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Bedding image: The Finley Collection by Sferra; Inset image by Down Inc.
Just as any woman knows, the secret to looking and feeling amazing in a sexy new dress hinges on the undergarments she choses. The same thing applies to the bed…what you put beneath the sheets is as important as what you see.
Nothing compares to the feeling of been wrapped in a cushiony feather bed, pulling up a soft, warm down comforter, and laying your head on a billowy down pillow. Other than the mattress, these are the items that create the foundation of a true luxury bed.
If you’re in the market for down comforter, featherbed or high quality pillow, there are several aspects of these products that you should be familiar with, such as down vs. feather, fill power, how the down/feathers are cleaned, and caring for your down or feather products.
DOWN
Used for its incredible insulating properties, down is highly used in both bedding and apparel.
Down is the soft, fluffy, fine feathers at the base of a full feather. These provide insulation for the bird. Air is trapped between the fine strands and locks in body heat. The most commonly used down for bedding is goose or duck, with goose being preferred for it’s size and texture. The size and fluffiness of the down is based on where the birds originated, for example: A Siberian Goose’s down (the highest-quality down in the world) will be more plush than a European Goose’s, creating more warmth, or fill power.
Fill Power
To put it simply, fill power is the amount of warmth you will get from a particular type of down…the higher the number, the better the insulation and loft, or plushness of the product. In addition, the higher the fill power, the lower the overall weight of the product will be. The fill power number is determined by the size of the down cluster, which is often determined by the species of down used.
Within the bedding industry, a fill power of 500 is average and 800 is excellent. Quality down comforter manufacturers will use a higher fill power down species and adjust the amount of down per square inch to determine the overall warmth.
Typically, people choose a down comforter based on their temperature preferences. There are summer-weight down comforters for people who desire the soft, plush feel of down, but tend to sleep hot and ultra plush comforters for those who live in extremely cold locations. There are even dual-fill comforters, such as the Lucerne Couple’s Comforter by ScandiaDown® that has one side at one fill power and the other at another, accommodating a hot-natured wife and cool-natured husband (or vice versa.)
FEATHERS
This is exactly what it sounds like: the whole feather—the shaft, fine filaments of feather and the cluster of down at the base. Using the whole feather gives structure to the item it is placed in, such as a pillow or featherbed.
For bedding that requires a medium or firm feel, or would need to spring back to its original shape time-after-time, feathers are a good choice.
For ages, featherbeds have been a popular choice for mattress toppers as they are a long-lasting cushion that still retains some of the warm properties of down. While not as vogue in the United States, featherbeds are still widely used in Europe.
Some disadvantages of feather products is that you may have some of the feather shafts poke through the ticking, or encasing fabric. Using a protector made of a tightly woven natural fabric will help deter these uncomfortable occurrences. Also, depending on the ticking, you may be able to see the feather or shaft through the fabric, so that may be a factor in your bed’s appearance.
CLEANING & ALLERGIES
How down and feathers are cleaned prior to construction is one of the largest differences between a low-end and high-end down product.
The allergies that people have with down products are usually caused by goose or duck dander…much like a cat or dog allergy. Quality manufacturers put their down through a rigorous, multiple wash and sterilization process that nearly eliminates these allergens.
Cleaning & care for your down products
It is not recommended that you wash your down (and that is wash, vs. dry cleaning) more than once a year, and only that if there is visible soiling. Multiple washings will deteriorate the down and give it less loft. If you do wash your down, use a very gentle or down-specific detergent.
Keeping your down in a covering, such as a duvet, feathered or pillow protector, will help reduce the effects of body oils and perspiration. The protector needs to be a tighly-woven natural fabric to allow the fill to breathe and have air movement.
To refresh your down, place outside in the sun for a few hours and fluff regularly.
PILLOWS
50% Down / 50% Feather Filled Pillows by The Company Store
Sleeping pillows are typically all down and the amount of down used determines the firmness of the pillow. Again, it is very important that you use a pillow protector in addition to a pillowcase to protect the longevity of your down pillow. If you prefer an extra firm pillow, there are products out there that feature an encased feather core that is surrounded by down. This provides a more consistent firmness, yet gives the tactile softness of a down pillow.
Decorative pillows can be all feather, all down, or a combination of the two. You will find a ratio of down/feather on the tag. I tend to use either a 50/50 pillow form for sofa toss pillows or 30/70 (30% down/70% feather) for Euro pillows and pillows that are purely decorative. I find that they keep their shape best, but are pliable enough to create that plush look desired on a luxury bed.
DOWN ALTERNATIVES
Yes, there are alternative products for those who want the look of down, yet are most concerned about allergens (especially for lower-end manufacturers) or working within a tight budget. Made of synthetic fibers, these end up not being as plush or full as a real down product and do not distribute heat as evenly as the natural counterparts.
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I hope this has given you a good overview of what to look for when making your down comforter or featherbed purchase. Next, we will look at the vast world of sheeting and how not all 500-thread-count sheet sets are the same.
Need help designing your dream bedroom?
Contact us today to schedule an in-home consultation!
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THE GUIDE TO THE WELL-DRESSED BED: The basics of a well-dressed bed
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THE GUIDE TO THE WELL-DRESSED BED: Sheeting basics—Sateen, percale, cotton and alternative fibers
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THE GUIDE TO THE WELL-DRESSED BED: Bedding design—From simple to elegant, the décor of the boudoir
Bedding image: The Finley Collection by Sferra; Inset image by Down Inc.
