Do you make a “pretty bed”?

[Carrie12345]

Even though I make my bed almost every day, and even though I have a desk with a very comfy spinny and rockey chair, with all my beloved office supplies within reach, I still find myself curling up or sprawling across my bed when it comes to things like paying bills, lesson planning, house planning, surfing the internet, making calls, etc. instead of sitting at my perfectly good desk (which is right outside of my bedroom.)

I’m happy for that to be a now and then thing, but it’s more than that, and it messes with my motivation to get up and do other things.  I’m wondering if I were to make an elaborately pretty bed with nicer pillows and perfectly arranged blankets if it would deter me.  Like putting aluminum foil on counters to keep cats off, lol.

Does a pretty bed keep you out of it? Does a less-pretty bed turn you into a sleepy troll?

[Indigo Blue]

I like a pretty bed. I have a beautiful coverlet and pillows with matching shams. However, I also have a Persian cat and I like to sit on my bed a lot, too. So I keep the coverlet nicely rolled, stacked, and out of sight against the wall on the far side of the bed. So if I feel like it, or someone’s coming over, the bed can be pretty really quick. The every day comforter is nice, but you can tell a cat lives on it. The rest of the room is tidy so I can have it nice pretty fast. (Right now my bed has a nylon three foot cat tunnel across it. My summer weighted blanket is on top of it, covering one end of the tunnel. This makes the tunnel more dark and private.)

[hippymamato3]

I do because I love having my room feel like a sanctuary. I don't sit on my bed at all really. Maybe that's weird. 

Actually, the real reason I don't sit on my bed probably is because it's huge. Super high and super wide. I'm short. So at night I make a flying leap to get on the bed. But it IS pretty. So pretty. I love it. 

Edited April 21, 2021 by hippymamato3

[Pawz4me]

I don't have a pretty bed because . . . dogs.

I love my dogs MUCH more than I'd love a pretty bed.So easy to wash fleece blankets are what we have.

But I've also never been one to get on/in the bed except at night. Even if I nap during the day it's on the couch or in a recliner.

[stephanier.1765]

2 hours ago, hippymamato3 said:

I do because I love having my room feel like a sanctuary. I don't sit on my bed at all really. Maybe that's weird. 

Same. I want my room to be my sanctuary and it looking pretty helps it to feel cozy, at least to me. It drives me crazy when DH walks into the room to talk to me and then stretches out across the bed with his elbows squishing down my pretty pillows. I know it shouldn't drive me crazy so I never say anything but it does. I'm weird too.

 

Edited April 21, 2021 by stephanier.1765

[Harriet Vane]

An alternate idea:

There is something about working at a perfectly good desk that doesn't feel "right" to you. So change how you organize your supplies so you can sprawl somewhere while you work. A rolling filing or shelf cart that can pull up to the couch or the bed? A lap-desk? Another example might be someone who likes to spread out on the floor might buy a floor-seat and keep wheeled boxes of supplies under a couch.

The point is to set up your life to reflect the way you work rather than trying to re-train yourself to work "properly."

[marbel]

18 minutes ago, hippymamato3 said:

I do because I love having my room feel like a sanctuary. I don't sit on my bed at all really. Maybe that's weird. 

I don't think that's weird. I lounge on the bed sometimes, but I don't think it's weird if people don't. 🙂

My life is seriously lacking in prettiness right now. I would like a prettier bedroom, but I also don't like the fussiness of a lot of pillows. A nicely made bed with a pretty quilt and pillowcases that don't clash with the quilt would be enough for me.  

And, I think people should work where they are comfortable. I'm more productive when I am comfy. 

[MEmama]

I don’t spend time in the bedroom except to sleep so I don’t care what the bed looks like. I almost always nap on the couch in the living room. 
 

I'm actually not sure what would make a bed ”pretty” or not? I make the bed everyday, but idk what else one could do. 

[fairfarmhand]

I make my bed every day because if I don't make it, I'm tempted to get back in it! Yes, I'm a pretty bed person; I only lounge on it in the evening in my PJ's when I'm reading before bed. Most of the day, I only get in the bed if I'm going to nap.

ETA; My bedroom is visible from my living room, so I like it to look nice.

