Home Bedding Guide

Have a Winter Lie-in with Luxury Bedding

grace — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:29:39 +0000

So it’s cold and miserable outside, but that’s no reason for you to be cold and miserable inside too. Like the idea of snuggling up in comfort and style with luxury bedding that keeps you warm as well as brightening up your room? Then read on ….

Firstly, make sure that all of the layers on your bed are fully functioning. Stop using anything that’s ripped, worn or frayed and replace it. Now, this doesn’t have to be horribly expensive – you can recycle most things, sheets, comforter covers and pillow slips included, so if expense is an issue, make do and mend quite literally! For instance, check out thrift stores for vintage lace or trimmings that you can add to fraying pillow slips or comforter edgings – lace really adds a sense of luxury to the bedroom!
If you have a little bit to spend, it’s worth checking out discount luxury bedding in stores or on-line. In this way you can replace your worn bedding with luxury comforter sets relatively cheaply and still re-use the fabric of your old bedding as and when you can – or pass it on to a thrift store or textile co-operative for someone else to reuse.
Check out the light aspect of your bedroom in the winter: this can be very different to how it is in the summer and can influence your choice of color or style for your bedding: it’s worth taking a moment to stop and look before you buy any new bedding or make any major changes. For example, the room might be bright and light in the summer and can carry off ‘heavy’ colored bedding, whereas in the winter this might make the room too drab or dark, so perhaps muted florals would help to brighten it up in the winter. Or, consider the satiny fabrics in jewel colors often found in contemporary luxury bedding, to add a sense of light and shine to the room’s winter aspect. Identify how the shadows from artificial light play out in the room as there is much more artificial light needed in the winter!
If you are uninspired about how to create a sense of luxury from your bedding, consider how the bedding is used and presented in hotels. Sounds mad, but think about it: hotel bedding usually plays a big part in creating a welcoming, inviting atmosphere to your hotel room, which is exactly what you are trying to re-create for your winter bedroom. So, think about hotels you have stayed in or research images of hotel rooms on-line so that you can identify how the bedding adds a sense of luxury –perhaps there are cushions, or an extra comforter running across the foot of the bed? Make a mental note of what you like and don’t like, then see what it is feasible or practical to incorporate into your own bedding makeover.

Just by taking a little time to research what exactly it is you have to work with and identify your likes, dislikes and ideals can mean that the changes you make to your bedding could have the effect of giving your whole bedroom a winter make-over! And from there, you can lie back in your luxury bedding and enjoy every moment of the winter!

Duvet or Comforter is There a Difference

grace — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:26:14 +0000

The Duvet and duvet cover is a European version of the American comforter, having looked at them both there does not seem any difference at all, however there maybe a slight difference. The duvet or comforter is the best way to have your bedding and you only need a bottom sheet on the mattress and a sheet on top or a duvet cover with your duvet or comforter inside of the cover. This allows you to make your bed easy and quick as you only have to change the bottom sheet and the duvet covers for new visitors or guests. It also allows you to make your own bed tidy very quickly in the mornings as well.

The modern duvet is normally filled with man-made fiber such as polyester; however more expensive duvet fillings are duck and down feathers. Duvets come in a variety of ratings or thicknesses and as you would expect the thicker the duvet the warmer you will be. You can get lightweight summer duvets and dual duvets which combine a thin summer duvet with a medium thickness duvet and when put together make a thick winter duvet. These types of duvets are great as they cater for all weathers and temperatures, the only alternative to this is to buy a separate summer and winter duvet and swap them when the temperatures change.

The modern home duvet comes in various sizes to match the beds such as single, double, queen and king sized duvets. You will have to make sure you buy the correct sized duvet for your bed, although I prefer to have a king sized duvet for my queen sized bed, it just gives you more cover. You will also need to buy the correct sized duvet covers for your duvet, but the cost of both the duvet and the duvet cover is more depending on what size your duvet is the bigger the size the more the duvet and cover will cost.

Once you have picked the size and type of duvet you will need to buy some duvet covers, you are going to need at least two duvet covers for each duvet you own. This will allow you to change the cover when it is dirty or needs changing and allow you to both wash and dry one while the other is put on your duvet and you don’t have to do this all at once. The modern duvet cover will have either poppers or buttons at one end which undo to allow you to put the cover on and off the duvet easily.

