CREATE AN INVITING BEDROOM SETTING
COSTCO CONNECTION
Costco warehouses and Costco.com offer many bedding items, such as comforters (including the Calvin Klein comforter and shams, pictured above), as well as sheets, pillows and more.
Winter has surely settled in. I find myself grabbing a cup of tea, putting on my PJs and climbing into a beautiful, cozy bed. My bed is my oasis, layered with soft, white cotton sheets, a blanket and a gray quilt, and loaded with coordinating throw pillows.
According to Nancy Wildermuth, an interior designer and Costco member in Pennsylvania, layered bedding continues to be the trend. High-quality sheets and coverings take center stage in neutral palettes like tan, gray or white.
Comfort is key. And that means some form of cotton. Lexie Sachs, textiles director at the New York City Good Housekeeping Institute testing lab, says that when it comes to high-thread-count sheets (600-plus threads per square inch), “thread count should only be taken into consideration for 100% cotton, single-ply sheets. Any sheets that are blends [cotton/polyester] or microfiber [polyester] are not relevant for thread counts.”
Pima cotton, with its long fibers, is strong; closely woven percales are crisp. Sateen feels silky, while flannels are cozy and warm. And soft-knit jersey? It’s like sleeping in a T-shirt.
Naturally, it all gets topped off with pillows: Pillows made with feathers or down (goose or duck), down alternatives (polyester, silk, wool or cotton), memory foam (polyurethane) and cooling pillows (gels and water) are popular. Those who heat up at night might prefer a cooling pillow, while those with allergies might opt for a down alternative to avoid a sneeze fest.
One bit of advice from Sachs: “You can find long-lasting pillows made of all types of materials. Something to consider in this aspect are the care instructions. I wouldn’t recommend investing in a pillow that isn’t washable; keeping your pillow clean is a great way to extend its life.”
Be sure to add throw pillows. Designers love feather and down throw pillows. They look great and can be easily fluffed and folded, but it’s a matter of taste. Textures, such as crocheted or knit fabric, add a bit of interest. Wildermuth points out that accent pillows are a great place to play with pops of color. And who doesn’t love to play?
