Sweet Dreams

The right furnishings and an organized storage system will turn a too cozy for comfort bedroom into the sanctuary of your dreams. Try these undercover tips to make every night a good night.
 

Trade in a comforter and blankets for a reversible cotton duvet. Bed making is a snap — just straighten the duvet and your bed is made. When the duvet gets dirty, unzip the cover and pop it in the wash. To keep that just-washed freshness, tuck a few lavender sachets inside the duvet before zipping. When you’re ready for a change, flip it over and give your room a whole new look.

Splurge on 100% cotton sheets and pillowcases in a good quality pima or Egyptian cotton with a thread-count of 200 or higher. They feel heavenly and are more durable than blends. Two sets are all you need, so buy the best you can afford. Keep them tidy by storing sheets inside a matching pillowcase. If space is tight, store extra sheets between the mattress and box spring.

To avoid neck- and backaches, sleep with only one pillow. If you're a side sleeper, use a firm pillow that keeps your head aligned with your spine. If you sleep on your back, try a medium pillow. Sleeping on your stomach can create neck and back problems, but if you do, use a soft, squishy pillow. For a good mix of quality and economy, choose a hypoallergenic 600 fill pillow.

Keep bed linens crisp without ironing by spraying them with a scented linen spray and smoothing them flat while damp. Your bed will smell — and feel — laundry fresh.

Choose space-expanding furniture. Maximize storage by selecting the tallest dressers and armoires your ceiling will allow and storing infrequently used accessories or jewelry in baskets or boxes on top. Select nightstands with a shelf and drawers or convert small dressers into bedside tables. Reduce tabletop clutter by installing wall sconces instead of table lamps. Set a trunk at the end of the bed to hold linens and other essentials; add a pillow and you have a handy seat.

Find storage above and below the bed. Store bed linens in roll-out plastic bins under the bed. If your bed is low, buy risers from a home store to increase under-bed storage space. Stash reading material in a bedside basket and install simple shelves on brackets above the headboard. Paint them a contrasting color or edge the shelves with ribbon to make the shelves part of your décor. Fill with pretty baskets and boxes that add style, while giving order to accessories.

Rotate the mattress every month — you’ll sleep better and your mattress will last longer.

Banish sleep-disturbing dust by keeping carpet, upholstered furniture, Venetian blinds and heavy draperies out of the bedroom. Encase your box springs and mattress in a zippered cotton cover and use all-cotton pillow protectors to keep germs at bay. Clean with a dry steam cleaner to kill dust mites.