Photograph by Sean Litchfield from our “Martha’s Vineyard” project

Rest, Recharge, Relax, Rejuvenate

Have you noticed there may be one room or another where you feel the most “at home”? As you move through your house, are there places that feel more settled than others? As we navigate this uncertain time, the areas that feel settled are the ones where we feel the most at peace…and this affects our mood. No place is this more important than where we sleep.

We moved into our new house last summer. My first priority was to get the public spaces finished. I wanted the boxes out of site immediately and I worked tirelessly to get those spaces feeling as settled as I possibly could. Then I moved to the kids’ bedrooms. We unpacked their clothes, found new homes for their toys, set their beds with all their buddies, etc. The very last place I tackled was our Master Bedroom.

I’ve struggled with our Master here since we moved in…and it bothers me so much. Now that we are all home and in desperate need of some restful sleep, I’m turning my attention to our bedroom. I’m starting with new bedding so I thought I might share a few rules of thumb when you’re putting your nest together.

Girl, Make your bed!

There are no hard and fast “rules” to making your bed. Many clients (and I agree) prefer not to have too many decorative pillows they have to take on and off the bed. That being said, I’ll also say that on the off chance you have a minute to yourself during the day, the shams can be a nice place to lean back with a good book. (That is SO not my life right now but I can dream!) Regardless, here is a little guidance with that approach in mind.

Pillow Layout

In terms of pillow layout, like I said there are no rules and often the client’s personal preferences really guide this last layer. However, we do have some pillow layouts that we tend to gravitate towards and that are a good place to start when thinking about what you might need. We’ve broken these down by King, Queen and Twin below if you want to check them out!

Photograph by Michael J. Lee from our “Harvard Square Residence” project

Sheeting Guide

There are many options when it comes to sheets and more often than not, people have a strong preference without even realizing it. Practical factors like whether you are a hot or cold sleeper as well as how you want the bed to look visually can help to guide you when choosing your sheets.

One factor that is often discussed is thread count. The thread count is a measurement of how many horizontal and vertical threads are woven together in each square inch of the fabric. Typically the higher the thread count, the more “luxury” the sheets, which also drives up the price. While we LOVE luxury sheets from brands like Matouk, Frette and Julia B. when they are appropriate, higher thread count sheets often (if not always) require more careful care and maintenance. There are plenty of retailers now that sell mid-range sheets both in terms of price and thread count that are often just as comfortable and soft. Some of our favorite “workhorse” retailers in terms of sheeting include Coyuchi, Garnet Hill and Parachute Home.

In searching for good definitions to share for each of these sheet fibers, I stumbled upon this guide from The Spruce that features a great breakdown. Below are the types of sheets we most frequently use, as well as a brief description pulled from their guide:

Percale: “Percale is a plain-weave fabric made from both combed and carded cotton yarns. This type of weave is lightweight and closely woven, producing a smooth finish and a crisp feel. If you like sheets that feel a bit starched and crisp against your skin, this is the weave for you.”

Sateen: “Sateen, which is not the same as satin, is a type of weave with more vertical threads than horizontal. This produces an exceptionally soft bed sheet with a smooth, lustrous finish that resembles satin. While luxurious, sateen sheets are far more fragile than percale or plain weaves.”

Linen: Linen sheets are often considered the most sustainable and organic of the sheeting options. They are defined by their more textural, chunky weave and are naturally insulating and breathable. They help to give a bedroom a more relaxed, organic and easy feel, however, we don’t recommend them for anyone who is looking for a crisp and perfect look as they can get wrinkly and don’t always lie perfectly flat.

Flannel: “Flannel is normally made of 100 percent cotton and is a medium-to-heavy-weight bed sheet material. It has a napped finish on one or both sides, creating the "fuzzy" and soft feel that is characteristic of this fabric. Flannel sheets are ideal for winter because the fuzzy weave holds in body heat, and creates a warm, fluffy and cozy feel.”

Jersey: Jersey bed sheets are often sold as "tee-shirt sheets," as they are the same type of knit cotton or cotton-blend fibers that are used in the ubiquitous clothing item. Jersey sheets are very popular with kids and teens, thanks to the stretchy and soft feel, but they rip or snag easily, so keep the family cat off the bed if you want to avoid holes.

Photograph by Michael J. Lee from our “Lakeside Guest House” project

I hope you’re all staying safe and sound in your homes and relishing in the areas you love most. Our team is happy to be staying creative and finally have a moment to share some of our favorite resources with you via this platform. My feelings about the importance of loving where we live have never been more relevant or POWERFUL. If we can help you with anything as you’re navigating the comfort of your home, we would love to hear from you.

Above photos left to right: Michael J. Lee from our “Winchester Victorian” project, Michael J. Lee from our “Cambridge Retreat” project, Sean Litchfield from our “Martha’s Vineyard” project, Sean Litchfield from our “Wellesley Residence” project, Sarah Winchester from our “Cape Cod Summer Home” project.