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g n i d d e b

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O S N F E R

I E N L D G M I O A S F M E D at the end of the day,

E don't you deserve C S A N L G P I

S the best? K E R

D Y E S . Y E S Y O U D O . T I P S T O G E T A

P T H A T E X T R A S P E C I A L P U N C T U A T I O N A T T H E E N D O F Y O U R D A Y PARK PLACE DESIGNS 101

perfection

W H E R E I L A Y M Y H E A D I S H O M E

My husband would probably argue that I collect pillows as I'm super fussy about them being just the right firmness, height, etc. So I've tried pretty much one of each of them out there. Here's a breakdown:

Fill Firmness/Softness

Fill: can be either natural or synthetic. Different pillows are recommended for different types of sleepers.

Natural fills can be feather, down, cotton or wool. Natural tend to be softer than synthetic, but won't Side and back sleepers usually require a firmer hold shape. pillow to prop their head through the night, while

Synthetic are usually foam, , polyester, Softer pillows are ideal for stomach sleepers. and maintain a more firm shape. Unless you are sure of your guests' preferences, two

Hypoallergenic options are wool, cotton or synthetic. pillows per person (one firm, one softer) is a great option.. PARK PLACE DESIGNS BEDDING 101 MATERIALS

the low-down on bedding material

Cotton sheets--the and Jersey--the standard for cozy beds. snugglers

Percale is a matte sheet and is better for If I could stand it, I would have flannel sheets sleepers who get warm at night, as it has a all year 'round. I take a certain joy when the breathe-ability. air gets that bite in the air and it's time to is softer, has a slight sheen , and break out the flannel. holds in heat for cooler sleepers. Upside for flannel: the feel and warmth it Egyptian cotton is the way to go for sure, the provides. Downside: it can pill or even get ultimate in luxury. threadbare with too much use.

Debate has arisen over thread counts, which Jersey is another great option. It's like can be artificially inflated; a general rule is sleeping on top of your favorite perfectly that a thread count over 200 is essential, and worn in t-shirt. Super soft, but it stretches quality before quantity. Basically, you'll get with use and can lose shape over time what you paid for. An 800 thread count set of sheets for $20? You make the call. . PARK PLACE DESIGNS BEDDING 101 COVERS

under the covers

Comforters and covers

Comforters are covers filled with down Speaking of duvets, that's just a fancy way of or a synthetic substitute. If there's a pattern describing the soft insert that goes inside or design, it is directly on the . (you guessed it!) a . Usually it's a plan white color with down inside for Comforters are similar to pillows in that there toastiness. are different fill types and thicknesses. A huge plus of duvets w/ covers is how easy Natural (down) and synthetic options are they are to wash. Strip the cover off, launder, available as are hypoallergenic. Fill weight dry. Done. will tell you how heavy the comforter will be and coverlets while fill power will tell you how densely it is

packed. Another touch to add for guests (or yourself) is a throw or coverlet at the end of the bed. One option is to purchase a solid colored It's a nice way to bring out a pop of color or comforter and use it as the duvet, placing a add some texture to the bedding. Plus, it is cover over it. easy to pull up if it gets chilly at night. PARK PLACE DESIGNS BEDDING 101 PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

get it together

A R R A N G E Y O U R B E D T O P E R F E C T I O N

You know about all the pieces. Let's get this puzzle put together for your dream bed.

Let's start with the set. Two euro shams are usually sufficient. For a king, you can use three, for a twin, one. You can choose a classic neutral or go a little daring (it won't show most of the time). So get the bed The cherry on the top of your bedding bonanza is a made with the fitted sheet, flat sheet (or skip it for a or accent pillow. European feel) and pillowcases. are tube-shaped where an accent pillow Next comes the comforter (with or without a duvet can be any shape but is generally smaller. cover) and two shams. For a king size, get larger, Last, but not least, king-sized shams, for twin use only one sham. throw that throw/coverlet at The next step in luxury is the addition of euro shams. the foot of the bed. Euro shams are square and generally shorter than This is where I love the length of a sham but taller. to incorporate a really great texture. If your comforter/duvet is solid, choose a pattern In winter, the that incorporates the color and compliments the chunkier the cable overall look. If you've got a patterned duvet and knit, the better! shams, a safe bet is a solid color. Diagram from Au Lit Fine