Edited April 21, 2021 by fairfarmhand

[Jaybee]

I do like my bed made up, because it makes the whole room look much nicer. But I don't have lots of fancy/extra pillows. We have two pillows with shams over the regular pillows, and a study buddy, which are all used because we like to prop up to read/study. I have always used my (made up) bed like an office, lol. I just straighten up the comforter and pillows when I get up. However, yesterday I was working on a study at my desk, which is about 3 ft. away from the bed. Dh came in and asked in surprise, "Why are you working at your desk?" I answered that I needed too many books for what I was doing to work in either the bed or the recliner which I also use as a workstation. 

[SounderChick]

Nope, don't make my bed at all.  I rarely go in my bedroom except to sleep or put away clothes and neither does anyone else. I don't really see the point unless your spending time there.

Edited April 21, 2021 by rebcoola

[Scarlett]

I make a pretty bed, but it does not deter my dog one bit. I even have a big, pretty, fuzzy blanket that I spread out so nicely that is 'hers'.  I get home and she has wadded it up and thrown it off the bed and destroyed the rest of my pretty bed.  

Sigh.  

[LucyStoner]

It’s pretty to me but not so pretty that I mind taking a nap in the afternoon.  🤣

We have a lovely light gray linen quilt and shams. I like it a lot.  

I don’t really go in for throw pillows.  We each have a firm pillow and a soft down pillow.  

With Covid and staying home, I definitely use the bedroom during the day more than I used to.  My husband’s WFH IT set up eats our tiny home office (dude has three monitors on stands) and with 4 people in a small space, our bedroom is a quiet spot.  I occasionally sit on the bed for Zoom meetings, though more often I use the armchair in the corner of the room. 
 

Edited April 21, 2021 by LucyStoner

[Scarlett]

1 minute ago, LucyStoner said:

It’s pretty to me but not so pretty that I mind taking a nap in the afternoon.  🤣

We have a lovely light gray linen quilt and shams. I like it a lot.  

I don’t really go in for throw pillows.  We each have a firm pillow and a soft down pillow.  

 

That is pretty!  I like the simple look too.  Too many pillows just stresses me out.

[Pawz4me]

1 minute ago, Dreamergal said:

For me, a clean bed and freshly washed is the version of a pretty bed now.

Yes! If it weren't for wasting water and electricity I might be tempted to put on fresh sheets and blankets every day. I love me a fresh, clean bed.

[Scarlett]

2 minutes ago, Pawz4me said:

Yes! If it weren't for wasting water and electricity I might be tempted to put on fresh sheets and blankets every day. I love me a fresh, clean bed.

Me too.  I usually wash sheets every Saturday or Sunday and sometimes on Wednesday I have to talk myself out of a midweek switch.

[Jaybee]

Too many pillows annoys me. Because it's put them on, take them off, put them on, with no real purpose making it worth the movement of on and off. (I realize that beauty has its own purpose, but I prefer the more simple look, personally.) Even on our family room sofa, we have only two pillows (one would probably do); they are regular bed pillows that I put in pretty shams. They serve the double purpose of adding a splash of color and coziness, and of being available for the person who wants a good nap.

@LucyStoner, that is so calming and pretty. While I make our bed, I, too, keep naps a possibility. We have some throws that I can easily use without having to actually get in under the covers.

[Jaybee]

6 minutes ago, Pawz4me said:

Yes! If it weren't for wasting water and electricity I might be tempted to put on fresh sheets and blankets every day. I love me a fresh, clean bed.

I probably don't change ours often enough, but the height of luxury for me would be to sleep on fresh, clean sheets every night. (I'm not willing to do that much washing and changing though, even if it didn't waste water and electricity.) It's one of the things I love about staying in a hotel.

[Spryte]

Team Fresh, Clean Bed here.  

I love a pretty bed, but for our room I prefer it to be a bit simple.  Something like @LucyStoner posted works here, too.

Ours is freshly made right now, and I just picked up a new comforter set that came with a few throw pillows, so those are on the bed today, but at some point in the near future I’ll decide they are too fussy and they will quietly go away.

I don’t hang out on our bed during the day too often, unless it’s specifically for a nap.  We have a couch in the bedroom though, and I’m often on it.  

I’m envious of those that can have pets in the bedroom.  Our dogs don’t come upstairs and I miss the days of cuddling up with a pup.  Allergies, alas.

[Scarlett]

8 minutes ago, Spryte said:

Team Fresh, Clean Bed here.  

