A generously sized duvet, perfectly plumped pillows, a smooth, well-finished duvet cover, a neatly folded throw at the foot of the bed and high-quality fabric with a beautiful drape work together to transform the space.
Upsizing your duvet, choosing breathable Egyptian cotton bedding and taking a moment to style your bed each day can completely change how your room looks and feels. These small touches create a polished, high-end finish without the need for a full makeover.
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Choose a duvet with a generous overhang to hide the mattress edges
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Plump and arrange your pillows for height and structure
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Keep your duvet cover smooth and well finished
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Add a neatly folded throw at the foot of the bed
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Invest in quality bedding fabric with a soft sheen and elegant drape
A bedroom that looks expensive usually comes down to the finer details. The way your bed is dressed sets the tone for the whole space, and a few carefully chosen touches can instantly lift the room.
These five bedding details will help you create a bedroom that looks more refined, polished and thoughtfully put together.
1. Choose a Duvet with a Generous Overhang
One of the quickest ways to make a bed look more luxurious is to ensure the duvet has a generous overhang on all sides. When the duvet drapes well past the mattress, it hides the base and creates a soft, full silhouette that feels hotel-level rather than everyday.
If your current duvet only just reaches the edges, consider upsizing to the next size up, or choosing a deeper, more generously filled option. Paired with luxury Egyptian cotton bedding, a larger duvet instantly gives the bed more presence and makes the whole room feel more considered.
If you love that hotel-inspired finish, you might also enjoy our guide “How to create a hotel-style bedroom at home”.
2. Perfectly Plumped Pillows
Flat pillows can make even beautiful bedding look a little tired. Plumping your pillows every morning and arranging them with intention adds height, shape and structure to the bed.
Start with your sleeping pillows at the back, then layer any larger cushions or decorative pillows in front, keeping to a simple arrangement rather than overloading the bed. A quick "karate chop" in the centre of each cushion creates that subtle crease you see in designer and hotel beds, giving an immediate visual cue of comfort and care.
For more ideas on building up pillows and layers, take a look at “The art of layering bedding”.
3. Keep Your Duvet Cover Smooth and Well Finished
Creased bedding can quietly undermine the look of a room, no matter how high-quality the fabric. Taking a few minutes to smooth the duvet cover and pillows, or lightly pressing the parts that are most visible, makes the bed look freshly made and well cared for.
Egyptian cotton responds beautifully to this kind of attention, with a soft, understated sheen that catches the light in a very refined way. Even if you don’t iron the whole set, focusing on the pillowcases and top section of the duvet cover is enough to make your bedding look noticeably more expensive.
If you’d like to understand more about fabric quality and feel, our article “Why choose Egyptian cotton bedding?” is a helpful next read.
4. Add a Folded Throw at the Foot of the Bed
A throw or blanket at the foot of the bed both adds warmth and finishes the look. A neatly folded throw breaks up a solid block of colour, adds texture and gives the bed a layered, designed feel.
Choose a throw in a complementary neutral or a soft accent tone, and fold it into a long band that runs across the end of the bed or lies slightly off-centre for a more relaxed look. The contrast between the smooth main bedding and the tactile throw creates depth, making the whole arrangement feel more luxurious.
5. Let the Quality of Your Fabric Speak
Sometimes the most luxurious detail is the fabric itself. High-quality Egyptian cotton has a softness, weight and gentle sheen that you simply don’t get from thinner, lower-thread-count options. It drapes beautifully over the mattress and moves with you in the night, rather than feeling stiff or papery.
Investing in well-made bedding, like Hampton and Astley’s long-staple Egyptian cotton sets, means the bed will look and feel elevated even before you add cushions or throws – the fabric alone suggests a more high-end bedroom.
If you’re comparing options, you might find our “Luxury bedding review 2025: what’s best for hotel-quality sleep?” useful.
Final Thoughts
Making your bedroom look more expensive doesn’t have to mean a complete redesign. By focusing on a generously sized duvet, well-arranged pillows, a smooth duvet cover, a simple folded throw and high-quality fabric, you can transform the look of your bed and, with it, the whole room.
These small bedding details add up to a space that feels more refined, welcoming and thoughtfully finished every time you walk in.
FAQ
How can I make my bed look more expensive on a budget?
Focus on details that don’t require new furniture: plump your pillows, smooth your duvet cover and add a simple throw at the foot of the bed. Upsizing your duvet or using a neutral bedding set you already own can also make a big difference without needing to replace everything.
What colour bedding looks the most high-end?
Whites, creams and soft neutrals often look the most elevated because they feel calm and cohesive. A white or off-white Egyptian cotton set, in particular, has that classic "boutique hotel" look that works with almost any bedroom style.
Do I really need to iron my bedding to make it look luxurious?
You don’t have to iron every piece, but smoothing or lightly pressing the pillowcases and the top section of the duvet cover can make a noticeable difference. The goal is to remove the most visible creases so the bed looks freshly made and the fabric’s natural sheen and drape can stand out.
Beautiful bedrooms by @our_home_65, @melody_in_style, @the_homeonvioletstreet
