Disclosure: Crane & Canopy provided me with the bedding for this makeover. The room design and all opinions about the bedding are my own.
There’s two kinds of people in the world; those who make their bed every morning and those who leave the covers in a messy heap in the middle of the bed when they get up. I am one of the latter. I am not a bed maker. To be totally honest, I think it’s tedious and it’s just going to get messed up again the next time you sleep.
Is there any hope for me?
Turns out you can go from being a slob to having a beautiful bedroom every day. I didn’t think it was possible after more than three decades of hoping someone else would do it for me, but now I actually want to make my bed every morning.

I’ve discovered two things that make me eager to make my bed every day:
- A gorgeous grown-up bedroom.
- Foolproof bedding that even my five-year old can make look nice.
First, if you’ve got hodgepodge bedding in an undecorated room, who cares if you leave it rumpled on the bed in the morning? Chances are you keep the door to that room closed all day. But your whole outlook on bed making will change the instant you give your bedroom a little love.
We recently completed our bedroom makeover with a mix of new items and items we pulled from other spots in our house (Free Decorating in action!). Once we had a gorgeous grown-up looking room, it just seemed wrong to leave the bed unmade.
(Are you loving the pattern mix in this room? At the end of this post there’s a video showing you how I picked the perfect patterns for this room. Plus, I made you a free Color and Pattern Cheat Sheet so you can mix patterns like a pro.)

Second, simple bedding is key. I hate flat sheets. I don’t like them tucked in at the end of the bed (probably because we’re tall and need our foot room all the way to the edge of the mattress), so our flat sheet always ends up in a ball under the duvet cover. Removing the duvet cover to straighten out the crumpled flat sheet every morning is a serious pain. Why do we even need the flat sheet anyway?

Turns out we don’t. Not even to make the bed look pretty when you fold the sheet over the top of the duvet. The geniuses at Crane & Canopy created a duvet cover that does away with the flat sheet (and by the way, they sell sheet sets with or without the flat sheet). Instead of a flat sheet, they integrated a flat sheet look into the top of the duvet cover.
It’s their Signature Nova system, a 2-in-1 solution, that gives you the perfectly made bed in 80% less time. The two-toned cover mimics the flat sheet with a color coordinated accent stripe. Of course, without a flat sheet, the material your duvet cover is made of becomes more important. The Cora Grey duvet cover I chose is crafted from the finest quality extra-long staple cotton in a 350-thread count single ply, singe pick weave. All of Crane & Canopy’s bedding, duvet covers and sheets use soft and breathable, extra-long staple cotton, woven in 300+ thread count, hand-picked for comfort and quality.

Without the flat sheet and, let’s be honest, at least one dog and one child visiting our bed every night, we needed a duvet cover that was easy to remove and wash. The Nova duvet covers have a hidden full width invisible zipper under that faux sheet flap, which makes the duvet cover a cinch to remove and wash. Plus, no more buttons coming undone at the foot of the bed. Crane & Canopy’s duvet covers feature ties inside the corners to secure your comforter and make stuffing the cover a breeze. We’ve had our Cora Grey for over a month now and I’ve removed and put on the cover several times without breaking a sweat.

With our new duvet cover, making the bed is so simple that I can leave it up to my five-year old. (You caught me…some days I still get someone else to make the bed for me.) He sneaks into our bed around 5 AM every morning and then he’s usually the last one to get up. So on those days, it’s his job to smooth out the bed and put the pillows back. With our Crane & Canopy duvet it’s easy for him to get it looking nice.
Picking the Perfect Pattern Mix for Your Bedding
I’ll admit picking out the perfect bedding was tough. Crane & Canopy has so many beautiful options. I wanted to bring more pattern into our room, because the white bedding we had before looked so plain with our beautiful lamps and the artwork above our headboard.

I know picking the right pattern mix can be tricky, so I made a quick video to show you just how I did it for our bedroom. I’ve got a simple pattern formula that will get you the right mix every time. And I’ll show you how to get three different looks using the same formula. (Psst. Don’t worry about taking notes… at the end of this post you can download the bonus Color and Pattern Cheat Sheet.)
I used to think making the bed was a waste of time. Yes, even despite the studies that say it makes your whole day better. But now I realize just how wonderful it is to retire in the evening to a beautiful oasis where the bed is already made and all I have to do is relax.
My favorite thing about our bedroom makeover is how all the colors and patterns work together to create a vibrant, but soothing retreat. I’d love to help you pick the right colors and patterns for your bedroom (or any other room). I made a bonus cheat sheet just for you. Download your Color and Pattern Cheat Sheet.
Your bedroom is gorgeous. Love the new bedding and I really like your video! I confess I was never a bed-maker but about a month ago I started making the bed every morning and it’s such a small thing that really makes your house feel cleaner. I can’t stand to not make it now :).
Thanks Amy. That is so true…once you get into the habit of making the bed it is hard to break. I just needed the pretty motivation to get into the habit :)
Jackie, you have a great heart and great art. i wish you and your family all the best and sorry for the misfortune wishing all goes well.
I admire your enthusiasm in home decoration and i have picked a few tips from you and appreciate very much. Thanks for sharing. Your bedroom looks serene.
Thanks again
Agnes
Thanks Agnes. We just got some encouraging news about our pup Sofia’s treatment options. So glad you enjoyed the video and tips.
Loved this post. Interesting about the duvet cover that replaces the need for a sheet. Great video too!
Thanks Emily. It really is a game-changer. No more fitting over the sheets and covers. We love it.
Hey Jackie, I’m a fellow Crafter and I hopped over from the group to see your video. You did a fantastic job. I love the calmness of your bedroom decor even with the mix of patterns.
Thanks for coming to check it out Joan! It was a lot of fun to make and try out all the different pillows on my bed. I may have dove in for a nap when I was done :)
This is my favorite bedding for your space. It makes your art really pop. Plus your lamps look good with that dot pillow thrown in. When you put a bunch of pillows I giggled. When I married Curt we had 17 pillows on the bed and he made it every day!!!
I like this idea about styling the duvet for I can still have a sheet set if I want but it simply looks smart. I love the zipper idea. This easy bed making reminds me of my childhood neighbors. Their Grandma ( they were first generation Japanese American) made down filled silky comforters for each girl. No sheets just a bottom. I’m sure Grandma K gathered down from turkey and chicken farmers for they were soft and so easy to toss, smooth and bed made. Yours is the most similar to that concept though there’s were Japanese colorful prints! As a kid I envied their quick bed making art form. And I do make my bed unless I’m not well because the house appears better kept just by making the bed!!! Thank you for lesson on formula of pattern, geometric and plain. Makes sense!!!
Gwen, You tell the best stories and Grandma K sounds like on smart lady. I’m glad you enjoyed the video, I hope to share more videos soon.
It’s all beautiful! I love the artwork over the bed. Where oh where did you get it????
Mary, Thank you. The artist’s name is Jane Bellows. I bought these prints at Z Gallerie over ten years ago. But you can get the same prints, in different sizes, at World Market or just search online by the artist name.
This is so helpful! I love how you explain the way to mix patterns. Thank you so much!