How to Decorate Platform Beds

Platform beds are sleek, low-profile beds that use slats instead of box springs to support the mattress, and decorators often use them as the centerpiece of modern, contemporary bedrooms. It's easy to decorate a platform bed as long as you follow a few basic design principles.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Eschew the dust ruffle and ruffles of any kind, for that matter. Decorate simple, sophisticated platform beds with equally unfussy dressing. Stick to unadorned comforters and duvets in natural fabrics.

2. Stick to as few pillows as possible. Platform beds convey a spare, utilitarian elegance that mountains of fluffy pillows contradict. A couple of toss pillows look fine, but avoid overdoing it.

3. Choose solids or bold geometric prints for your bedclothes. Florals and other dainty fabrics clash with platform beds' modern simplicity. Think of your bedroom more as a calming oasis than an indulgent hideaway.

4. Have fun with headboards. If your platform bed doesn't have an attached headboard, consider a nontraditional headboard like one made of leather, a tri-fold screen or a mural hung behind the bed.

5. Consider a goose-down comforter or duvet. People stay cooler in their platform beds because they're closer to the ground, which is great in the summer months but chilly in the winter. Incorporate your extra covers into your bedroom décor by choosing a gorgeous sheepskin or boiled wool throw for the foot of your platform bed.

6. Amp up the romance factor in your bedroom. Many couples comment on platform beds' "romantic advantages." Heighten this element and decorate your bedroom with candles and dressing your bed in high-thread count sheets.