Outfitting a bedroom properly is something they no longer teach in school – since home economics is not on the curriculum one often may be at a loss as basic housekeeping skills are assumed to be common knowledge. A well equipped bed can offer years of service so it makes sense to properly outfit the bed from the outset.
Begin with a box spring and mattress; you may only have a mattress if you are using a sofa bed or futon but the basic principles remain the same. The mattress must be protected from dust and dirt and as such you will need a mattress protector, pad or enhancer. There are many types available and much like a mattress, they come in a range of sizes. Look for features such as water resistance, anti-allergen qualities and enhanced padding designed to meet your specific needs.
The next requirement is bed linens, more commonly known as sheets and pillowcases. These are generally sold in sheet sets; a sheet set consists of a fitted bottom sheet, a flat top sheet and one or two standard pillowcase. If you have a king or California king size bed, the sheet set will include king size pillow cases. It is possible to buy sheets individually but usually is more cost effective to buy a sheet set.
After deciding on sheets you will need some sort of bed cover; this can be a bedspread, comforter or quilt. Bed sets are very popular and the typical bed ensemble includes a bed skirt, a comforter or quilt and one or two decorative pillow shams.