Bedding Tips For Traditional Bedrooms

There are many different traditional looks that can bring a touch of time-honoured warmth to a bedroom, from a classic country cottage style that emphasises space, unfussy practicality and pale, natural wood tones to a more opulent feel, with flowing curtains, dark-stained furniture and luxurious soft furnishings, and if you're redesigning your bedroom, you'll want to make sure that you choose the right bedding to really get the look that you're after.

Bed dressing can have a dramatic effect on a room - Even the most beautifully designed four poster bed will seem lacking without a sumptuous bed covering.

This room uses bedding for a hazy, relaxed feel

Start with the duvet, as this will be a very personal choice that reflects the way you like to sleep. If you like to snuggle up in bed under a thick blanket, there's nothing warmer than Siberian goose down, although this can be a bit heavy for the summer months. One solution is to get an 'All-seasons' duvet- essentially this is two duvets, one four tog and one eight tog connected with buttons to make one thick twelve tog duvet. This allows three levels of warmth and should keep you cosy and comfy all the year round.

Next it's time to select your duvet cover. For maximum comfort go for fine Egyptian cotton in the design of your choice, although it's best to make sure that you pick a pattern that accentuates the style of your room, and for traditional bedrooms, there are many options. You can go for the full traditional valance, sheet, duvet cover and blanket/throw look, with carefully matched fabrics creating a sumptuous and opulent look. If you want the look but want to keep it simple, then go for a full set in white cotton, which is perfect for a spacious, airy cottage bedroom feel.

If your bed, wardrobe and other items of bedroom furniture are made of solid wood, it's a good idea to choose colours that reflect the natural qualities of the wood. Order fabric samples and hold them up to the timber to see how well the fabric can enhance your furniture's appearance.

If you need some more inspiration, check out this great feature from channel4.com