The oldest bed ever discovered so far dates all the way back to 77,000 BC. Of course, beds back then were not much more than piles of grass and leaves. Today, fortunately, we can enjoy plush beds made from a variety of materials like foam, springs, and other options while covered with cozy blankets.
What you might not be aware of is that you might not know how to properly make a bed. This may sound strange, but there is actually a right way and a wrong way to make a bed, and you might have been doing it the wrong way your entire life. So, how can you make your bed the proper way and why is it important?
Keep reading and learn more about it with this guide to making a bed.
The Mattress Protector and Fitted Sheet
Not everyone uses a mattress protector, but it can certainly make a big difference. A mattress protector, as the name suggests, will keep your mattress looking and feeling like new for many years. It is nothing more than a thin covering that you can slip over your mattress.
Because it is so non-invasive, you won’t even know that it’s there when you plop down on your mattress. It is great in case you spill a drink or some food on your bed. The mattress protector will catch whatever you spill so that it doesn’t get on the mattress itself.
This is important because if anything ever soaks into your mattress, you’ll find that it is nearly impossible to get it out. After all, you can’t throw your entire mattress into the washer machine and mattresses, in general, are very hard to deep clean. So, to save yourself the trouble and to make sure your mattress always looks pristine, it will be a good idea to use a mattress protector.
The Details
Once that’s done, you’ll move on to putting a fitted sheet over your mattress. There are many types of bedsheets out there, but a fitted sheet is one that you’ll rarely have to readjust due to how easily it will cling to your mattress. Just make sure that you have the right sheet for your mattress size since these sheets are only designed to fit certain mattress sizes.
Just line the sheet up with the length of your mattress, tuck two of the smaller ends into one side of your mattress and then stretch the sheet to the other side of the mattress until the sheet is pulled tight.
A Flat Sheet With Hospital Corners
The next step is to get a flat, thin sheet that will go between the fitted sheet and the duvet. Putting this sheet on normally is easy, but what does it mean to use hospital corners? How to make hospital corners on a bed is not hard and nurses have been doing it with hospital beds for decades.
Hospital corners are simply ways in which you can fold the corner parts of the flat sheet at the edges of the bed. That way, the resulting sheet will be very flat and smooth, even when you put another blanket over the top of it. This makes your bed look much more visually appealing.
Besides that, it also keeps the flat sheet in place. Even if you toss and turn during the night, it will be quite hard for you to disturb the sheets. That way, you can remain securely tucked inside the bed and you won’t have to waste so much time making your bed again in the morning.
What You Need to Know
To make a bed with hospital corners, start by centering the flat sheet over the mattress. Then, take the bottom edge of your sheet and put it under the mattress while you take the adjacent part of the sheet hanging out and fold it up over the edge of the mattress. This should create an angle of about 45 degrees.
Once you’re at that point, tuck in the remaining sheet and then let down the portion that you kept upright. Doing this will create a very crisp edge at the bottom corners of your bed and will make the surface of the bed very smooth.
Add a Comforter and Final Touches
Adding a comforter to your bed is perhaps the easiest part of the entire bed-making process. All you really need to do is make sure that the comforter is centered over the mattress. There should be several inches on either side of the mattress for the comforter to drape over.
That way, you won’t be able to see the sheets under the comforter. If you have a duvet, be sure to use a duvet cover properly so that the resulting bed looks smooth and attractive. For a few final touches, don’t forget to fluff up your pillows before positioning them on the bed.
To make the bed look even more attractive and dynamic, you can always use a throw blanket at the foot of the bed to add an extra splash of color or texture. Once you do that, the bed-making process should be done.
How to Properly Make a Bed
How to properly make a bed doesn’t have to be difficult, but there are some things you should consider. For example, putting down a mattress protector and a fitted sheet is a good start followed by a flat sheet with hospital corners and then the comforter or duvet.
Of course, doing this on your own can be exhausting which is why it’s a good idea to hire someone to do it for you. Check out our cleaning service here.
