How to Make the Most Comfortable Bed - Part 2

Luxury Mattresses

There are also luxury handcrafted mattresses available. Hästens creates beds with natural materials to allow for air circulation to keep the bed a comfortable temperature. Guaranteed to last 25 years, the Superia has a pine frame with hand-tied springs and layers of flax, cotton, wool, and horsehair for comfort; hastens.com. Also handmade: shifmanmattresses.com and vispring.co.uk.

Mattresses don't last forever. "Many people confuse the warranty period on a mattress (often 10 or more years) with how long a mattress is meant to last," explains Nancy Shark, of the Better Sleep Council (bettersleep.org). After five to seven years of nightly use, it may be time to evaluate whether your mattress still provides the support and comfort you need. If it shows visible sagging or lumps, or if you awake feeling stiff, you may need to replace your mattress. Go shopping with your partner to test-drive a number of models. Look for a set that makes you feel cradled yet supported, paying special attention to your shoulders, hips, and lower back.

Mattress Care

Body heat and moisture make a bed a haven for dust mites, so do some prevention.

COVER: Covers help ensure a mattress's life by protecting against mites, dust, stains, and body oils. Cover your box spring to keep it clean, too.

CLEAN: Use your vacuum's upholstery tool to reduce dust on the mattress's surface. Dyson's Mattress Tool attachment has a wide head for better coverage; dyson.com.

Laundering Tips
Good sheets are an investment, so be sure to care properly for them. Use a mild, natural detergent such as The Laundress Signature Detergent (thelaundress.com), and dry on low heat, or line dry if possible. Avoid bleach, which can break down fibers over time.

Sheet Smarts

Having trouble navigating the bedding departments at stores? It's no wonder, given the increasingly wide selection of fabrics and thread counts that are available. Keep the following factors in mind when you go shopping.

Fabric content: Look for all-natural fabrics, such as 100-percent cotton Lustrous Cotton Sateen Sheets from the Eileen Fisher Home Collection by Garnet Hill (garnethill.com). Natural-fiber sheets allow the body to breathe and, with care (see Laundering Tips), will last a long time, making them worth your investment. Cotton sheeting feels smooth and soft to the touch, and Egyptian and Pima cottons, which have a longer fiber, have a slightly more luxurious feel.

Construction: The way a sheet is woven is another important factor to consider. Cotton percale has a clean, crisp finish, while cotton sateen has a more fluid, satiny texture. Flannel has a soft nap to it that many people like for winter use.

Thread count: Fabric content and construction are as important as thread count—which means the number of threads in a square inch of fabric. A very high thread count may be overconstructed (a high thread count marked "2-ply" may be a sign) and fall apart with wash and wear. Remember this: Find what feels best to you at a price you can afford.

More Home Decoration Tips: If you want to know more about home decoration tips, please refer to Bedding Talks Blog to get more ideas.

4Pcs Pink and Blue Striped Cotton 2013 Brand New Spring Bedding Comforter Set

How to Make the Most Comfortable Bed

You'll rest easy when you choose the right mattress, pillows, and sheets.

A Get-Comfy Bed

The perfect bed beckons you to get under the covers, close your eyes, and drift serenely off to sleep. Here's how to select the right mattress, pillows, and sheets to help you create that cozy and comfortable environment you've been dreaming of.

Perfect Pillows

Selecting the proper pillow to help align your head and neck is essential to a good night's sleep.

1. First, choose the right firmness for your preferred sleep position. Side sleepers need firm support, medium is just right for back sleepers, while stomach sleepers require a softer pillow.

2. Synthetic is best for allergy sufferers. Shopping for down? Check the fill power—the volume an ounce of down takes up. Higher fill power equates to better insulation. Also, look for tightly woven cotton covers.

3. Synthetic pillows last one to two years; down can last five to ten. Always use pillow covers to help extend a pillow's life. Wash the covers regularly, and your pillows will need less washing.

Mattress Know-How

New advances have created more options than ever, with each type offering a slightly different feel to suit every body. These choices illustrate some of the categories. Keep in mind that a mattress is designed to work with its matching box spring (also called the "foundation"). If you buy a mattress separately, it may feel different than it did at the store, or even affect the warranty.

