completely white sheets make your bed appear super hygienic, a sheet that matches with the overall theme of the bedroom increases the appeal of the bed.?
#03 Quilts and Comforters?
You can then move on to cover your bed with a comfortable quilt to safeguard your sheets from external dust and stains. Cover the top sheet all the way up leaving around 6-8 inches of space where the pillows are kept, and ensure that they are symmetrically hanging down on all the sides. Depending on your choice, you can add an extra layer by covering it with a duvet or a comforter. This will make your bed feel as plush as the beds you often come across in luxury hotels. You can either fold the comforter and place it across the bed like a bed-scarf or let it hang all the way down with the underlying layer of quilt tucked in properly.
#04 Arrangement of Pillows
Once you are done with all the layers, it is time to address the most comforting pieces of your bedding- the pillows. It is recommended that you keep more than 4 pillows in your bed arranged in neat layers. Some of the most popular ways for arranging your pillows are in combination of 3 and 2, 2-2-1, and 3-2-1. The fluffiest and the most comfortable of your pillows need to be kept at the fore to complete the overall look. You are also welcome to add cushions and down pillows to your bed to add a lavish touch.?
#05 Manage your Bed-Space
Remember to clear out any clutter from the area around your bed to maintain that pristine appearance. Adding skirting to your bed can also help to increase the visual appeal of your bed and make it look more luxurious. You can also add suitable pieces of furniture like a side table or a pair of stools placed towards the end of the bed. Adding furniture like these in your bed space ensures that you do not leave any unnecessary items lying on the bed.??
#06 Dos and Don?ts
Remember to regularly wash all your sheets and pillowcases because just like your mattresses, they can accumulate a lot of dust, dead skin cells, and fallen hair. Not only will they make the bed look unhygienic but also ruin the health of your hair and skin by coming in close contact with them. Fluff up the pillows and smooth out all the creases on the sheets and pillow covers whenever you make bed. To make sure that your hard work doesn?t go to vain, avoid using the bed for any other activity apart from sleeping. While making sure that you take in a healthy dinner regularly before bedtime to increase your sleep quality, see to it that you keep the act of eating limited to your dining table and couch. After all, nobody wants stray food crumbs and curry spills to ruin the look of their well-made bed.
Why Take the Trouble?
While most of our readers are here to learn how to make a bed, some of them may ask ?why to make a bed at all?? and ?why not just let it be the way it is?? Apart from the general concern about personal hygiene, there is also the issue of mental wellbeing. As it turns out, how well your bed is made may affect your mental health which in turn controls how well you are able to sleep at night. According to the results from a poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation in 2012, people who invest themselves in regularly making their bed at morning are 19 percent more likely to gain quality sleep on a consistent basis.?
William H McRaven, the former chancellor of The University of Texas System, went so far as to say that making your bed first thing in the morning is your first step towards bringing a positive change in your overall life, perhaps even the world. In his book titled Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe the World, McRaven argues that making your bed provides you the pride of accomplishing your first goal in the morning which can then lead you to accomplish other goals.?
Bottom line:
Sleep deprivation is a major menace that the world faces today. Harmful sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea are making it difficult to maintain the quality and quantity of sleep that the body requires to function properly. We hope that this article not only teaches you how to make your bed but also inspires you to take up other activities that improve your overall sleeping experience such as regular exercising, maintaining a healthy diet, and following a sleep schedule.?
samanvya