Duvet covers come in lots of different designs, patterns, styles, colors and materials. You can have luxury silk or satin to cotton and polyester depending on which you prefer. The designs on the covers are as varied as you can think of you can have plain colored covers or for your children’s beds you can have their favorite super hero or football team the choice is endless. You can coordinate you duvet covers to match your curtains or the color of your room, or you can match it to the design or style of the furniture the choice is up to you. Bedding shops or sites on the internet will give you some ideas of what sort of choices you have and how much you will have to pay, but make sure you look around for the best deals prior to purchase.

Cozy Up With Comforter Sets

grace — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:13:52 +0000

Our fears about the ‘cost’ of fuel for heating are two-fold – on one hand we worry about putting our carbon eco-foot in it with unreasonable waste, whilst on the other we experience very real financial concerns about spending on heating, following international hikes in the cost of domestic electricity and gas. If these are genuine concerns of yours, then take comfort in something that can help to alleviate both sets of worries: comforter sets!

Yes, in years gone by perhaps these were only known as bedding ensembles for use in the dead of winter in homes with no heating, but now they are back in modern homes and in wider contemporary use than just the bedrooms! Consider this:

From luxury comforter sets to hand-quilted down comforters, comforter sets do of course still offer great eco-friendly benefits to the bedroom. Think about how easily many of us just switch on that electric blanket as a bottom layer – everyone knows that these are juice guzzlers and that you shouldn’t sleep with these switched on, so by switching it on for a bit before you bed down you are adding to your fuel bill in the knowledge that sooner or later you are still going to wake up cold in the night! So consider instead a luxury comforter as an extra layer on the top of the bed, which can remain there keeping you warm throughout the night!
As above, twin comforter sets can be particularly useful on bunk beds, as it’s just not possible to plug an electric blanket into a top bunk, whilst some parents do not want to risk hot water bottles in children’s beds when the children are in them. So, twin comforters allow a matching cozy layer for both bunks.
It can be extra helpful to buy or make a comforter that’s a size bigger than the bed, for example if it’s a single bed, buy a double comforter, if it’s a double bed, have a Queen-sized comforter, so that the comforter covers the bed completely and can even be tucked in if needed (great if the bed’s alongside a cold, outside wall or if you sleep alongside a midnight cover-snatcher, like I do)!
Comforters are becoming increasingly popular as a throw over couches or sofas. Because of the range of comforter cover types and fabrics on the market, it can be surprisingly easy to add a comforter that actually complements and blends into a living area, rather than turning it into a bedroom. This is particularly true if you are able to make the comforter cover yourself, for example to match blinds, curtains or cushion covers. Having a living area comforter makes it much easier to snuggle up warmly once the heating goes off at night, rather than keeping it on just because you’re watching a late-night movie!

Lastly, do be aware that handi-crafts are very big internationally and it’s currently really on-trend to create your own comforters. Hand-knit or hand-crochet afghans are both hugely popular and, being easy to make, genuinely cheap and cheerful, they are truly helpful in the battle to be both eco and purse-friendly, so if you can make your own comforter sets this way then you are fulfilling everything you set out to do and then some (as they really keep you cozy whilst you click away)! So, plenty of reasons to think about getting comforter cozy this winter!

Designer Bedding

grace — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:41:06 +0000

Comfort is a significant factor that influences where and how we sleep. A comfortable bed and bedding components can ensure a deeply refreshing and high quality sleep to keep us fresh and awake come the following day. With this in mind, purchasing a bed and associated bedding and accessories requires much thought, and research, and also a willingness to invest money to achieve such goals. Designer bedding offers an unrivaled combination of both stylishness and comfort to help produce a deep sleep, and also excellent value for the consumer’s money.

Aside from a mattress and pillows, there are many other elements that contribute to the comfort and aesthetic of a bedroom. These bedding ensembles include throws, comforters and various designs of luxury bedding linen, each conceived to help create comfort, warmth and textures within the bedroom and bed, for youngsters and adults alike. Designer bedding and bedding ensembles may not be the most affordable that can be brought on the market, but they are however among the highest quality and manufactured from the finest materials.

