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
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!
Where to Buy the Best Bedding Ensembles
There are beautiful bedding ensembles to choose these days. You can find luxury versions in department and interiors stores as well as in specialist soft furnishing stores and budget ranges in general purpose stores. However for many reasons, unless you have just come across something you love, I think it’s a great idea to look for bedding ensembles online.
1. Great choice
Bedding sets are bulky and take up a lot of shelf space so you are unlikely to get a huge selection in your local store. Sometimes you make the trip only to come away with a brochure you could send for online. Online you will be offered 1000s of bedding ensembles in different sizes, styles and colors. Not even the largest bedding super store can compete with that.
2. Convenience
You can browse online stores 24 * 7 all 365 days a year and go shopping for bed linens when it’s convenient for you. You can find just what you are looking for in a few minutes without the inconvenience (and expense) of getting to a store miles from your home. No waiting and no lines! Online sites have secure ordering and great hassle-free returns services make the whole experience of buying a bedding set online quick and easy.
3. Lower Prices and Discounts
Online stores tend to offer lower prices and discount on bedding ensembles because they do not have the overheads of running a physical store. Plus you can easily compare prices on similar bedding ensembles from the comfort of your own sofa and get the price benefits of shopping around without the time-consuming hassle of trooping from store to store.
4. Bedroom Design Advice
Many sites have not just bedding sets on offer but also give plenty advice on how to choose the best duvet, comforter or sheets to meet your needs and how to measure up your bed for bed linen.
Bedding Ensemble in Shades of blue
5. Pressure Free
You can make your buying decision without an overly keen sales person on commission standing over you. You have time to think straight! Spend as long as you like thinking about your purchase and if you don’t get it right first time return your items without a log trip back to the store.
6. Free Shipping
Many online stores offer free shipping of your bedding ensemble. Check the terms but in general, your new bedding can be delivered to your door completely free of charge!
7. Access to Unique Designs
Online you’ll find many designer bedding ensembles which will lift your whole bedroom décor and make your room the envy of your friends. These unique designs are just not available locally.
8. Easy Searching
Most sites allow you to search for exactly what you are looking for as well as browsing their selection. You can quickly locate the bedding ensembles which meet your needs for size, price, color etc and then spend your time looking at the ones you are interested in.
9. Money back Guarantees
Online stores take the risk out of your purchasing online by offering risk-free money back guarantees. Some local stores are not so accommodating.
10. Custom Services
Some online stores will create custom bedding for you which exactly matches your requirements. This is a great service when you can’t find exactly what you are looking for among the ready-made bedding ensembles.
Bedding Ensembles: Color Schemes Made Easy
If you are looking for a brand new color scheme for your bedroom and you don’t know where start then there’s one easy place to begin which will help you no end – bedding ensembles.
Let me explain. All will become clear soon I promise.
With the huge range of bedding ensembles on offer you are bound to find one which appeals. They are available at all price levels and in all styles and color-ways, with different patterns and themes.
Look for a bedding collection you like which has several colors in the design – ones which you feel go well together. Make sure that you like the style of the bedding you picked as this will form the center-piece to your room and that it is within your budget. You want to make sure at the very least that you are able to buy the major items in the pattern you picked.
Now here’s the thing. This design can form the basis for a whole color palette for your room – they have already been thought through for you by experienced and talented designers. They work well together and you like them.
But how do you translate the color scheme from a bedding ensemble to a room?
First of all pick three or four colors you like from the design you selected – one light, one or two medium tones and a dark (or bright) tone.
Make a note of your colors for when you go shopping.
If you don’t already have the bedding ensemble of your choice, get some paint charts and clip the colors from the charts which closely match the design so that you have an easy way to remember when out shopping and selecting items.
Paint charts: great to find your color when shopping
If you do own the bedding you can always take around a small part of the ensemble (such as a patterned pillow sham) when shopping but the colors from the paint charts help here too in case you see something when you started out without any intention of shopping! Just keep them in your purse until your room is complete!
So how do you use these colors?
Use the light color to select the right shade for the largest area of your room and that is generally the walls. This will typically be a white or off-white cream magnolia shade but it may also be a slightly darker color such as beige, pale grey or a light pastel shade.
The medium colors can be used for soft furnishings other than the bed – such as the carpet or rug, curtains, a tablecloth covering a bedside table or an easy chair or sofa. Make sure you don’t have all these items matching – that would be overpowering. That’s when two medium colors which go together come in handy for some variation.
The darkest color is great for accent touches – little accessories which brighten a room and take away any blandness. You can have fun selecting these.
So from looking at a few bedding ensembles you can get your whole room scheme sorted out as well as your sheets, comforter, pillow shams and bed skirt chosen! For inspiration and to get started, take a look at some bedding ensembles in catalogs, at a bedding super store or online to get some ideas of your favorite color schemes.
