Top interior designers share 5 simple tricks to make your bed look cozy

When the weather takes a turn for the worse and winter rolls in, a cozy bed is a must to make your evening routine a little bit more luxurious. 

Between picking out the best bed sheets and enhancing the comfortable appeal of your best mattress, several steps go into creating a truly cozy bed you love to snuggle into.

This is how designers and bedding experts make their beds look cozy for a perfect oasis that makes it difficult to get up in the morning. 

 How can I make my bed look cozy?

Making a bedroom look cozy ultimately comes down to your bed and how you use layering in interior design, experts say. Without a cozy bed, your bedroom will not have the right draw that makes you look forward to cozying up for downtime before you go to sleep. 

Here is how to achieve the fluffy look. 

1. Get the basics right

Making a bed look more expensive and cozier to sleep in starts with the basics. For interior designer Nate Berkus, this means investing in a good set of ‘crisp, white sheets.’

You can then build your cozy look on top of it, being sure to educate yourself on how to choose the best bed sheets before investing to ensure your bed doesn't just look cozy, but feels it too. 

‘Nothing feels more luxe than paying attention to the small details,’ he says. 

Nate Berkus

Since Nate’s first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2002, he has become one of the world’s most recognizable interior designers. He has authored two New York Times bestselling books and stars alongside his husband, Jeremiah Brent, in HGTV's Nate & Jeremiah Home Project.

2. Layer, layer, layer

Knowing how to dress a bed is also essential to making a bed look cozy. This means layering – and lots of it, continues Soledad Alzaga, interior designer and founder of the eponymous design company:

‘Layering is the secret to creating a cozy bed. Start with a good quality mattress and then mix and match different items for your bedding. Add comfortable textured or patterned duvet covers, shams, and a soft throw draped at the foot of the bed to create layers.’

You also want to layer your pillows, but with a degree of control, she says. ‘Choose plush pillow inserts, and cover them with pillowcases in cozy fabrics. Don't overdo it, too many pillows make a bed seem stuffy and not inviting.’ Too many pillows can also be bad for your neck, so work out how many pillows you should sleep with for comfort, and remove any extras whenever you settle down to sleep.

Soledad Alzaga

San Francisco-based Interior designer Soledad Alzaga has worked on design projects in San Francisco, Sonoma, Atherton, New York, Martha's Vineyard, Los Angeles, Mexico, and Argentina. Her firm has been named one of the top 15 Best Interior Design Companies in San Francisco.

3. Opt for natural materials whenever you can

Styling with natural materials is popular with interior designers for a reason – they look and feel cozy with little to no effort, making them perfect for making a bed look cozy. Alex Decker, interior designer and founder of A Decker Design, routinely decorates homes and designs rooms with cozy bedroom layers. She always starts by picking out high-quality textiles like alpaca throws.

When it comes to the bedding itself, picking the best linen sheets also creates a good foundation for a cozy sleep space with the added benefit of being hypoallergenic, helping you to sleep better too, shares Jessica Hanley, bedding expert and founder of Piglet in Bed:

‘Selecting the right material for your sheets can make a significant difference. I’d suggest using either linen or flannel sheets during the winter months for an especially cozy feel. Linen is a wonderful all-year-rounder, being breathable, thermoregulating (meaning it regulates your body temperature), and moisture-wicking. It’s also super soft and gets softer over time.

‘Flannel is perfect for colder weather, being soft and insulating, and also providing a warm, fuzzy texture that feels nice to nestle into.’

4. Consider your color scheme

The color of your bedding has a huge impact on your space, from bed sheet colors to improve sleep to bedding color to make a bedroom look bigger, so it is no surprise that it can also affect how cozy your bed looks, too. 

‘Go for subtle or subdued hues and warm, natural shades,’ suggests Artem Kropovinksy, interior designer and founder of Arsight. ‘These make a room quiet and cozy, thus transforming your bedroom into a peaceful sanctuary.’

Artem Kropovinsky

Based in New York, Artem Kropovinsky, founder of Arsight, has a decade of extensive and considerable global design experience. Prioritizing minimalism, sustainability, and authenticity, Artem, alongside his team of professionals, works on projects in the US and worldwide.

5. Choose high-quality inserts

It is not just what you put on your bed that makes it look cozy, it is the materials underneath too, says Jessica Hanley, bedding expert.

‘Lots of people decide to invest in good quality sheets made from natural materials but then forget the all-important inserts. Merino wool is an excellent alternative to feathers and synthetic fillings as it has a number of natural benefits that contribute to good quality sleep. It’s moisture absorbent, hypoallergenic, dust mite free, and a natural thermoregulator,’ she explains. 

Jessica Hanley

Jessica Hanley founded Piglet in Bed in 2017, and the company has since expanded to the US. Their collection of low-maintenance 100% stonewashed linen bedding is created for timeless spaces, keeping cozy, and styling beds sustainably. 

FAQs

Making a bed look cozy doesn't just come down to what you put on the bed itself, reminds designer Nate Berkus. ‘Lighting is also important as you want the space to always feel calming, and layering warm hues is perfect for winding down and feeling more comfortable,’ he says. ‘Add framed photos on night tables and decorative boxes to hold remotes and sleeping pills, mouth guards, etc,’ he adds, to contribute to the overall look of the space.