With the longer, chilly, nights upon us, many of us are spending more time at home and exploring ways to make our homes cosy. So, if you’re looking for somewhere to start, why not focus on your bed?
Our beds are our safe spaces. They’re places where we escape the stresses and strains of everyday life, and relax and recharge.
Of course, the comfort of a bed is of the utmost importance. But how it looks can affect how much time you want to spend there. Plus, because our bed is often one of the largest pieces of furniture in our homes; it can act as a centrepiece, significantly impacting the look and feel of our bedroom. There’s a reason why our rooms instantly look tidier and more put together when the bed is made!
So, if you want to make the most of your sleep space this winter, here are five ways to make your bed look and feel more luxurious.
1. Start with the basics
Having a cosy, luxurious bed starts with the basics – a comfortable mattress, a plushy duvet, some shapely pillows, and a good quality fitted sheet and duvet cover.
If your mattress isn’t as comfy as it used to be, you don’t necessarily need to fork out for a new one. It’s worth looking into mattress topper options. For as little as £30, you could transform your night’s sleep. The Telegraph has a handy roundup of the best toppers for 2024.
If you don’t want to buy a new duvet, consider adding a down duvet insert to give it a fluffy, cloudlike feel. And if your pillows are a bit old and tired, check out our 7 tips to help you choose the right pillow.
Many of us don’t put much thought into the sheets we sleep on – simply choosing the cheapest, most durable materials, like polyester. While these can do the job, there’s no substitute for good quality, breathable sheets and duvet covers. The quality of the fabrics we choose can impact everything from how dry our skin and hair are the next day to how hot we get at night and how well we sleep.
Health and sleep experts recommend going for something breathable, like Egyptian cotton or linen – though, for extra luxury, Egyptian cotton with a 400-thread count is your best bet. The densely packed weave makes the fabric soft and silky, yet light enough to be used year-round.
2. Consider layers and texture
Adding layers and textures to your bed can take it from something standard-issue, like that in a university bedroom, to something that exudes cosiness and luxury. No matter the size or shape of your bed, extra layers of pillows and a casually draped blanket can make it look more voluminous and inviting.
While these cushions probably won’t be for sleeping on, they can add a beautiful decorative touch during the day. Choosing cushions in different shapes and sizes can add depth and intrigue. For example, having your normal sleeping pillows propped against your headboard, followed by two large square cushions, two smaller square cushions, and finally a single rectangular cushion, or even a round one.
For something more seamless and subtle, choose cushions in colours that compliment the shade of your duvet cover. For example, if your bedding is white, you could add cushions in beige and off-white, perhaps choosing different fabric textures and patterns to add interest while keeping things classic and elegant. Or for something striking, go for cushions in bolder, more contrasting shades, like green and blue.
Adding a throw or blanket is entirely optional but can help to increase that feeling of having a cosy, nest-like bed that you want to dive into – especially when it’s draped across the bed in a careless-yet-considered fashion. This approach tends to work best if you choose a texture that contrasts with your duvet cover material, such as fur or chunky knit – and, for added luxury, you could drape and layer more than one throw. Folding the top of your duvet cover down when making your bed will also add volume!
Home Sense is a great place to head to, to browse cushions and throws. You can find your nearest store here.
3. Add panelling to the area behind the bed
Panelling, in particular, fluted or ‘acoustic’ MDF wood panels, are set to be all the rage in 2025 and the good news is that it makes for a cheap and easy DIY job. It just involves some glue, a bit of sanding, and a coat of paint.
While this modern, sophisticated twist can be used almost anywhere in your home, it’s most popular in bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, and can look especially inviting when placed on the wall behind your bed – either the whole wall or just sections.
Because the bed is a focal point of the room, adding a textured backdrop can anchor it to the space, drawing the eye. The type of panelling you choose can also affect the space differently. You can use long thin panels (like flute) to add height to a room and give the illusion of more space; add a modern twist with some chevron panelling; or use bevelled panels for something more traditional and classic.
For inspiration, check out Real Homes’ list of 9 easy ways to add character and depth with bedroom wall panelling.
4. Consider the lighting above and around your bed
Lighting can impact how cosy a room feels, but the lighting around your bed can be particularly important. The right lighting can offer safe night-time navigation without disrupting melatonin production. It can also support reading and relaxation, creating a calming environment.
The trick here, of course, is to avoid anything too harsh, choosing indirect lighting like reading lights, dimmable lamps, or sconces above or beside the bed. Under-bed lighting, such as LED strips, can also create a warm, inviting glow, as can positioning a small lamp or string lights behind the headboard. Matching lamps on either side of your bed can create a sense of symmetry, too.
The bulb type and lampshade choices of any lighting above your bed can also impact how cosy your bed looks and feels. For example, choosing a rounded lampshade can add softness and cosiness to a room, while bulbs that are 3000k or under can bring warmth.
Check out Ideal Home’s article on how to add warm lighting to a bedroom for more tips.
5. Keep your bedside simple
It’s easy for our bedsides to become cluttered with things like earplugs, glasses of water, books, bits of paper, and things we may take off at night like jewellery and watches, among other things. But taking steps to keep your bedside as clear and clean as possible can impact how peaceful and cosy your sleep space looks and feels.
Try to keep items on your bedside table(s) to a minimum – a lamp and a framed photo, for example, can add an inviting personal touch, without looking messy. Sticking to one or two decorative items, at most, can be a good rule of thumb.
If you need somewhere to keep your bits and bobs, consider investing in a bedside table with a drawer, or getting some stylish baskets that you slide under your bedside table or bed. A wall-mounted shelf could be an option for keeping things clean and clear, too, though only if you’re selective about what you put on it or it could easily become another source of clutter.
If you have a collection of wires near your bedside – for example, lamp cables, phone chargers and TV wiring – you could also consider using cable tidies to keep them organised and out of sight.
Final thoughts…
Our beds are the focal points of our bedrooms and, with the right styling, they can go from being something practical and functional to something inviting, luxurious, and stylish.
A beautiful-looking – and feeling – bed can make time spent in it more enjoyable and entirely transform how you view your bedroom.
We hope you’ve found these tips on making your bed look and feel more luxurious useful. For further reading, why not check out our 8 ways to make your home cosy?
Do you have any additional tips for making your bed look and feel more luxurious? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.