Spring is a great time to freshen your bedroom and get it back to the serene place of refuge that it is intended to be. If you are anything like I am, your bedroom is much more an office/storage space/electronic haven/occasional laundry hamper than it is a refuge. However, there is much to be said for concentrating on creating a bedroom where you can actually relax…and sleep! The easiest way to get your bedroom back in control and make it a place that you will enjoy, instead of just tolerate, is to concentrate on how you have made your bed. For spring and summer especially, I suggest a neutral palette (not necessarily white) that will lend itself to re-creation and redesign easily. If you start with ivory-based or taupe-based duvet and shams you are not committed to a color scheme and can frequently change your accent pillows or add a beautiful throw to change the look of your bed.
The quality of your linens is very important. If you are going to skimp anywhere, consider doing it on your accents. Also, do not be fooled by thread count claims! The most important thing about cotton is the type of cotton. The cotton should be either Egyptian or Pima and should be the long-staple variety (this refers to the length of the cotton fiber). To learn more about thread counts and cotton types, visit Yves Delorme’s site at http://www.yvesdelorme.com/page/article_beyond_thread_count/.
Egyptian cotton sheets, with a thread count of at least 200, and beautifully made duvets and shams will last much longer and will withstand cleaning. We suggest Legacy, Yves Delorme, Mystic Valley Traders, and Ann Gish linens. These are all available to the trade but many of them are also sold at boutiques across the country. Ann Gish knows how to assemble a beautiful 
bed and her attention to detail is masterful. However, a full Ann Gish bed will set you back a few. Legacy and Mystic Valley Traders are more affordable. For accents, you cannot go wrong with a pillow or two from Ankasa, a company founded by a husband and wife team who have sourced and designed couture fabrics for the likes of Escada, Oscar De la Renta, and Vera Wang.
If a new, beautiful set of linens and pillows is not in your current budget, do not dismay. Most importantly, as our mothers have always told us, make your bed every day. Even a beautifully dressed bed looks frumpy unmade. Put a pretty vase of tulips on your nightstand and realize that your bed is a place for rest (not a place for your laptop, bills, etc.) and you are one step closer to your ultimate sanctuary.
For more information, please contact Alexandra at alexandra@gibsondesigngroup.net. She or any of the Gibson Design Group team would be happy to answer any of your questions.
Also, for more information about the resources listed above, please visit the respective company’s website.
Legacy Home- http://www.legacylinens.com/
Yves Delorme- http://www.yvesdelorme.com/
Mystic Valley Traders- http://www.mvtbedding.com/
Ann Gish- http://www.anngish.com/
Ankasa- http://www.ankasa.com/
