5 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Making Their Bed

While it may seem pointless, making your bed each morning is one of the best things you can do to start your day off the right way. You've likely heard this advice countless times, but there's a reason it's so highly recommended. While there isn't any scientific proof that making your bed impacts your life in a positive way, Today notes that the simple task is important for establishing good habits and stimulating productivity first thing in the morning.

The process of making your bed is also very intentional and personal, allowing you to slow down and set the pace of your day while you wake up in the morning. While you may simply smooth out your blankets and straighten your pillows, following a dedicated bed-making routine can help you feel more invigorated, while having your bedroom look as flawless as a hotel room. There are likely quite a few simple mistakes you're making while making your bed, though. Keep reading to learn how to correct them and have a perfect-looking bed every morning.

The first mistake you're likely making when it comes to making your bed is not having all the right components for a perfect night's rest. While you may think a few pillows and a comforter is adequate, there are a lot more pieces that should be at play, each of them helping stimulate sleep, keep your mattress clean, and make your bed look great.

The first layers are optional, but they make all the difference. Per Sleep Advisor, these layers are a bed skirt and mattress topper. Bed skirts, also known as dust ruffles, go under the box spring and hide the underside of the bed. Mattress toppers are also optional, but not only do they make your mattress all the more comfortable, they also keep it clean.

Next is the bottom or fitted sheet, which protects your mattress from the dirt and sweat from your body. Next is your top sheet, which has a few functions. Namely, it separates your body from your comforter so you don't get it dirty as quickly. It also has aesthetic value, matching the rest of your sheet set. The next layer should be blankets, added as needed based on the temperature and your comfort needs. The last layer is a comforter, duvet, or quilt, which keeps you warm while adding decorative value to your room. Don't forget pillows, for both sleeping and decoration.

Pillows have multiple functions when it comes to your bed, being both functionally and aesthetically valuable. When it comes to sleeping, Downlite recommends using only one pillow, two if you sleep on your side. Ideally, one good quality pillow should keep your neck and spine aligned, and the other can be tucked between your knees.

Aesthetically, though, two pillows for each sleeping space looks ideal — one set for a twin bed, two sets for full, queen, and king. But what about throw pillows? While not necessary for adequate sleep, throw pillows add a lot to the overall look of your made bed. Having too few can make your bed look a little dreary, but too many can overwhelm it. There isn't a set number or arrangement, but there are a few recommended guidelines. For example, you should try and stick with an odd number of pillows, according to eLuxury. A larger bed, like a queen or a king, could probably get away with up to seven pillows, but smaller beds, like a twin or a full, should only stick with three to five.

Generally, you should try and wash your bed sheets at least once a week, per Sleep Foundation. That being said, your sheets can start to smell before the week is up. A great way to keep your sheets — as well as less frequently washed bedding like mattresses and duvets/comforters — smelling amazing and as fresh as possible is with a linen spray or essential oils.

Linen sprays are made of essential oils diluted with water and neutral alcohol, which acts to deodorize your linens and leave behind a fresh scent (via Sunday Citizen). They come in a variety of scents, but the best for your bed include lavender, chamomile, jasmine, bergamot, rose, vanilla, and sage, all of which have soothing and relaxing properties that can help lull you into sleep. You can also go for brighter, citrus scents if you want to feel more energized in the morning, but it may make sleeping more difficult. If you don't have linen spray, simply sprinkling essential oil over your bed and sheets will have the same effect.

Tucking your sheets may seem completely arduous, but taking the extra few seconds out of your morning to fold them properly really makes all the difference in the final outcome of your bed. The golden standard for folded sheets is the hospital corner fold. While the name sounds somewhat grim, it just refers to the crisp look of a hospital bed, but it is also how hotels tuck their sheets.

Begin by laying your top sheet out completely flat over your fitted sheet, taking care to make sure the fabric is evenly spaced on each side (via Mattress Clarity). Next, tuck the top sheet under the mattress along the entire foot of the bed, making sure the fold line is neat. Move to one of the bottom corners and pick up the top layer of fabric hanging over the edge. Fold it up to the top of the bed and leave it for now. There will be a triangle of fabric from the foot tuck — tuck it firmly under the mattress. Now, take the top triangle from before and firmly pull it down, creating another triangle, and tuck it under the mattress. Repeat on the other edge, making sure to smooth out all your edges.

Once you have all your layers properly arranged and your linen spray fresh on the sheets, you may think you're done. However, there's one last step a lot of people neglect that can elevate your bed from basic to hotel quality. That step is folding down the top lip of the bedspread to make room for pillows.

Whether you have a duvet, quilt, or comforter, you should fold the top few inches or so of it down, creating a neat line and plenty of space for your throw pillows (via Sleep Advisor). Thinner materials like quilts will have a clean, polished final look when folded, and can even be folded in combination with the top sheet for an even more cohesive look. While folding your thick duvet may seem useless, it will actually create a really fluffy, luxurious look, similar to high end hotels.