Room for Luxury
Update your bedroom without redecorating.
By Shanta McGahey

Every year, the rebirth of spring causes a rush of plans. The longer days give permission to begin planting; the air’s warmth creates a desire for long walks and porch conversations. But even after completing the requisite spring cleaning, a house (especially personal spaces like the bedroom) can seem dull in comparison to all the new life around it. The temptation to redecorate may be strong, especially if the kids have moved out, but it may not be necessary. "You don’t have to change a whole room to make it look different," Reidun Paulsen, manager of Yves Delorme in Chattanooga says. Mere variations in your bedroom can make a world of difference.

Linda Berry, owner of Bella Linea in Nashville, says, "Our parents’ generation placed a lot of emphasis on the living room; the bedroom was closed off and essentially ignored. For baby boomers, the bedroom has become the most important room in the house.

"Our world continues to speed up and we can’t get away. The bedroom is important for sanity and serenity’s sake." With that in mind, read on for the experts’ advice on freshening up your sanctuary in a few simple steps.

Mix and Match. Summer is pastels and vibrant colors and clean white. It’s crisp cotton and cool linen and gauzy voile. So who says you have to choose only one color, one texture or one pattern? "Have fun with your fabric and get creative," Paulsen urges. On a casual bed, pastel and floral accessories and a quilted cotton coverlet can replace a down duvet and wool throw—turning a heavy winter look into summer country comfort. "You can even keep the down comforter [folded] at the foot of the bed. It adds depth and then you have it right there if you need it," Paulsen says.

Combine bold florals, especially big blooms that are currently fashionable, with a delicate plaid and solid; or cotton sateen with rich, pleated silk and an intricate matelassé; or nubby linen and crisp damask with prominent stripes. Combinations add drama, but Paulsen advises, "People sometimes pull in too many textures and patterns to make the bed look more full and then it’s too much. Stop at three, unless you have a lot of pastels." Berry recommends using the same rules as with clothing. "You don’t want the fabrics to compete," she says.

Accessorize. Paulsen and Berry both suggest the easiest way to spruce up a bedroom is with pillows. European pillows and shams, which are square and oversized, are the most popular among linen experts. "We love them," Berry exclaims. "They give punch and color and scream comfort. Europeans sleep with Euro-sized pillows and a lot of Americans are following suit. They are not only beautiful, they are functional and that’s key." Berry recommends purchasing four Euro shams. "Two of one type, two of another." Because of their shape, Paulsen says Euro shams can be used in a variety of ways. "Don’t be confined to seeing it as a [pillow cover]. It could be a café curtain or a table cover." In her own home, Berry rotates the Euro pillows from her bed, to the living room sofa and then to the guest bedroom.

Besides European pillows, boudoir, neckroll and body pillows create the opportunity to add more color and texture, again adding depth to the bed.

With options from chenille to silk and voile, throws create wonderful texture as well. Replacing a duvet or comforter with a throw and coverlet for the summer months gives the bed a cooler and lighter look.

Go for Quality. "There’s nothing like a high thread count, Egyptian cotton sheet set," Berry says. High quality sheets will last longer than less expensive counterparts and maintain their luxurious feel. Paulsen says, "Egyptian cotton is the longest, strongest fiber, so you can get more in a square inch," producing a finer, softer fabric.

Purchasing luxury sheets is not as simple as one would think. Some companies use "plied" yarn, which is produced by twisting together fine threads. For marketing purposes, they count the twisted yarn as double to create the illusion of high thread count. If a label claims a thread count above 400, the company is most likely using this misleading method. Besides, an Egyptian cotton sheet with a lower thread count will still be softer and more luxurious than a higher thread count sheet made from an inferior grade of cotton. However, according to Paulsen, if they have a lot of dye in them even authentic Egyptian cotton sheets can be course, so it’s important to feel the fabric before you purchase the sheets.

Finally, although Egyptian cotton is no longer only produced in Egypt, Berry says, "There is no such thing as Egyptian cotton made in the U.S.A." To avoid being misled, she advises purchasing linens from a store you know and trust. Moreover, if you’re unsure of how to create a certain look, luxury linen experts like Berry and Paulsen will walk you through the creation of a bed that is unique to you. Their services alone could be worth the extra dollars spent on the fine linens their stores carry, if it means creating a sanctuary atmosphere that brings joy every time you retire to the bedroom. After all, as Berry points out, "Your bedroom is the last retreat. There’s nothing like sleeping surrounded by beauty and serenity."