Ralph Lauren Bedding

Ralph Lauren are a renowned leader in producing designer clothes, accessories and also bedding and bedding ensembles. Producing everything from luxury and soft throws and quilts to fairly recent innovations like throw pillows and bed skirts, they sell every conceivable accessory with which to add style and comfort to bedroom area. Their range also includes items suitable for both adults and children, ensuring that bedding can be purchased for the whole family with a single store or online visit.

The range of Ralph Lauren bedding includes finely engineered cashmere throws, in single or mixed colors of cream and black, and provide a sleek elegance with which to adorn any chair or bed surface. Their bed skirts (which are pieces of material that fold beneath the mattress and drape to the floor surface) also come in different designs and color options, and are a particularly affordable piece of fabric. These are often sold in bedding set, along with sheets, pillow casings and quilt covers. The Ralph Lauren bedding range is undoubtedly one of the most stylish available for purchase on the market.

Roxy Bedding

For something a little different, Roxy Bedding provides much more urban and colorful designer bedding for the consumer. Aimed at females, its diverse range predominantly suits young girls and teenagers, and allows for a certain sense of identity and personality to be shown within the bedding style purchased. Boasting fun and contemporary patterned designs as well as vibrant colors, the brand produces the full range of bedding ensembles, from pillow cases and throws to comforters and decorative quilt covers.

Roxy bedding have produced a range perfectly suited to their demographic, and have also developed further decorative furnishings for the bedroom. Drapes, valances and curtains can all be purchased in fabrics and designs matching their bed sets and ensembles.

Other Bedding Trends

Through the economic downturn, many companies have looked to provide further value for money to consumers, and custom bedding is an example of this. There are brands that offer customized designer bedding at competitively priced rates (especially when compared to the average cost of designer bedding), allowing bed sets and ensembles to be personalized with names, images or messages of love. They are particularly popular as a gift idea between loved ones, offering a unique combination of luxurious design and uniqueness.

Themed Bedding Sets

grace — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:01:58 +0000

Themed bedding sets are very popular with children, teenagers and adults alike, they have become very popular in particular with young children over the past few years due to the wide variety of themed bedding sets available such as Star Wars, X-Men and Transformers. Themed sets such as Football, Baseball and Hockey teams are also very popular with male teenagers and music and film stars with the female teenagers.

There are now lots of themed bedding sets which are also suitable for adults such as Ocean themed bedding and beach themed bedding even safari themed sets which are based around animal prints such as leopard or zebra designs. These animal prints can be used in conjunction with other colors such as pink or blue and other colors which would not normally be associated with this particular animal design.

Some of the most popular designs are the Nautical themed bedding which centers around anchors, sail boats, buoys and lighthouses normally in a variety of blues, reds and beige which makes it an ideal set for boys and young males. Also very popular is the beach themed bedding which can have a variety of yellows, greens, orange and colors you would normally associate with the beach. The beach has palm trees, shells, fish, surf boards and kites. Both of these designs are interlinked with sailboats and lots of other things you associate with the coast and sea and are popular because of its bright and colorful appearance.

Teenagers don’t want fish and kites on their beds as it’s not cool, so an alternative is surf themed bedding, which has pictures of people surfing, vw campers by the beach, beach scenes and everything which a teen would consider cool or trendy. If this is too much then there are lots of other themes on the market such as flags such as stars and stripes bedding or sporting bedding what could be better than having your favorite football team bedding or for the girls your favorite film or band.

This décor is not just limited to themed bedding but you can also get wallpaper, rugs, lampshades and just about anything for your bedroom which has the same theme as your bedding or at least a very similar theme. As an idea of what types of themed bedding and room themed accessories which you can decorate your bedroom with why not have a look at bedding departments in your local shops or try looking on the internet where there are lots of sites which specialize in themed bedding and themed room accessories.

If you are making a themed nursery for your baby then the choice of designs is endless there is everything from the seaside to kids TV programme’s, you could also ask for some of this things at your baby’s shower party or get relatives to help buy things for your themed nursery. The same with your kid’s bedroom, what could be a better idea than having some themed bedding or maybe a rug or light as a thoughtful gift for Christmas or a birthday.