INNERSPRING: The W Hotels Plush Top mattress has internal coils for support topped with layers of upholstery and padding; mattress.com; whotelsthestore.com

AIR: Select Comfort's Sleep Number mattress offers chambers of air that adjust to provide just the right amount of support to each side; selectcomfort.com

MEMORY FOAM: Made of a special viscoelastic material, Tempur-Pedic's ClassicBed conforms to your body's shape to relieve pressure; tempurpedic.com

GEL: Specially designed zones in Simmons' BackCare with Technogel mattress support each area of your body, with a gel layer in the back-support zone; simmons.com

2013 Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some bedding comforter sets for you and your family, Bedding Stores UK here offers brand new luxury bedding sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

4Pcs RED AND WHITE FLORAL NATURAL SILK LUXURY BEDDING COMFORTER SET

How to Prepare Your Home for Houseguests - Part 4

12. Provide Nightstand Goodies

Outfit bedside tables with the essentials: a light for reading, a bottle of water with a glass, an alarm clock, and a box of tissues.

13. Set Out a Beverage Stand

The key to a casual cocktail party? Drink stations. Invite friends to be their own bartender by setting out portable tray tables in different rooms and stocking each one with glasses, liquor, mixers, and an ice bucket.

14. Supply Yummy Nibbles

Adopt the same self-serve strategy for snacks with plates of nuts, olives, fresh vegetables, and cheese straws placed throughout your home.

Interior Designer Bunny Williams

Thirty-five years of decorating experience have taught Bunny Williams this truth: People crave comfort. "Of all the homes I've visited, the ones I remember most put me completely at ease," says the New York designer. So what separates a merely pretty place from a gracious one? Williams spells it out with this sage advice culled from her latest book, Scrapbook for Living ($60; Stewart Tabori & Chang).

2013 Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Comforter Sets here offers brand new 2013 luxury comforter sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Brand New Yellow Floral 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

How to Prepare Your Home for Houseguests - Part 3

9. Create a Comfortable Space

Provide a handy surface for toiletries. A cabinet, table, or stool in the bathroom guarantees visitors won't have to balance their Dopp kits on the edge of the sink.

10. Provide Teacups for Necessities
Pretty containers bring elegance to basic necessities. Fill teacups with Q-tips and cotton balls and display them on the washroom counter for anyone who's forgotten their own.

11. Offer a Seat
A gracious guest room includes a place for a suitcase, such as a bench where folks can also sit when removing shoes.

More Home Decoration Tips: If you want to know more about home decoration tips, please refer to Boys Bedding Blog to get more ideas.

4Pcs Blue Full Sized Cartoon Style Cotton 2013 Boys Kids Bedding Set

How to Prepare Your Home for Houseguests - Part 2

5. Place Furniture Strategically

Furniture arrangement is integral to conversation. Chairs and sofas don't need to match, but they should all be about the same height so people can talk eye-to-eye.

6. Conveniently Accessorize

Anticipate the need to set down drinks by positioning small side tables next to living room seating.

7. Create Comfort

Extra blankets ensure a good night's sleep. Place a warm throw or two at the end of each bed to prevent guests from having to search — or worse, ask you! — for more covers in the middle of the night.

8. Add a Colorful Touch

Keep little vases on hand for fresh flowers. Diminutive vessels, like mint julep cups, don't demand much more than a few blossoms, and they add a cheery touch to bedside tables.

2013 Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding Stores UK here offers brand new bedding sets uk to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

4Pcs PURPLE FLORAL NATURAL SILK LUXURY BEDDING COMFORTER SET

How to Prepare Your Home for Houseguests

Interior designer Bunny Williams explains how to make houseguests feel right at home.

1. Set Out Throw Pillows

Throw pillows should serve more than just a decorative purpose. A layer of cushions instantly corrects the problem of a too-deep sofa. But avoid overaccessorizing a shallow one — remember, people need space to sit.

2. Offer Light Reading

Stock guest rooms with good reads and encourage visitors to take books home with them.