The anatomy of a luxury bed has evolved over the past several years. Once a show of excess, a well-dressed bed would include a plethora of pillows, layers upon layers of sheeting, coverlets and duvets, and enough down to make a flock of geese jealous. As the trend towards simplicity continues, we are seeing less pillows and elaborate adornments and are focusing on the basics of a comfortable, yet stylish bed.
Layering is still used for modern or contemporary beds, but the lines are crisper, the top-of-the-bed designs and patterns are simpler, and certain components are eliminated altogether.
Traditional rooms, however, still utilize the full gamut of boudoir fashion, so we will explore the basics of bedding with that in mind. Each area will be covered in more depth in subsequent articles.
1) The Foundations
As any woman knows, the secret to looking and feeling amazing in a sexy new dress hinges on the undergarments she choses. The same thing applies to the bed…what you put beneath the sheets is as important as what you see.
The well-dressed bed includes:
• Plush mattress pad or featherbed
• Down or down-alternative comforter
• Euro pillows
• Standard pillows
• Sleeping pillows
The contemporary room may opt to skip the standard pillows for decorative shams and only display Euro shams and sleeping pillows. Or, choose a down-filled mattress pad over a featherbed to ensure a crisp look.
2) High Quality Sheeting
Understanding the differences of the different types of sheeting can be confusing. Terms such as percale and sateen describe how the sheeting is woven, and can define the sheeting’s hand, or how it feels to the touch. The most common fiber used is cotton, but there are differences even in that category. Alternative fibers, such as modal, bamboo are also alternatives that are gaining popularity due to their supple and silky softness.
More on sheeting and how to choose what’s best for you will be covered in a following article.
3) Cohesive Design and Aesthetics
Dressing the bed in layers creates that soft, comfortable, inviting look that dares you to abandon your day and jump on in.
The well-dressed bed, from back to front, features:
• Euro shams
• Standard shams
• Sleeping pillows in coordinating pillow cases
• Lightweight coverlet
• Removable duvet cover
• Dust ruffle or bed skirt
• Accent pillows
Again, a simpler design will forego the number of pillows or even variety in patterns used. A complex and beautiful traditional bed ensemble can feature at least five different patterns and fabric textures in the top-of-bed alone! Add features such as ruffles, trim, sequins or fur and the bed is truly an elaborate and exquisite focal point to the boudoir.
Coming up, we will discuss what comprises the different aspects of the well-dressed bed, which will help you make an informed decision on how you can have the most beautiful bed and best night’s sleep you’ve ever had.
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Need help designing your dream bedroom?
Contact us today to schedule an in-home consultation!
THE GUIDE TO THE WELL-DRESSED BED: The Foundations—Featherbeds, down comforters and oh so many pillow choices…
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THE GUIDE TO THE WELL-DRESSED BED: Sheeting basics—Sateen, percale, cotton and alternative fibers
•
THE GUIDE TO THE WELL-DRESSED BED: Bedding design—From simple to elegant, the décor of the boudoir
Years ago, I was introduced to the concept of being intentional about bedding. Sure, I had coordinating shams and comforter, but how intentional is a bed-in-a-bag? I mean, does that really provide a quality nights sleep, or a place that you look forward to falling into night after night, or give you that “I don’t want to leave this” feeling? Splurging on high quality sheeting was so frivolous…so expensive…so unnecessary.
Then, I became aware. You know—one of those “Ah Ha!” moments. I slipped into a bed that was like a cloud. The soft featherbed wrapped around me with silky-soft Egyptian cotton sheeting and my eyes were opened, even as they were quickly shutting to get the best sleep in a long, long time. In short order, we made some changes in how we dressed our bed and it is now affectionately known as “The Cotton Ball.”
Later, coincidentally, I worked in a luxury linens boutique for several years and learned even more about the elements to the perfect bed. The quality and composition of the foundations, the linens, and even the accessories all add to the overall sleep experience.
It is indeed an experience…it’s tactile… it’s emotional…it’s completely sensory. We spend 1/3 of our lifetimes sleeping. Lack of, or even unsatisfying, sleep has been known to cause a multitude of illnesses, mental issues, and relational problems. Why not pay closer attention to the environment of sleep—specifically what we choose to sleep in and on?
The next few articles will break down the essential elements of a luxurious, well-dressed bed. Like most things, there is quite a range in quality and price of each of the elements. You could spend $50 for a king-sized Egyptian cotton sheet set from a big-box store, or you could spend $500 for a similar set from a luxury linens manufacturer. Yes, there are differences—it’s not just a label game. The whole bed (not including the mattresses) can cost around $300 for low-end products to over $5,000 (easily!) for the true, luxury bedding ensemble.
Take the information and make it yours and in your budget. Start with sheeting. Buy the best you can afford or even slightly above. They will last longer, feel better and you are worth it…but more on that later.
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THE GUIDE TO THE WELL-DRESSED BED—DAY ONE:
The basics of a well-dressed bed
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THE GUIDE TO THE WELL-DRESSED BED—DAY TWO:
The foundations: Featherbeds, down comforters and oh so many pillow choices…
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THE GUIDE TO THE WELL-DRESSED BED—DAY THREE:
Sheeting basics: Sateen, percale, cotton and alternative fibers
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THE GUIDE TO THE WELL-DRESSED BED—DAY FOUR:
Bedding design: From simple to elegant, the décor of the boudoir
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