Memory Foam Mattresses and Pillows

grace — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 05:50:50 +0000

Memory foam is a polyurethane based substance, boosted by additional chemicals which increase its density and strength. These properties vary depending on the exact chemical formulation, with high density foams being particularly reactive to body heat and malleable to a warm body in a matter of moments, and low density foam traditionally pressure sensitive and responsive to shape. It is used in contemporary manufacturing to create a range of bedding, cushion and pillow products, having being initially produced as a temperature responsive foam in the 1960’s.

Memory Foam Mattresses and Toppers

The first memory foam mattress was released to the consumer market in 1991, having undergone extensive design and manufacturing processes through the 1980’s. Initially they were more widely used in medical environments, as their responsive and warming properties leant themselves to the recovery of immobile and bed ridden patients. Their widespread use was prohibited through the 1990’s due to the fact that the inflated manufacturing costs led to a high sales price, marking the memory foam mattress as an exclusive, luxury product.

However, as the chemical and technological processes have improved, the cost and sale price have reduced accordingly. Memory foam is now a common feature on the domestic market, included primarily in mattresses and memory foam mattress toppers. The memory foam topper is a smaller and cheaper application of the technology, and is designed to sit atop an existing standard mattress. This provides an additional layer of warmth and comfort, and are a more cost effective way to feel the benefits of the foam without buying a brand new memory foam mattress.

Memory Foam Pillows And Additional Benefits

To feel the full benefits of the memory foam technology, it is recommended that a potential user utilizes either the foam mattress and foam mattress topper with memory foam pillows. The same technology is incorporated in the pillow design, with their function being to mould themselves to the shape and form of the neck and head to relieve pressure and reduce the risk of uncomfortable sleep or the onset of tension headaches. As a combination, the mattress and the pillows enable the entire body to benefit from the temperature sensitive and molding properties, easing tension and discomfort in pressure areas such as the back and the base of the neck. The memory foam in these products is also allergy resistant, meaning that their composition and surface is an inhospitable environment for dust mites and bacteria.

Like any product boasting health and posture benefits, there are numerous consumer memory foam reviews available on a range of internet sites. These are generally favorable, as the technology is proven to assist with spine alignment and general comfort and pain relief, and even endorsed by many hospitals and medical centers that fully utilize the memory foam properties. Many consumers who have brought memory foam products have benefited from improved sleep, posture and a reduction of discomfort in pressure areas of the body. People may not, however, feel the benefits of the technology immediately, especially if they are not suffering from a poor quality of sleep or back pain in the first instance. This does not deter from the potential long term and underlying improvements in posture and mobility.

Baby Bedding Choices for Moms Who Don’t Want Themed Bedding

W. Marinson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:49:14 +0000

If you are an expectant mom who is struggling with choosing an idea for decorating your baby’s nursery, you are not alone. There are so many themes, colors and styles in baby bedding that making a final decision is sometimes downright difficult. One common problems for many moms is the desire to decorate the nursery without having it look to cutesy or babyish. Choosing a pattern as your “theme” is the best solution to this problem. While there seem to be thousands of choices that are cutesy, there are at least as many options that are not. Here are a few really pretty choices that are far from being too cutesy.

Dots are hot and polka dot baby crib sets are available in enough color and design options that you should have not problem finding a set you fall in love with. Bubble Gum by Banana Fish is one of my favorite polka dot sets for a baby girl. Polka dots in shades of deep pink, green are scattered over the yellow background of the main fabric used in this set. It is accented with a coordinating striped fabric. Como by Nojo also features polka dots with coordinating stripes but in softer shades of blue, green, yellow and orange that could be used in a nursery for a boy or a girl.

While you will find lots of sets that combine stripes with polka dots, there are also many selections where the striped fabric takes center stage. Aiden by Cocalo Couture is one such selection. The beautiful striped fabric in shades of blue, brown, tan and brick red is accented with matching solids and checks. This set would make a fabulous addition to any little boy’s nursery.

There are a few selections of solid colored bedding sets that would work well for a non-themed nursery. Most of these are quite plain and you can let your creativity loose when choosing how to accessorize them. Banana Fish offers a selection called Brooklyn in solid colors of green, brown, purple, red and white. These sets however are anything but plain. A combination of texture created through quilting accented with satin trim makes this bedding set very classy looking.

Don’t feel like you have to use themed bedding just because many other moms do. There are so many nursery crib bedding sets that are not based on themes that have a great deal of eye appeal, you just might have to look harder to find them.

