Make up a Bed Neatly

Making your bed neatly can start your day off on the right foot and can make you feel more clear-headed and organized. If you want to know how to make up a bed, all you have to do is put the sheets on the bed in the right way and decorate with any adornments if you've like to give your bed a special touch. If you want to know how to make a bed neatly in just a few minutes, just follow these easy steps.

Steps

Protecting Your Bed

  1. Put a bed ruffle over the box spring (optional). A bed ruffle, also called a valance, will help to keep dust from collecting under the bed while providing a decorative accent. The bed ruffle goes on top of the box spring, covering the box spring and bed frame. It does not require washing as often as sheets, but it should be washed from time to time.
    • Not all beds have or need this. If yours has an external frame that serves this purpose, or if it is a captain's bed or waterbed, skip this step.
  2. Put on the mattress pad (optional). Your mattress pad is a protective covering that goes on top of your mattress. It also adds a slight cushion to the bed. The mattress pad should be fitted for the size of your mattress. Tuck in the top two corners of the mattress pad, and then the bottom two corners.
    • Smooth it out, running your hands outward from the middle, to remove any creases or wrinkles.

Making the Bed

  1. Put the fitted bottom sheet in place. A fitted sheet has an elastic running around the edge that helps keep it flat upon the mattress. Make sure that the sheet matches the size of the mattress, whether it's a full, twin, queen, or king-sized mattress, so that it will fit snugly in place. Here's how to put on the fitted sheet:
    • First, pull the sheet over the top two corners of the bed.
    • Next, pull and smooth down the other two corners, pulling the sheet over one bottom corner, and then the other.
    • Continue to smooth down the sheet, and tuck it into the bottom of the mattress, just above the box spring. It should fit neatly if it's the right size.
    • Sometimes, it can be tricky to put on a fitted sheet alone. Get the help of a friend or family member so each of you can tackle two corners at the same time.
  2. Spread the top sheet over the fitted sheet. The top sheet is not fitted but should ideally match the color of the fitted sheet. Spread the sheet evenly across the bed, with the finished side facing down. Let the extra length of the sheet fall evenly over the sides of the bed.
    • The top edge should hit the top of the mattress, and the bottom edge should hang over the end of the bed.
  3. Tuck the end of the top sheet into the mattress. Tuck the bottom of the top sheet into the mattress until it fits snugly between the mattress and the box spring.
  4. Make hospital corners with the bottom corners of the top sheet. Pick up the bottom edge at one bottom corner and hold it out. Tuck in what is left hanging down at the corner, then let the edge fall and tuck it in as well. This will create a vertical fold known as a hospital corner. Repeat this process for the other bottom corner.
    • Tug firmly on the sheet to create a snug and smooth surface.
  5. Tuck the sides of the top sheet into the sides of the mattress. Keep tucking them in until the top sheet smoothly fits under the mattress.
  6. Spread a blanket over the top sheet. Align its long sides with the long side of the mattress. The top end of the blanket should be about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} from the top of the bed. It should also hang evenly over the sides of the bed.
  7. Create hospital corners with the bottom edges of the blanket. Tuck the bottom corners of the blanket into the mattress, just as you did with the bottom corners of the top sheet. Make sure not to crumple the edges.
  8. Tuck in the blanket completely along both sides of the mattress. Tuck it into both sides until you've created a smooth surface.
  9. Fold the top sheet over the top edge of the blanket. Fold about a foot of the top sheet over the blanket. Now the good side of this sheet is showing. Smooth out the top sheet, and tuck in both sides into the the sides of the mattress.
    • Now you can decide whether you want to tuck in the top corners of the top sheet or just the bottom two. If you frequently use the bed, then just tucking in the two bottom corners will be best because tucking in all four corner will make it difficult to get into the bed. But if the bed is rarely used and is in the guest bedroom, then this may be a good choice.
  10. Put the bedspread over the bed. Make sure that both sides are draped evenly over the bed. You don't need to tuck in the bedspread.
  11. Put two pillows on the bed. Put pillowcases on, then the pillow shams. Fluff the pillows and put them at the top of the bed. The pillows should match in size. If the bed is a king bed, you can even consider putting in three pillows so the space is filled.
    • The pillows should sit at the top of the bed.

Decorating the Bed

  1. Decorate with a warm comforter. Spread the comforter out evenly over the bed. Run your hands through the middle, removing any wrinkles or creases. You don't need to tuck in a comforter -- just let it hang evenly off the sides of the bed.
  2. Decorate with additional pillows. You may only need the two pillows for sleeping, but you can add a few small decorative pillows to give the bed a nice touch. You can add as many as five or six decorative pillows, as long as they match and fit comfortably on the bed.
    • Arrange them over the original pillows, so they create a new row.
  3. Add some stuffed animals. Adding a few stuffed animals can be a cute way to give your bed some personality, especially if you're younger.
  4. Finished.



Tips

  • Clean up your room. It will accentuate the effort you put into making your bed. On the flip side, make your bed every morning. No matter how clean everything else in the room is, it will look untidy if you have an unmade bed.
  • Tuck in sheets and blankets snugly and smoothly.
  • Think before giving up on that second sheet. The practice of using only a comforter or duvet without a top sheet makes daily bed-making a bit simpler, but that sheet serves other purposes: protecting the sleeper's skin from rough blankets and covers, keeping blankets and comforters cleaner, and adding a little extra layer of warmth. It's a lot easier to regularly wash a sheet than it is to wash blankets and comforters, and the covers last longer when they are kept clean and laundered less.
  • Use sheets that are large enough that they won't come untucked and pull out while you are sleeping. This makes the bed more comfortable to sleep in and easier to make up again the next morning.
  • Make sure your sheets are the right size for your bed. There isn't much difference between a full top sheet or a queen top sheet, but it's problematic for a fitted sheet.
  • If you are using nearly-square, king-size sheets, and cannot determine which edges are sides versus top/bottom, take a few minutes one time to measure each edge, and make the shorter-length edges the top/bottom. Make a small, discreet mark on the newly-determined bottom edge with a permanent marker, since that is the edge that should be tucked in and will not be seen. Alternatively, if the sheet has hemmed and unhemmed edges, make the hemmed edges the top/bottom and the unhemmed edges the sides.
  • Try getting in the habit of making your bed every morning! This will help you stay neat and people won't think you're a slob!
  • Mattress pads will help protect your bed and pillows so they last longer, as well as keeping out allergens and asthma-inducing particles such as dust that might collect there.
  • If you have a small blanket you can place it on top of the pillows. It will make your pillows stay neat until it's time for you to go to sleep.
  • Placing the flat sheet with the printed side (or the smooth side of the hem on a solid-colored sheet) down allows the hemmed top edge to be folded over the blanket or comforter with the rough edge away from the sleeper's face. It also provides a prettier bed that allows both sides of printed sheets to appear when the bed is turned back for entry.
  • If you have a lot of stuffed animals, arrange them on your bed.
  • Iron your sheets. This will make them nice and crisp.
  • Put the blanket on first, then tuck in the two bottoms ends. Also tuck the side you don't sleep on. Put your pillows on and then add a few more cushions. Lastly, add some stuffed animals if you want to.

Things You'll Need

  • Bed with box spring and mattress
  • Dust ruffle/valance (optional)
  • Mattress pad and under-case pillow covers (optional)
  • Linens - Bottom sheet, top sheet, pillowcases
  • Covers - Blankets, quilts, or comforter/duvet
  • Day cover/bedspread
  • Pillows

Related Articles

  • Make a Bed Look Nice for Guests
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