I love a pretty bed, but for our room I prefer it to be a bit simple.  Something like @LucyStoner posted works here, too.

Ours is freshly made right now, and I just picked up a new comforter set that came with a few throw pillows, so those are on the bed today, but at some point in the near future I’ll decide they are too fussy and they will quietly go away.

I don’t hang out on our bed during the day too often, unless it’s specifically for a nap.  We have a couch in the bedroom though, and I’m often on it.  

I’m envious of those that can have pets in the bedroom.  Our dogs don’t come upstairs and I miss the days of cuddling up with a pup.  Allergies, alas.

Oh it has been quite the change.  This is the first pup we have ever allowed on a bed.  She doesn't sleep with us.... she has a cozy cave in the corner of our bedroom. But during the day she thinks the bed is hers. She still isn't  'allowed' on the sheets or pillows....but some days I come home to find the big sham tossed off the bed and she is curled up on my pillow.  Then I have to change my pillow case.  I keep extras in my nightstand for this purpose now. 

[lmrich]

I don't know if it keeps me off it... Right now my bed is white with grey pillows. 

I have a bench at the end of the bed that I tend to sit on more than I sit on my bed. I tend to not work while in bed so whether my bed is pretty or not probably does not impact me. 

My kids love working in their beds and they make their beds look pretty - just pile the pillows up around them. 

[prairiewindmomma]

Yes, I make a pretty bed. No, it doesn’t deter me from lounging across it or using it as a workspace. Workspace is at a premium here. 

[Tina]

Our bedroom was the catchall for 20+ years.  Now that we are empty nesters without a dog and are redecorating, we're going in for simplicity and pretty.  I know I'll read on the bed sometimes, so I went for a darker colored spread.  And the  three extra pillows I bought several years ago just 'make' the room.  Dh has even been putting the two fancy pillows and the shammed pillows back on the bed when he makes it.  And he's finally taking his shoes off before stepping on the new carpets.  Yes!!  It's only been a couple weeks, so we'll see how long this lasts.  🙂

Edited April 21, 2021 by Tina

[Ausmumof3]

This doesn’t work for me at all.  The more inviting it looks the more likely I am to crawl in.

[gardenmom5]

I used to.   didn't keep me off, but at least I'd put things back.

dh . . . . .  complained every day (at least it seemed like it.).   and if he mussed it up (he's been working from home for years), he never put it back.

I gave up.

 

eta: we made a home theater - and it has a lock on the door.  now, if I want to escape and be left alone, I go in there.  1ds even put insulation/soundproofing in the walls and ceiling.  isn't sound proof, but it does cut it.

Edited April 21, 2021 by gardenmom5

[J-rap]

I don't do a pretty bed, but my dh does.  That's because he is from a giant Irish family from the 60's and they were taught these things in order to maintain a semblance of order.  😄  

I'm never in my bedroom except to sleep, so during the day it really doesn't matter to me what a bed looks like.  But, I'll admit that it looks nice at the end of the day, kind of in a pampered way, to see it all made up with pillows and such.  

My dh enjoys things picked up and neat, and he sometimes spends time in the bedroom on personal calls and Zoom visits.  I can understand why a neatly made-up bed feels satisfying.  

I don't think it would ever prevent me from jumping on it and reading a book, though.

[Frances]

I only occasionally make my bed because I like it to air out. On the other hand, I personally only lay on my bed when I have pajamas on, not daytime clothes, so I never use it during the day unless I’m sick. If I nap, I nap on the couch. 

How about a comfy chair in your bedroom? Maybe it would fall between the bed and a desk chair and be comfortable for lounging, but not sleep or sloth inducing.

[Carrie12345]

14 hours ago, Harriet Vane said:

An alternate idea:

There is something about working at a perfectly good desk that doesn't feel "right" to you. So change how you organize your supplies so you can sprawl somewhere while you work. A rolling filing or shelf cart that can pull up to the couch or the bed? A lap-desk? Another example might be someone who likes to spread out on the floor might buy a floor-seat and keep wheeled boxes of supplies under a couch.

The point is to set up your life to reflect the way you work rather than trying to re-train yourself to work "properly."

It’s less that I want to avoid  working there, and more that I think it helps me get “stuck”, lol.

Based on the feedback, it sounds like the idea of making a bed “too pretty to mess up” is very hit or miss! Which means I probably need to suck it up and work on internal motivation rather than external. Yuck.

