A luxurious bed is an invitation to rest, relax, and escape from the pressures and hassles of everyday life. Climbing in between soft sheets just melts your tension away. It’s your oasis from the world. Here, we’ve collected our top tips for creating a beautiful bed so that you can enjoy the same bliss:

First, Choose Your Linen Color Scheme: Do you want all white? Pastels in a soft sage green with forest green accents? Deep jewel tones like sapphire or ruby? Is the black-and-white motif perfect for you? Or do you favor chocolate browns and coppers? Some colors may be more comforting and luxurious to you, while other colors might be a bit ‘too much. Get your color palette in mind, choosing a complementary range of lights to darks, judging for yourself just how much contrast in color and pattern you prefer.

Sheets: You’ve heard enough about luxurious sheet sets to know that 100% Egyptian cotton sheets are usually considered the Gold Standard of sheets. They’re soft to the touch, the ultimate indulgence. 
 •Select several sheet sets, color-coordinating, and getting different styles to suit the seasons, such as Supima cotton for the summer, and comfy flannel for the winter months. Here are just some of the many possibilities in the most touchable sheets out there:
   •Combed Egyptian Cotton, in a 500 –1000 thread count
   •Luxury sateen in a 100% pima cotton, for a bit of shine
   •Smooth cotton/silk blends
   •Satin charmeuse sheets
   •Egyptian cotton jersey sheets in 100% combed cotton (you’ve never felt anything softer! Jersey sheets are a top pick among brides- and grooms-to-be)
   •Egyptian cotton sheets with a faux suede cuff

Bedspreads and Comforters: The overlay on your bed creates the largest focal point in your room, so the design, shine and feel of your chosen comforter or blanket is important. Whether print or solid, matte or shine, this investment is a worthy one. A great, quality comforter or bedspread will last for years.
 •Select more than one for variety and seasonal style.
 •Reversible comforters might be the answer if you love change, with a solid on one side and a pattern on the other. One purchase, two looks.
 •Here are some other cover-up possibilities:
   •White goose down comforters in 300-700 thread counts, feather-light or heavier if you like a little bit of weight covering you
   •White duck down comforters, with a silk blend to the thread count for shine and softness
   •Down fillings can be filled in pockets to prevent down ‘bunching’ or movements
   •Organic and non-allergenic fillers to comforters if you have allergies
   •100% cotton flannel comforters in a great range of colors like hunter greens and soft lavenders

Duvet covers: The new trends in duvet covers bring the sense of touch to the forefront, with 1000 thread count sateens adding shine, and the following unique and hot bridal registry choices adding some animal instincts to bedroom design:
 •Plush velvets
 •Faux Persian lamb
 •Faux brown zebra stripes adding some zip to your chocolate mocha bedroom
 •Faux mink or chinchilla for luxurious softness
 •Microsuedes
 •Chenille and woven damasks for traditional styles
 •Silk dupioni for exceptional shine and smoothness, making your bed look like a present waiting to be unwrapped

Blankets: Add some extra color, a contrasting texture and a touch of class to your bed design.
 •100% cotton cashmere is ideal for luxury-seekers
 •Cotton thermals and fleeces invite those who want homey warmth and snuggle-ready blankets right out of a bed-and-breakfast environment.
 •Add in the warming element with an electric blanket or heated electric mattress cover, and that bed will be pre-heated and waiting for you.

Throws: Add another layer of touchable warmth and design with a single or double throw, such as cashmere in a smaller degree, faux fur, faux mink, chenille, a silk blend of 50% cotton and 50% silk.

Pillows: Before you choose new pillows to replace the same, old worn and flat ones you’ve had for years, learn the basics of choosing a great pillow for firmness, thread count and sizing.
 •Consider the best goose down or natural filling pillows
 •Specialty pillows offer extra neck support, contoured pillows for neck and back health, 100% cotton long body pillows to curl around, firm bed wedges and geometric shapes for design, such as circular or oval pillows, and cylindrical pillow rolls.
 •Look at textures like velvets, faux furs, sateens and silks. Today’s decorative pillows offer intricate beaded edges, regal tassels, velvet edges, and other touchable, inviting accents.

Shams: Throw some of those extra pillows you’ve ordered into beautiful shams, mixing up your colors and textures for the ultimate effect. Choose from 100% Egyptian cotton, plus all of the fabrics mentioned in the blankets section, for just a little bit more detail.

Dust Ruffles: These may be the most overlooked portion of any bedding ensemble, these additions provide an all-important finishing touch to your bedding. Without them, your comforter or duvet cover would just hang limply over the edge of your bed, not finished to the ground. You’ll find matching dust ruffles in sheet sets, or you can finish off your own look with sleek microsuede wraps, eyelet sateens or fine crochets for a feminine touch.

Canopies: You don’t need to own a four-poster bed to have a romantic sheer canopy surrounding your bed. Today’s canopy sets come with top loops and attachment gear that you can attach to the ceiling or on a circular bracket above your bed, giving you the look of a posted bed without the heavy lifting. With luxurious draping, lots of sheer panels, and golden or corded tassel ties, this is the crowning touch to your beautiful bed.

Sharon Naylor is the author of “The Ultimate Wedding Registry Workbook” and over 30 additional wedding books, www.sharonnaylor.net