Simple Pleasures: The Joy of Fresh Sheets

When you’ve had an especially trying day, there’s nothing quite so restorative as slipping into a freshly made bed. Sinking into crisp sheets, cozy blankets and fluffed-up pillows soothes the spirit and encourages a restful night’s sleep. Here are a few suggestions to make your bed as delightfully comfortable as possible.

Need a little boost? Change the sheets. Whether your day didn’t go well or you’re feeling a bit under the weather, changing the sheets is like giving yourself a present. Smooth, fresh, clean sheets; lowered lights; a good book; and a lit candle can help your evening end on a brighter note.


Start with the best mattress you can afford. If you’re in the market for a new mattress, you’ve probably heard the advice to get the best one you can, and with good reason. A mattress with proper support can help you sleep better and wake with fewer kinks in your back.

Add a mattress topper to increase comfort. Even if you aren’t buying a new bed, adding an ultracomfortable mattress topper can transform the way your bed feels. Try out memory foam, merino wool or a classic feather bed.


Choose breathable natural fibers. Pure Egyptian or Supima cotton, brushed cotton flannel and linen are the best choices; choose the one that feels best on your skin. Be willing to experiment too — you may be surprised to find you prefer the feel of nubby linen over extra-smooth sateen.

Consider a silk pillowcase. While silk is too slippery to make for comfortable sheets, pillowcases are another matter entirely! The luxuriously smooth fabric is especially gentle on the skin and hair.


Roll out a soft and fluffy bedside rug. When you need to get up to grab a glass of water, make that first step plush and warm by laying a sheepskin or fluffy shag rug beside the bed. If you want to use a larger rug in the bedroom, choose a large flat-weave one and layer a small, fluffy rug on top.


Prop up extra pillows for reading in bed. Big Euro-size square pillows look smart sitting in front of regular, standard-size bed pillows and make sitting up to read in bed more comfortable. Don’t forget to change the shams on your Euro pillows when you change the sheets — regular laundering will keep your bed fresh and dust free.

How to Choose the Perfect Pillow — and Sleep Better


Devote a seat to extra pillows. A chair in the bedroom is a convenient place for tossing extra pillows before climbing into bed. If you don’t have room for a chair, try to find another nearby spot to keep pillows and extra covers off the floor — perhaps the dresser top or in a basket behind the door.


Go Euro and skip the top sheet. In much of Europe, it’s common to use the duvet cover in place of a top sheet. If you find that your sheets often get tangled around your legs, you may want to consider adopting this method.

13 Steps to a Perfectly Made Bed


Dust and declutter your nightstand. It’s easy to forget about the state of the nightstand, but a quick cleaning can get it spick-and-span in no time. Wipe up those coffee rings, dust the lamp base and clear away the clutter. Your nightstand should be a helpful little spot that holds only what you want close at hand while you’re in bed — your current reading material, a glass of water and perhaps a candle, for instance.


Don’t forget the throw. A soft and cuddly throw adds a touch of softness to the foot of the bed, and can come in handy when you’re sitting up in bed to read on a chilly night.

Tell us: What are your favorite sheets?

Read more ideabooks in the Simple Pleasures series

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