Bedding Ensembles

How to Choose the Best Bedding Ensembles

There are so many bedding ensembles available these days that it’s difficult to know what to choose to achieve your dream bedroom. Here are some guidelines which will help you make your selection when you are ready to shop.

1. The Design

This is the aspect we are most likely to think about when making our choice of bedding ensembles and the one which is the most fun! Many bedding sets are built around a pattern or colorway, others around a theme. Some designs are romantic and feminine, other are designed for guys and some are more neutral. Think about the effect you are trying to create in your bedroom and choose a bedding ensemble which matches this.

2. The Make up of the Set

Find out what is included in the bedding ensembles you have your eye on. Some contain only sheets and pillow shams and duvet cover while others have a whole lot more such as a comforter, matching cushions, throws, bed skirt etc. Sometimes you can buy a basic bedding ensemble and add in the items you require – sometimes you have to buy the whole bed in a bag set. What do you require and what is available in the collection?

3. The Quality of the Materials

Consider the fabrics used within the bedding ensemble and how they will stand up to wear especially for bedding which will be in daily use.

The thread count of fabric determine its quality. Sheets can be anything from 80 to 12000 thread count and good quality sheets are generally from 180 to 500 thread count but that’s not the only factor in quality. You need to consider the fabric too. Look for a high cotton percentage with a satin finish for comfortable bedding next to the skin.

4. The Color and Pattern

When choosing colors it may be easiest to start with your a bedding ensemble and use those as the colors on which to base the room. If your room has already been decorated take care to select something which enhances the color scheme of the room. Consider the walls, flooring and curtains before you make your choice because the bed is a huge expanse within the overall scheme. You can choose to blend or contrast the colors but it is best to stay within the same color family. For example, even if you choose a neutral shade you will do better to go with cream if your room has warm tones or white if your room has cooler, sharper colors. Be careful not to have too many patterns competing with each other within your room unless the colors of each pattern look like they are part of a set. Unless you are an expert would avoid mixing patterns which have not bee designed to go together.

Inviting warm tones for peaceful sleep

Inviting warm tones for peaceful sleep

5. Your Bed

Remember to take into account the style, shape and measurements of your bed when choosing your bedding set and accessories. I have a French antique bed at home which is lovely but it needs a custom mattress and custom bedding to match. Fitted sheets are not an option. Nor are valances which do not fit and which cover up the ornate carving along the sides of the bed. Modern bedding would look ugly on such a bed. Some beds suit a more country look. Some a contemporary bedding ensemble. It’s all part of making an overall look and theme for your dream bedroom.

6. Your Budget

Prices of bedding ensembles vary widely from hundreds of dollars for designer luxury bedding sets to a more modest price for the budget sets. Of course in many cases you get what you pay for but you may want to set yourself a budget before you start looking so you don’t get carried away. If your budget is small at the moment it may be worth buying a basic quality ensemble (which will last) and brightening it up with inexpensive pillows and a throw to give your bedroom the designer look without breaking the bank.

7. Your Patience

Nothing looks worse than a bedroom with an unmade bed. If a bedding ensemble needs to be “just so” to look great then you need the patience to put it back together again every morning when you get up. If you know you’re always rushed for time select something simple – where a minute or two will have your bedroom looking good. Bedding ensembles shouldn’t need too much assembling!

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White Bedding Ensembles

There is nothing quite like white bedding when it comes to a simple yet effective bedding color scheme. If you bedroom is made up of cool colors you can look at pure white bedding ensembles and if it is decorated in warmer tones you could choose the simplicity of an ivory or cream bedding set instead.

By cool colors I mean very clear colors – pure sky blue, white, gray, clear pink or fresh green whereas warmer tones have a hint of yellow and are colors like beige, peach, caramel or cream.

In either case, whether you choose a pure white or a cream bedding ensemble, you will simplify your decorating choices as you can not go too far wrong with these colors. One thing will be important in your choice however. Your bedding will stand or fail by the quality of the fabric because this will show up very clearly in white.

The fabric could be plain smooth quality cotton with just a slight sheen, a pleated design, a jacquard fabric (which is a self-colored pattern woven into the fabric) or textured weave or it may be rich with embroidery to add a touch of luxury to your ensemble.

White Bedding Ensemble (click image for details)

White Bedding Ensemble (click image for details)

The bedding in the picture is a pure high-thread count cotton with a stripe built into the fabric – a pattern without adding color.  Although this is a luxury bedding ensemble in terms of quality it is heavily discounted to make it affordable.

A texture in the fabric helps prevent the bedding looking too plain and boring but if you have chosen a plain white or cream fabric it is easy enough to dress your bed up with accessories to match the remainder of the room decor and add a lot of interest that way.

If you have patterned curtains you could have some cushions made in the same or toning fabric to create a coordinated look or, if you also have plain cream or white curtains consider adding a matching trim to cushions and curtains.

Alternatively pick out colors from a bedside table cloth, paintings on the walls or a colorful rug. The kind of accessories you can add along with standard cushions are bed skirts, bed runner, bolster cushion and throws.

There is a time when too many accessories are not needed and that is when your bed is the focal point of the room. If you have a wonderful canopy bed, a carved wooden antique bed or a bed that is contemporary work of art you do not want to detract too much atention from the bed itself. In that case leave your beautiful white bedding ensemble to stand alone with maybe one simple colorful throw and no more.

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Daybed Bedding Ensembles

A daybed is a great way of saving space. It is a means of providing an extra living room during the day which converts to a bedroom at night or when guests arrive. Daybeds are designed to look like a couch when not in use as a bed and be a comfortable bed when not in use as a couch! For that magic to happen, you need to get new bedding from the range of daybed bedding ensembles available.

You see, you really can’t make do with standard bedding for a daybed if you want it to look good whether it is being used as a couch or a bed. Bedding for daybeds has a dual function. For example pillows will work as bed pillows at night and as throw cushions on the couch during the day. The daybed cover works as a sofa cover during the day, and as a bed cover at night.

I love the ingenuity of this. Not only do you have to buy only one lot of daybed bedding and save money that way but you also don’t have to find any place to store your daybed linens during the day. That has to be good!

Daybed Bedding Ensemble

Fresh Spring Green Daybed Bedding Ensemble

So where do you find these daybed bedding sets?

You will find the most choice online and browsing around will also give you some ideas about about how your own particular daybed could look whether it is made of iron or wood with a base and mattress or whether it is covered in fabric like a standard couch.

You are bound to find a daybed set to suit your bed and room whether you are going for a country or town look, contemporary or traditional. You will find all styles of bedding on the Internet.

Having said that however you will be a bit more limited in choosing bedding for your daybed than you are with standard bed linen so if you have yet to decorate your room you may want to choose your bedding ensemble first and then pick out colors from that for your room scheme.

If you are not planning to decorate, and can’t find anything which goes well with your current colors then stick with a cream or white daybed ensemble. Then you can always add cushions or a throw which coordinate with your current room scheme.

By buying online you can have your bedding ensemble shipped right to your door (often with free shipping) and be enjoying a new look room in no time at all. It is just not worth trailing around the local stores to find the one or two daybed bedding ensembles that will be available in most towns and cities.

You’ll find quite a few daybed bedding ensembles here on Amazon including many with good discounts.

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