3. Keep Lighting Dim

Everyone looks (and feels) better in low lighting. So consider installing dimmers on your overhead fixtures, especially in the dining room.

4. Offer Storage Space

Give visitors an obvious spot to stow coats and bags. A row of pegs or hooks in a foyer does the trick.

2013 Girls Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your daughter's bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 Girls Bedding Sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Blue and Yellow Dot 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

My Home's Coziest Spot - Part 3

A Feathered Nest

Tilly's Nest writer Melissa Caughey finds the most comfort in family. On a table in her living room, the chicken keeper placed a 100-year-old clock next to a bird's nest she found in the yard. "It’s a reminder that time marches on, but a warm, cozy home is like a nest, and it's important to nurture these times and the people in our lives," she says.

 A Spot to Sit

It's not often that blogger Susie Harris gets to sit and relax, but when she does, she creates what she calls "pure heaven" in a corner of her home, where she's placed an oversize chair. "I like to snuggle up with my favorite blue throw, turn on a lamp, light a candle, and read," she says.

An Outdoor Retreat

The Handmade Home writer Ashley Mills and her husband built this cozy kid- and adult-friendly playhouse—complete with a deck, shutters, and a rather homey interior—in their Montgomery, Alabama, backyard in July. "We cannot wait to enjoy Southern fall nights out here roasting s'mores and camping with the kids," she says.

More Home Decoration Tips: If you want to know more about home decoration tips, please refer to Girls Bedding Blog to get more ideas.

3Pcs Blue Twin Sized Cartoon Style Cotton 2013 Boys Kids Bedding Set

My Home's Coziest Spot - Part 2

A Nook for Guests

The guest room in Rifle Paper Co. blogger Anna Bond's home also doubles as the illustrator and paper goods designer's home office. She artfully carved out an area to be a personal reading nook in the small room. "The light is amazing during the day. I curl up by the window in a cozy pile of pillows," she says.

A Burning Desire

What beckons Hodge Podge Farm creator Cal Patch when it's cold outside? The warm woodstove—the focal point of the living room—burning inside. Patch snuggles up in front of the fire to crochet, knit, and sip endless cups of tea, while Gertie, her dog, basks in the soft glow.

An Amazing Blanket

The furry, soft throw flung on the family room sofa is Blonde-Designs blogger Angie Gubler's favorite comfy thing in her home. Flopping on the couch and wrapping herself in this Restoration Hardware find "just makes watching TV much more enjoyable," she says.

2013 Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some bedding sets uk for you and your family, Bedding Stores UK here offers brand new plush toys to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

4Pcs BLUE AND WHITE FLORAL NATURAL SILK LUXURY BEDDING COMFORTER SET

My Home's Coziest Spot

Nine design bloggers use Instagram to show us their favorite spots to escape at home. Borrow their ideas to find your most-relaxing spot—and feel free to share on Instagram, too!

Something Soft Underfoot

To combat freezing feet, Heirloomed blogger Ashley Leckey Schoenith runs to grab an old favorite: a pair of moccasins that she dons everywhere. "I love wearing them in cooler months to keep a classic look," she says. Hers are a deliciously cozy chocolate suede pair by Minnetonka with a bit of fringe near the toe—practical and oh-so comfy.

A Place to Read

Ever since she was a little girl, Pink of Perfection writer Sarah McColl wanted a reading chair in her bedroom. The recent addition of a slipcovered armchair and matching ottoman—a gift from her crafty mom—made those childhood dreams a reality. In front of the window in her room, the chair and stool claimed a spot, a place where McColl spends her mornings sitting and writing with her cup of coffee.

A Home Away From Home

Blogging sisters Katie Startzman and Laura Poulette of Duo Fiberworks flock to the same feel-good spot while vacationing at their parents' Pennsylvania farmhouse: A sunny window seat "that's made even cozier with the addition of a yo-yo quilt (a blanket fashioned from tiny rosettes of fabric) and a collection of handmade pillows."

