How to Make a Bed Like a Hotel

A hotel bed is mostly method and crisp percale. Start with the fitted sheet seated square, add the flat sheet tucked tight with a hospital corner, shake the duvet fully into the corners of its cover, then stand the shams at the back and lay sleeping pillows in front. Press or smooth as you go. The crispness comes from percale, ironed slightly damp.

The order that matters

• Seat the fitted sheet with the corners fully pulled down.
• Lay the flat sheet, pattern side down if you fold it back over the duvet, and tuck the foot and sides with a clean corner.
• Put the duvet into its cover and shake it out to the corners so it fills the cover evenly.
• Smooth the top, fold the flat sheet back if you like the collar look.
• Stand the shams at the back against the headboard, sleeping pillows in front.

The part hotels do not tell you

The look is percale, not a high thread count. Hotels use crisp cotton percale, laundered and pressed, which is where that cool, sharp feel comes from. Iron the flat sheet and pillowcases slightly damp, and you have most of the effect at home.

Questions

Why do hotel beds feel so crisp?

Percale weave, plus hot laundering and pressing. It is the weave and the finish, not an exotic thread count.

Do I need a flat sheet to make a bed like this?

It helps. The tucked flat sheet is what gives the taut, layered look. Every Kashukuma set includes one.

How do I get the duvet to look full?

Shake it fully into the corners of the cover so the insert reaches the edges, then smooth the top flat.