Buying Bedding Ensembles: Don’t Forget to Measure Your Bed!
There are a few measurements you should take before you go off to the bedding superstore to look at bedding ensembles or decide to order online. Be sure to measure your bed especially the width and length of the mattress unless you have a standard size single (twin), double, queen or king bed.
Even if you do think you have a standard size, it does no harm to check!
The standard sizes are as follows
Twin 39″ x 75″
Double 54″ x 75″
Queen 60″ x 80″
King 78″ x 80″
There’s even a standard size California King (72″ x 84″) if you have a very large bed.
In any case whether you have a standard sized bed or not, you need to measure your bed when choosing a bedding ensemble with fitted sheets. Measure the depth of the mattress from the top edge to the base and include any additional bedding which will be included under your sheets such as mattress topper, electric blanket, mattress cover etc.
Measure Your Bed!
This measurement needs to match the pocket depth of the sheet as closely as possible to ensure correct fitting of the elasticated anchor bands at the corners. If the sheets don’t fit your mattress properly they will rumple and give you a disturbed night’s rest.
It’s better to use a flat sheet with enough extra width and depth to be properly tucked in under the mattress than a fitted sheet where you struggle to fit it over the corners at bed making time or which is too big and won’t stay in place on the mattress.
While ensembles with a comforter included will come in standard sizes, for a bedding set with a duvet cover, measure the length and width of the duvet itself rather than the size of the bed as duvet covers are made to fit particular sizes of duvet.
For a bed skirt measure around the base and the height of the bed from the bottom of the mattress (top of the base) to the floor.
Some sheets have an attached bed skirt and then you need both measurements – the depth of the mattress and the distance from the mattress base to the floor.
With all these variables you’d think it would be difficult to finding bedding ensembles to suit your bed but most bedding sets are in standard sizes so if you have a fairly typical bed you should have plenty of ensembles to choose from – both budget and luxury. It’s just a case of checking that you have measurements which conform so that you can look at the right size.
In some ways, it makes sense to always choose a standard bed so that you have that choice – an easy accessible range of bedding ensembles in the stores and online.
On the other hand if you have your heart set on (or already have) an unusual bed it can itself form the center of your bedroom design and you could settle for plainer bed linen allowing the bed to speak for itself.
If you have an idea in mind however, custom bedding ensembles are available for those who want something unique and/or have a non-standard size bed. These can turn an ordinary bedroom into something truly beautiful and which matches your taste and your idea of a dream bedroom perfectly.
Interior Design with Bedding Ensembles
Welcome to Bedding Ensembles Central. This site has been created to help you select the very best bedding for your needs especially if you are looking for advice on designing your dream bedroom and don’t want to go wrong.
You see the bed is the focal point in a bedroom – so the bedding you select is key to a beautiful bedroom design. Depending on your choice and the soft furnishings, wall color and flooring you choose alongside it, your bedroom can be the room of your dreams or the stuff that nightmares are made of.
So choosing the way you dress your bed can be a big decision to make and an expensive one to get wrong.
I remember as a girl back in the 60s and 70s bedding came in just a few different forms. You bought your linens as pillowcases, sheets, blankets and usually a bed cover and choice was extremely limited. The beds were nothing to write home about – you didn’t design a bedroom in those days, you just slept in it! Your “design choices” were nothing more than picking out a bedspread color and finding sheets and pillowcases that matched (if you could) Even at that the range of colors was somewhat restricted. I do remember a “nice” nylon orange quilted comforter I once had which would make me shudder now 
These days we are spoiled for choice with so many different items and designs available to us. We can pick from a whole range of accessories as well as comforters and quilts, duvets and throws, pillow shams and cushions, sheets and bed skirts.
pure white bedding ensemble
And what’s more they have taken the hard work out of the task of putting together different bedding elements to make a great looking bed by creating ready-made bedding ensembles and collections that are designed to work as one unit. And they come in all sorts of sizes – twin, queen and king as well as in multiple variations to include comforters or duvet covers depending on your preference.
You’d then think it was easy to choose bedding – and it is easier in a way – but now we have so many bedding ensembles to choose from that this causes a problem in itself. Too much choice!
So here is the information and advice, if you want it, to help you make your selection. We’ll help with sizing as well as style and color choices and as we don’t sell bedding ensembles ourselves we won’t be pushing you to become a customer or to choose one bedding ensemble over another or to go over your budget though you will find some advertising which helps to keep this site free for everyone to use.
I hope this site can be of service to you and you pick just the right bedding set from all the bedding ensembles available to make a bedroom fit for royalty.
Welcome to Bedding Ensembles Central!
