The Pillow Etiquette in Making Beds

Pillows serve dual purposes--functionality and design.

Pillows are necessary for a comfortable night's sleep and proper bedroom presentation. A polished and professional look can be accomplished on a well-made bed if attention is paid to the pillows. To ensure your pillows are presented correctly, careful thought must be put into pillow choice, maintenance and display.

Types

There are pillows intended for sleep and pillows used for decoration. Pillows used for sleep should span the width of the head of the bed. Two pillows will be used if the bed is larger than a single.

Throw pillows are for used decorative appeal. Most home and decor stores showcase a vast selection of fabrics, colors and textures for throw pillows. Use your creativity in selecting pillows to match and accent the room where they'll be used.

Considerations

Pillows are filled with down, feathers or synthetic foam materials. Down and feather pillows have a longer lifespan, lasting five to 10 years. Foam pillows last one to two years before they need to be replaced, according to "Country Living" magazine. Synthetic pillows, often selected due to ease of laundering, have fewer irritants for allergy sufferers.

Pillow firmness is an individual preference. Partiality is related to a person's habitual sleep position. "Country Living" notes that "side sleepers need firm support, medium is just right for back sleepers, while stomach sleepers require a softer pillow."

Maintenance

Pillows should be washed at least twice a year, and pillow covers once a month, Apartment Therapy advises. Be sure to check care labels on the pillows for water temperature and machine cycle requisites. Use the maximum temperatures recommended in the washing cycle to kill bacteria. Check pillows for stains after removing covers. Apply stain remover to discolorations. Run pillows through the rinse cycle twice to make sure there's no soap residue to detract from pillow softness. Add two clean tennis balls to the dryer along with pillows to fluff while drying.

Preparation

Insert the clean pillows into laundered pillow cases. Housekeeping Channel advises avoiding the commonly used maneuver of grasping the pillow under your chin while inserting into pillow case. This puts the freshly laundered pillow at risk of being soiled by oils or perfumes. Fluff the pillows with a few hearty thwacks to make them look soft and inviting, before running your hand over the pillow cases to smooth the fabric.

Presentation

Now the pillows are ready to be placed on the made bed. Place pillows for sleeping at the head of the bed, propped against the headboard. While it is acceptable to have only one set of sleep pillows on the bed, remember that pillow firmness preference varies. A thoughtful host will have a second set of sleeping pillows on the bed. This second, slightly smaller set of pillows will be stacked vertically, in front of the back row pillows. A few carefully selected throw pillows will be placed at the front to complete the pillow presentation.

References

• Country Living: How to Make The Most Comfortable Bed
• Apartment Therapy: How To Wash Your Pillows (from Martha Stewart Living)
• Housekeeping Channel: The Finer Points of Bed Making

Resources

• Better Homes and Gardens: Pile on the Pillows
• Style at Home: How to Make a Bed