In some timeframe under a year, I’m going to have to officially decide whether our new office/school supply area is going to live in our downstairs “formal dining room” space or, once again, in a loft area outside of my bedroom. Dh is leaning toward outside of the bedroom, but I’m afraid I’m going to fall into the same dang habits.

[PeterPan]

1 hour ago, Carrie12345 said:

internal motivation

If you read articles on sleep hygiene, they say not to work in your bedroom. Now it's a thing many of us did in college, but it's not for good sleep hygiene and promoting rest. So I'm with @Harriet Vane wondering how you can capture what it is you like about the bed but doing it in another place. And then it's not so much about resisting temptation (haha) as just knowing it's not good for you and that you can meet your needs other ways. Like me, when I sit down to do paperwork, I like a BIG surface. Any time I set myself up with small work surfaces (like your "desk") I fail. I like to sprawl on the dining table, definitely. 

Where do you store your bills and paperwork? Are they being stored *near* your bedroom and that's why it's so easy to end up doing that? If you move the paperwork to another place, like that downstairs dining room, could you turn that into your sprawl space? 

I don't know, I drift in and out of how I like to store my school stuff. We built a school room but then turned it into more of a sewing/project room. Ds needs a much smaller office to work and we don't tend to store anything not being currently used in there. (clutter is bad with him) So maybe don't commit on some major shift you're not comfortable with? You could just make a small shift and move the bill stuff and create your perfect sprawling work space. Then if you like working or storing school stuff in there you could. But with the ages of your kids, they may not need that room. 

Edited April 22, 2021 by PeterPan

[PeterPan]

PS. You could get one of those microfiber/shiny throws that shows direction to put on your bed. That way if you sit on it it will look bad, hahaha. Really though, I don't see how any measure of pretty plump softness will keep you off; seems like it would only lure you on. 

[heartlikealion]

I think I need to leave the bedroom sometimes. I’ve done some work at a TV tray in the living room or kitchen table. I’m still trying to figure out the best method. Today I might go to the local library. 

I don’t like pretty beds on TV... they gave useless pillows and where do you put them when you want to move them? It’s just clutter to me. 

[Kanin]

17 hours ago, Dreamergal said:

I have not made a pretty bed for years, I am still not sure what is the point of a flat sheet. Yet my bed is the place I go to when I need some peace, a quiet moment.

 

Same here. I tried to use a flat sheet for a short period, but DH rolls around at night and wraps up like a burrito, so the flat sheet always ended up twisted at the bottom of the bed and drove me crazy. So, goodbye flat sheet! 

[Carrie12345]

2 hours ago, PeterPan said:

If you read articles on sleep hygiene, they say not to work in your bedroom. Now it's a thing many of us did in college, but it's not for good sleep hygiene and promoting rest. So I'm with @Harriet Vane wondering how you can capture what it is you like about the bed but doing it in another place. And then it's not so much about resisting temptation (haha) as just knowing it's not good for you and that you can meet your needs other ways. Like me, when I sit down to do paperwork, I like a BIG surface. Any time I set myself up with small work surfaces (like your "desk") I fail. I like to sprawl on the dining table, definitely. 

Where do you store your bills and paperwork? Are they being stored *near* your bedroom and that's why it's so easy to end up doing that? If you move the paperwork to another place, like that downstairs dining room, could you turn that into your sprawl space? 

I don't know, I drift in and out of how I like to store my school stuff. We built a school room but then turned it into more of a sewing/project room. Ds needs a much smaller office to work and we don't tend to store anything not being currently used in there. (clutter is bad with him) So maybe don't commit on some major shift you're not comfortable with? You could just make a small shift and move the bill stuff and create your perfect sprawling work space. Then if you like working or storing school stuff in there you could. But with the ages of your kids, they may not need that room. 

Yeah, it (wherever it may be) isn’t necessarily going to be a room where the kids DO their schoolwork, but will store most school stuff in addition to my stuff and household management stuff. I’ve been playing the upstairs/downstairs game for years, but in a much more compact space.  

Wherever I don’t put that is where I’m probably going to put “rec room” type stuff. In our family, that’s Lego, video games, novelty trinkets, yadda, yadda. I naively thought dh would be cool with putting that stuff in the insulated-but-won’t-be-finished-yet basement, but I haven’t managed to get him on board yet. 😛