How to Make a Bed
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
I’ll never forget the first time I met my friend and former roommate, Kristin. (Hi KMS!) We lived in the same dorm during our freshman year of college. “Move in Day” was characterized by parents and students milling about, arms full, carting stuff into dorm rooms.
Kristin and her mom were arguing having an animated discussion about the proper way to make a bed. I won’t tell you who won — or who was right. But, I will share how my mom taught me.
Start with a mattress pad.
Want to save this post?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I'll send you time- and money-saving tips every week!
Secure the fitted sheet.
Make sure the corners fit snugly. (Wondering how to fold fitted sheets when they’re not in use?)
Place the flat sheet.
This may be cause for some debate. But, if you place the right sides (the printed sides) together, then you will see the decoration when you get into bed. Tuck in the sides and foot of the sheet under the mattress.
Spread comforter over flat sheet.
Fold the excess flat sheet over the top of the comforter. This gives it a nice, smooth finish.
Don’t forget to teach your kids!
This little guy, at 6, can’t quite swing the bed making process on his own, but I make him stick around while I “help” him. This works for me.
I make my bed similar. I do not tuck in the top sheet on the sides or the bottom . I can’t stand getting in a tight bed! I like it all loose. I just have a king size quilt (our “comforter”) on a queen sized bed so it hangs long enough to cover the sheet on the bottom and sides. I also don’t fold the top sheet down over it. I just cover it all with pillows!
How funny! I just did a blog post over the weekend about how to make a bed. I’m pretty type A when it comes to bedmaking.
Printed sides together, top hem folded over the quilt, hospital corners. My boys (10, 7, 5) all know how to make a bed the “proper” way.
While we parents use this more traditional method, our son adamently prefers the “no top sheet” approach and loves the texture of his blankets, which of course get washed more often… but there’s usually nothing left to make the bed with, because he usually gets out of bed and wears the blanket wrapped around him through breakfast and the early part of his day. Sometimes even in the car on the way to school! I’ve chosen not to fight this one…
I’m bad, the only time I make the bed is after washing the sheets!
No top sheet for my daughter. It always ended up shoved at the bottom of the bed. She likes it better, too. All she has to do is pull up her duvet cover and she is done. I think we will do that for my son once he gets to the point of having a big boy bed. I personally prefer a top sheet, though.
After a not so fun discussion w/ my 9yr old about how to make a bed and many mornings of finding the top sheet stuffed down to the bottom of my 7yr old’s bed, I am thinking of going to the duvet cover method which I personally loved, but could not convince my husband to love. First, my 9yr old will be reading this tutorial. I think she’ll take it better from Fishmama than me!
Well when I was in my 20’s, I lived in Texas and worked as a certified nursing assistant and to earn m certificate I was tested on how to make a bed. I scored a perfect 10.
I’m going to have to dissagree and say that I put the pretty side up. Sorry but I just like it better and I think that the side without the design is smoother. But, mostly I use solid colored sheets so it’s really not a big deal. Also, I just started making my 3 yr. old make her bed and eventhough it’s not perfect I can live with it and it gives her great confidence.
We are also anti-top sheet. We all have duvets, so all you have to do to make the bed in the morning is smooth the bottom sheet (or the “grippy” sheet as we call it ;-)) and then fluff out the duvet. My kids are getting better about it, but I still have to remind them frequently.
I personally don’t care if the designs go together or not, but CANNOT tolerate the “excess sheet” thing. I do not enjoy having the excess at the top. I sleep with the covers up under my chin and for some reason this irritates me to no end. I’ve even been known to remake a hotel bed that has the flat sheet excess folded down! Obsessive? Who, me? Nah!!
@Laura, I’m laughing… because I am equally compulsive that my sheet has excess to tuck nicely over the blanket, so that the blanket stays clean, and any sweat and drool (it happens occasionally) goes on the sheet. 🙂 I’m always tugging my husbands side over the top, as he doesn’t care, and lets his blanket get exposed. (Eeek! lol.)