The writers and editors at the Strategist spend a lot of their working hours thinking about bedding (testing mattresses, studying the difference between percale and sateen). So it’s not terribly surprising that when it comes to their own beds, they’re a bit obsessive. Here’s how they style their duvets, quilts, shams, and unattractive orthopedic pillows.
Okay, if I were to walk into your bedrooms right now, what would I see?
Lauren Ro, writer: We have a king-size bed, and I top it with Company Store’s Premium Alberta Down Light Warmth Comforter. I change up the cover depending on my mood — I use a linen one from Parachute in dusk for a casual, lived-in look, and Snowe’s Percale Duvet Cover for a polished vibe. It has a border trim that makes it look a bit formal without appearing too fancy. For every setup, I use a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, two standard pillows, two king pillows, and two mini-shams with scalloped flanges.
Simone Kitchens, senior editor: I don’t like a sad-looking low duvet. Aesthetically, my bed needs to be pillowy, so I top mine with a Parachute Down Duvet that’s super-fluffy or Quince’s Premium Down Comforter. When either one is paired with my mauve percale duvet cover from Parachute, it stays lofty.
Liza Corsillo, writer: Contrary to almost everyone in this group, I’m not trying to create the perfect marshmallowy bed. I basically want it to look like a more modern take on a cozy spare bed in a grandma’s summer cottage. I prefer a flat and neat surface. I use linen fitted and flat sheets from MagicLinen with a coverlet or quilt on top. I rotate between two quilts from Schoolhouse, then sometimes in the summer I’ll use a linen duvet cover, also from MagicLinen, without anything in it.
Crystal Martin, senior editor: That’s what I do too. My apartment is too hot for a duvet, but I like buying duvet covers for styling purposes. I use them like blankets. I make up for the flat look with a ton of pillows. There are six on my queen bed. I have two Euro shams from Piglet in Bed and two muslin standards from Bluebell that are just decorative, and then the two that I sleep on.
Amelia Jerden, sleep writer: My bed might be the simplest. Fully made, it consists of either bamboo sheets by Ettitude or linen sheets by Parachute or sateen sheets by California Design Den; an old quilt; and usually an extra-fuzzy blanket from Target, which I fold into quarters and lay at the end of the bed. I just have two pillows, one for me and one for my partner.
Are you partial to white bedding?
S.K.: I’ve moved away from it. It’s not easy to keep looking good, so my sheets are this beautiful olive, almost moss green. We just covered this brand in the Secret Strategist newsletter called Studio Sutram. It has beautiful pigmented sheets and duvets in solids, and you can build a tonal mono-color look with them.
L.R.: I’ve been liking the Bria sheets by Bella Notte. They’re sateen and supersoft. I have them in a deep purple called fig.
A.J.: My paisley quilt serves as a statement for the entire setup, so I keep the rest of it pretty simple. My sheets are either white or a sage green that matches the green in my quilt.
C.M.: I’m not afraid of patterns either. The Euro shams I mentioned are gingham, and the standards have an allover petite floral pattern.
Are your sheets tucked or untucked?
A.J.: I do know how to do hospital corners, but I am too lazy to do that on a regular basis. I usually just fold the top sheet over the quilt or hide it underneath.
L.C.: My sheets stay hidden too. I don’t tuck anything in. I really hate when the top sheet is tucked in and my feet feel trapped.
We have some orthopedic-pillow fans in
the group. Do you display those on the bed?
S.K.: This is such a problem for me. I have two super-sculpted Tempur-Pedic pillows that are on the smaller side, but they look so bad in a regular pillowcase, so I hide them underneath king-size pillows. They sort of meet the flap of the duvet in a nice way. Nobody makes good Tempur-Pedic pillowcases.
C.M.: I also have embarrassing orthopedic pillows: There’s a cutout for my head.
L.C.: I have been getting really into quilted pillow shams. I have some vintage ones from Pottery Barn in navy blue with little ties, but the Pick-Stitch Handcrafted Cotton-Linen Quilted Shams it currently sells are similar and they camouflage any mess underneath. I also take a minute to throw on a tiny pillow with an embroidered sleeping cat on it at the very end.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
