English The art of bedscaping - how to dress your bed like a stylist
A perfectly made bed can dramatically impact the look of your bedroom and create an inviting environment for the best night’s sleep. Together with interior stylist, Sania Pell, we look at the art of bedscaping. From choosing the right bedding to adding visual intrigue through patterns and unexpected textures.
Finding the right accessories to complete your bespoke bed can prove harder than one may think. With an endless choice of textures, prints and patterns, it can be difficult to know where to start. At Savoir, we rely on the best experts to help us choose the right fabrics and colour schemes that complement our designs and champion the art of bedscaping. Stylist Sania Pell is one of the experts we have worked with on many occasions. With over 20 years of experience styling some of the most inspiring interiors, including those featured in ELLE Décor, her attention to detail and talent for fusing the unexpected are unparalleled. She has helped us bring to life some of our most iconic designs, ensuring they look as luxurious and inviting as they feel. Together with Sania, we have created a guide that’ll help you dress a bed you won’t want to leave, focusing on the key elements of the art of bedscaping.
Bedding down
Often overlooked, the right bedding can make all the difference in making your bed exude comfort and softness. Down and feathers have a remarkably plush and soft appearance, making your bed look irresistible. They are also favoured for their incredible temperature-regulating properties, which make them the perfect filling to choose for your bedding. A duvet that is slightly bigger than your bed will further elevate that feeling of softness, so if your bed is king size, choose a super king size duvet.
A calming foundation
Choosing the right bed linen comes down to personal preferences. Textural linens like high thread count percale, natural linen and jacquard all make a statement when paired with minimal designs. Softer materials, such as Egyptian Giza cotton sateen, pair best when contrasted against a more intricate design or upholstery. When it comes to picking the right style and finish for your linens, “an Oxford pillowcase gives the impression of a plusher, larger pillow which works well on a bigger bed and headboard. Cording is a subtle way of adding interest and smartens a plain pillow up, making it a sophisticated style statement”, advises Sania.
Cording is a subtle way of adding interest and smartens a plain pillow up, making it a sophisticated style statement.
The colour scheme
When deciding on the right colour scheme for your bedroom, it’s important to think about how you want the room to feel. Psychology of colour advises that delicate earth tones, as well as blues and greens, create a naturally calming and tranquil atmosphere. Bright and vivid colours such as orange, yellow and red, on the other hand, add a joyous and vibrant attitude to interiors.
While your bed and its accessories don’t necessarily need to match the room exactly, it’s crucial that the overall colour scheme of the room feels aligned. “I usually begin by choosing colours that work tonally with the headboard, and then add another contrasting colour to give a little more interest. It could be that a statement chair colour is linked back to the throws and cushions to pull the scheme together,” Sania tells us. “The bed accessories look more considered if they link to other patterns and colours in your bedroom. So, it’s a good idea to begin with these as the base, then add something that is unexpected either in colour or pattern, so the scheme is not too predictable,” she adds.
I usually begin by choosing colours that work tonally with the headboard, and then add another contrasting colour to give a little more interest. It could be that a statement chair colour is linked back to the throws and cushions to pull the scheme together.
Adding visual intrigue
Mixing prints, patterns, and textures can feel overwhelming; however, the key to finding the right balance is to work tonally. “Work on a sliding scale – begin with smaller patterns, then build up to larger ones. Blues and greens work well in bedrooms, and stripes pair wonderfully with both traditional and contemporary interiors,” she tells us. When it comes to finding the right fabrics, “Kvadrat, Dedar, and Kirkby are all of a very high quality and have fantastic colour ranges as well as a variety of modern patterns and textures,” Sania recommends.
Size matters
While bedding feels more sumptuous when sized up, accessories follow a slightly different rule. Sania advises that a mix-and-match approach works best when choosing the final touches. “Begin with two large cushions the same size and colour to anchor your scheme, and then add a bolster and perhaps a small cushion in a fun colour or pattern,” she suggests. This allows you to create depth and add playful, unexpected elements without overshadowing the design of the bed and taking away from its luxurious feel.
To find more inspiration, read the story of how our team, along with Sania’s unique eye, brought our iconic designs to life at London’s Pitzhanger Manor.
Choosing the right throws is all about layering. So, a heavier fabric texture such as velvet or knit may work best at the bottom as a base, then a lighter fabric with a softer flow will look best layered on top.
