How to Make a Hotel Bed: Simple Steps

• Stretch a fitted sheet across your bed and pull each corner tight so that the elastic section sits under the corner of the mattress.
• Add the first flat sheet, a thin blanket, and a top sheet. Fold the top edge of the top sheet so that it’s between the blanket and the first sheet.
• Fold the sheets down toward the foot of the bed, then top it all off with a fluffy comforter, pillows, and a casually draped throw blanket.

Making a Bed Like a Hotel: Step-by-Step

Place a bed skirt under your mattress. Remove your mattress and lay the bed skirt over your box spring. If you have a three-sided elastic skirt, make sure that the skirtless side lines up with your headboard. Place your mattress on top of the bed skirt.

Put your fitted sheet on the bed. Choose a fitted sheet with elastic corners. Wrap the sheet around your mattress and pull it tight into each corner. Neatly tuck the elastic section under each corner of the mattress. The seam at each corner of the sheet should be in the middle of the mattress’ corners.

Place your first flat sheet on top of the fitted sheet. Drape the sheet equally over all sides of the bed. Make sure that your sheet reaches the edge of the mattress where your headboard is. Flatten the sheet and pull it taut on each side so there are no wrinkles.

Place a light blanket on top of the flat sheet. Center the blanket on the bed. Move the blanket down so it begins about 6 inches (15 cm) below the top of the mattress. Choose linen or cotton blankets that are comfortable and cooling.

Add your second flat sheet on top of the blanket. Lay it with the finished side facing down toward the mattress. Align the top of this sheet with the placement of the first sheet at the top of the mattress. The top of the sheet should align with the edge of the mattress at the headboard. Flatten the top sheet with your hands and pull it taut at all corners. This decorative top sheet is placed face down on the mattress so that, when you fold your flat sheet over the duvet, you’ll be able to see the pattern or embroidery on the sheet.

Take the top of both flat sheets and fold them down 6 inches (15 cm). Then, grab both sheets and the blanket together. Fold them another 6 inches (15 cm) down toward the foot of the bed. The sheets should now have two folds, and the blanket should have one. This method is called triple sheeting. Use your hands to smooth out the sheets and blankets and eliminate any wrinkles. For the first fold, you should only be folding the two sheets—not the blanket.

Fold in the corners of the bed. Make a hospital corner by tucking in all three sides of the bed, then taking all three layers at one corner and pulling them taut. The excess fabric at the corners should form a triangle shape. Bring the leftover fabric down and over toward the foot of the bed, making an envelope-like look. Then, fold the remaining fabric under the mattress. To get a nice envelope look, run your finger down the side of the bed at a forty-five-degree angle. Do this while pulling the sheets taut with your other hand. This creates an imaginary triangle. Fold the triangle portion of sheets at the bottom under your mattress. Tuck in the rest of the sheets and smooth to remove wrinkles. Do this for both sides of the bed.

Place your duvet or comforter onto the bed. Fluff it generously so that it seems cozy and inviting. Lay the comforter down so it’s aligned with the mattress and equally distributed on both sides, then fold the top back into a rectangle to make space for the pillows. For an even fluffier look, throw the comforter on your bed and let it float down on top of your sheets. If you prefer to use a duvet cover, make sure that each corner of the comforter correctly aligns with the inside of the cover.

Fluff your pillows and place them on the bed. For a hotel-style bed, start with large pillows and continue with the next size. Then, place square decorative pillows on the bed, followed by a long lumbar pillow. Slightly unfold your duvet cover or comforter so that it meets the pillows. Ultimately, the amount of pillows and styles you use is up to you. The only requirement is to use the same number for each side of the bed and place them symmetrically.

Lay down a throw blanket as the final layer. Drape the throw casually at the foot of your bed. Or, depending on the size of your throw, fold the blanket into a rectangle and gently lay it on the duvet cover toward the bottom third of your bed. The throw blanket is an optional step, but it adds a pop of color and an extra touch of comfort to your hotel bed.

Adding Hotel Style & Ambiance to Your Bed

Add accent pillows. Invest in a few different shapes and styles of pillows. Create variety with feather and down, down-alternative, and boudoir pillows. Hotels offer a range of pillow types to give you the freedom to choose and an ultra-plush experience. Limit yourself to 5 pillows, which makes for a good balance without overdoing it. You can also add a selection of quilts to choose from so that you reach maximum hotel-level comfort and style.

Stick to a color scheme for your bedding. If you really want to make your bed look like a hotel, all-white bedding is the way to go. White is a symbol of luxury and relaxation, and it looks clean and sophisticated. However, not everyone likes the harshness of white bedding, and it can be challenging to keep clean. Choose another relaxing color or palette for your bedroom decor. Try soft blues and greens, light pinks, warm neutral browns, or even a cool-toned gray. The most important rule when designing a bed in the hotel style is to stick to a relatively monochromatic color scheme without any loud or clashing patterns.

Add warm lighting and relaxing aromas. When it’s time for bed, dim the lights. Light a candle or turn on an aroma diffuser with calming scents like lavender or rose. Then, slowly pull back the sheets and enjoy the crisp, inviting fabric as you slip into bed. Remove any blue light sources, like your phone, tablet, computer, or television. You’ve been diligent and done a lot of hard work to make your bed look neat and inviting. Make going to bed a ritual that allows you to enjoy your efforts!

Hygiene & Comfort Tips for Hotel Beds

Invest in a high-quality mattress. A great mattress will give you that floating-on-a-cloud sleeping experience that you usually only find in hotels. Try out different mattresses and find one that’s right for you, whether it’s foam, feather, or adjustable. Keep your mattress clean by using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum. Deep clean your mattress approximately every six months. This is also a good time to flip or rotate your mattress. Add a mattress protector and mattress topper to keep your mattress extra clean and bouncy.

Use hotel-quality sheets and pillowcases. Measure your bed and buy the right-sized bedding for your mattress, such as Queen-size bedding for a Queen-sized bed. Choose a duvet or comforter based on your weight preference, although hotels typically use a medium-weight feather down comforter. Choose sheets with at least a 300 thread count or higher. Premium sheets generally run between 500 and 800 thread counts. When looking for sheets and pillowcases, pure 100% Egyptian cotton sheets are the softest and most expensive. However, most hotel beds use cotton sateen bedding sets, which are soft, breathable, and more affordable.

Keep your bedding clean and crisp. Wash your sheets at least once every two weeks with hot water, and even more if you live in a warm climate or let pets sleep in your bed. Other bedding items—like pillowcases and comforters—can be washed every six months. Iron your bedding to get rid of any wrinkles and creases. Alternatively, try some strategies to dry your bed sheets without wrinkles. Make sure that any creases on your sheets run vertically. Clean bedding will make your bed look crisp and help you feel refreshed.