2013 Boys Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your son's bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 TEENS BEDDING SETS to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Dark Grey and Camel Dot 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

Five Minutes to Comfort: Designers' Quick Cozy Tips - Part 2

Dress in Layers

Even a well-worn leather sofa can feel a bit cold, but throw loads of comfy pillows on top, and it beckons you to lounge all day. "Make sure the pillows you choose are soft and down-filled," says Salt Lake City designer Kirsten Krason, who recommends adding pillows to chairs, couches, even benches.

Add a Good Read

Surrounding yourself with literature is the simplest way to warm a home, says Portland, Oregon, designer Jessica Helgerson. Fill shelves with favorite reads, style the coffee table with stunning travel and photography tomes, and place volumes of poetry on the nightstand in the guest room. Books create intimate, quiet retreats, places to relax, and rejuvenate the home.

Introduce Warm Tones

Want to cozy up a room quickly? "Give it soul," says New York designer Anthony Baratta. To do that, he suggests introducing shades of red. The cranberry tone in this room "is like lipstick on the face," Baratta explains. "It's definitely a statement, but it warms all the other colors instantly." Not willing to see so much of this hue? Baratta advises starting with softer hints, like Nantucket Red (from Fine Paints of Europe), a washed-out, orange-y version, and incorporate it in a few places throughout the room.

More Home Decoration Tips: If you want to know more about home decoration tips, please refer to Girls Bedding Blog to get more ideas.

Lovely Style Cotton Floral Winter Bedding Comforter Set for Girls

Five Minutes to Comfort: Designers' Quick Cozy Tips

Five of our favorite designers share the secrets to creating warmth in your home—in five minutes or less!

Wrap it Up

When comfort is key, keep blankets, throws, and quilts in easy reach. "I store stacks of them all around the house," says New York designer Tricia Foley, who admits to living in an older home with drafty fireplaces. Find throws with different textures and colors for a bit of visual variety. "Toss a blanket in a room to warm a home—and you—in less than a minute," Foley says.

Don't Take Decor Too Seriously

The most comfortable homes feel inviting throughout. Philadelphia designer Denise Sabia and author of The Painted Home says having a sense of humor when you decorate is the easiest way to warm a space. Mosey through her home, and whimsical touches greet you everywhere—a bouquet of flowers made out of paper, bowls filled with games pieces, and these steps lined with vintage yardsticks.

2013 Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some cheap bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding Stores UK here offers brand new bedsheets and bedskirts to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

4Pcs BLUE AND PINK FLORAL NATURAL SILK LUXURY BEDDING COMFORTER SET

Round-Up: Knitted Home Decorations - Part 2

Softer Wood and Wicker

Leg warmers for furniture! We're deeply in love with these cotton-blend slip-ons, especially adorning a rugged stool. Meanwhile, the crocheted cotton atop Saara Renvall's bamboo basket conceals clutter with panache.

Leg warmers, $12 for four; 9 1/2"H x 1 1/2"W; biscuitscout.etsy.com. Basket, $118; 9"H x 14"W; digs.com. For similar vintage wooden stool, from $120; 21"H; Lillian August, 212-206-1883.

Bold Baskets

Consider these bold baskets a declaration that beige is anything but blah. Here's a surefire way to make everyday kindling a hot commodity: Stash it in these slouchy-but-sturdy cotton baskets.

Bright idea: Show off these long, lean matches in a vase—as a cold-weather alternative to flowers. ($2.98 for 50; lowes.com)

Robert Ogden for Lostine baskets, $82 for 12"H, $176 for 20"H; 215-825-7270.

Throw Pillows

Throw pillows take a smart turn wearing patterns normally found on preppy pullovers.

Pillow covers (clockwise from top left): For similar, wool, $98; 18" square; chickspicksbyhillary.com. Cotton and canvas, $85; 12"W x 16"L; Simplemente Blanco, 617-734-3669. Alpaca, $175; 24" square; wildflowerorganics.com. Wool (bottom of stack), $69; 16" square; wool (top of stack), $79, 16" square; preciousknits.etsy.com. Pine bench, $1,099; 74"W x 35 1/2"H x 19"D; arhaus.com.

2013 Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 fashion bedding sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

4Pcs Brown and Orange Striped Cotton 2013 Brand New Bedding Comforter Set