Single Duvet

W. Marinson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:12:13 +0000

The single duvet is of great importance to any type of bedroom. They will truly separate you from all of your friend’s bedrooms and also immensely help you with all of your decorating needs. In addition, let’s not forget the single duvet will make your night time sleep much more comfy/more relaxing. There are many different types of designs to choose from, from more contemporary all the way to a more vintage look. In addition, there are also children designs.

Single duvet covers come in all different types of designs from floral designs, to something more solid in color, all the way to even more children type ones like Hannah Montana. You should strongly take your own personal preferences into mind when making your single duvet cover purchase for your own bedroom. However, don’t forget the overall décor of your bedroom as you would not want something that clashes with the pre-existing style of your bedroom.

Duvets come in all sorts of sizes and also qualities. A lot of single duvet covers are a 50/50 polo cotton blend or some other sort of similar blend. In addition, the craftsmanship from one single duvet to the next can vary greatly. It is generally wise to invest in a single duvet of higher quality so you can enjoy it for many years to come. Your higher quality single duvet may cost you a little bit extra out of your wallet, but it will definitely be worth it, rather than having it fall apart a couple of years down the road.

Take your time when shopping for your single duvet and look at many different retailers. Even do some online browsing/comparison shopping for the best priced and highest quality single duvets you can find. And last, but not least make sure that you choose one that you like, but that also fits into the current them of your bedroom.

Finding The Perfect Ottoman Bed

W. Marinson — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:49:38 +0000

Ottoman beds are the ingenious storage solution for your home. The bed features a hollow base which is able to offer a large area for storage. Not only does the bed provide you with extra storage space but it also provides you with a comfortable night’s sleep.

Thanks to its intelligent design system, the bed offers up to four times the storage space of a standard bed without taking up any extra space in your bedroom – it simply utilizes the space usually found underneath of a standard divan bed. Ottoman beds are the ideal solution if you live in an apartment which provides limited space. Even if you have an abundance of space in your home, an Ottoman bed will help to you keep your home free from clutter.

The bed features an inbuilt hydraulic lifting mechanism which enables you to lift up the frame of the bed and its mattress with little effort. This means that the bed is perfectly able to store large or bulky items and you will be able to reach these items at your convenience. The storage section itself may either be one large compartment or divided into several sections. In addition to this, the mattress fits securely on the top of the frame so that the storage space found underneath the bed is adequately concealed. This enables you to store your belongings without revealing your storage methods to others.

The beds are ideal for use in your master bedrooms and guest bedrooms. They are not only affordable and practical but they never fail to look stylish too. A wide range of Ottoman beds can be found online. The beds are available in various dimensions and you can choose from beds with either a wood or leather finish. Popular choices of Ottoman bed frames include the models Portofino, Rimini Ottoman and Birlea.

Coordinated Bedding and Lamp Shades

W. Marinson — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:16:22 +0000

To create a beautiful bedroom, you want all elements of your room to work together from the bed itself, to the bedding, flooring and curtains. There must be no element which detracts from the whole scene.

On the other hand, you don’t want everything to be matching otherwise your room will look over-coordinated like those eighties rooms where every item had the same floral design from the wall paper border to the waste paper bin. However, each element should have some kind of link to another. So, as far as lamp shades and bedding are concerned, if you have a beautiful bedding set in oyster colored silk with gold embroidery for example it does no harm to have small candle lamp shades also in oyster colored silk, perhaps with gold colored fringing.

Given that most bedding sets don’t come with matching or coordinating lamp shades you may have to source your own. Whatever fabric your bedding is made from you should be able to get something similar in a plain lampshade. (If your bedding has a number of colors, select the background color).

Once you have your plain lamp shade you can then choose trimming to match. Take a sample from your bedding (such as a pillow sham) and your lamp shade to the haberdashery department of a large department store. There you will finding a plethora of braid, fringing, beading and other trimming sold by the yard. You can choose something in the same color as the main fabric of the shade or in a contrasting color from the bedding or from another item in the room. Attach the trimming using a glue gun to give a neat finish.

A bed looks good with matching bedside tables and lamps either side. The tables can either be small chests of drawers in a wood to match the bed itself (or other furniture in the room) or small tables covered in cloths. Try to keep your small tables clear of clutter so that you get the full effect of your coordinated lamps and bedding.