How to Make a Beautiful Bed

" Do you love the fully-dressed beds you see in magazines? Well you're in luck. Better Homes and Gardens has everything you need to make your bed in style. I'm Lacey Howard for Better Homes and Gardens. Comforter sets are the perfect start to a great-looking bed. These comforter sets come complete with a bedskirt, comforter, and shams. With more than a dozen different sets to choose from, you're sure to find something that's perfect for your bedroom. But a set is just the beginning. Let me show you how to layer on the softness and comfort and dress a beautiful bed without spending a fortune. A bedskirt slips in between your box spring and mattress. The skirt extends your bedding all the way to the floor and hides anything you store under the bed. To keep a bedskirt in place, try this trick. Attach safety pins along the edge of the bedskirt and then lay the mattress on top. For a snug fit, be sure to include a mattress pad under your fitted sheet. The pad helps protect your mattress and adds a layer of pillowy softness. The elastic in your fitted sheet holds it in place and wraps your mattress in smoothness. The top sheet is the layer of bedding that's nearest to you while you sleep. Make your top sheet look and function well with the following tips. Place the top sheet front side down when you're making the bed. That way, the finished side of the sheet is on the outside of your well-dressed bed. Pull the top sheet far enough toward the headboard so you can fold back a few inches of the sheet. This quilted coverlet feels great on a chilly night, but it also adds color and texture to the bed. A quilt or blanket rests atop the sheet for warmth and style. Hospital corners give your bed a clean, pulled-together look. Simply pleat each corner, fold down, tuck in and under for a neat finish. A comforter or duvet provides an extra layer of warmth. Folded down, it also provides an attractive finishing touch at the foot of the bed. A bed isn't a bed without a few inviting pillow. Shams protect your pillows, but they also give your bed much of its style. Add a pile of pillows for loads of personality. Positioning all the pillows simply and symmetrically is easy to do and produces a polished finish. Don't let your bedmaking stop there. Many comforters are reversible. Just flipping this one over plays up the fun stripe side, which looks great with pink sheets and a casually arranged collection of accent pillows. Remember, even though you started with a bedding set, it's easy to make your bed unique. Just mixing coordinating sheets, quilt, and accessories for a look that's all your own."