When I’m not sleeping in my bed, it is always made. When I was little, my mother made my bed every morning, but when I was old enough to master such advanced techniques as “nurses’ corners,” the task fell to me. Admittedly, my bed was sometimes only sort-of made, but at least the covers were pulled up. Now, I make my bed before I leave the bedroom each morning. (Todd is always up and out before me, so if you’re picturing me snapping the sheets into place with him in the bed, no worries. He’s in no danger.)
The thing is, making the bed can actually be psychologically beneficial. (The doctor is in ~ five cents, please.) I really do feel better knowing my bed is neat. Neat bed, neat life. (Oh, come on, stay with me here!) This post, though, is about a technique borrowed from those bed-making professionals — hotel maids. (Is “housekeeper” the gender-neutral form?) How do they get bed pillows to stand at attention, even soft pillows?
Professional bed-makers coax pillows into standing so straight and upright by squishing the air out of them. (Yes, this is going to be a highly technical post.) If you like the idea of perky pillows, try this: Place a pillow flat on the bed, hold it in place with one arm on the outer edge, and use your other arm to press down on the pillow and slide to the other end (the one with the pillowcase opening). Do this three times, and your pillow will magically stand upright, at attention. This even works for down pillows that tend to slump.
Okay, let me be the first to admit that this idea may strike some as just too weird. Maybe it’s my personality type (on the Myers Briggs scale, I’m a solid INFJ), but I take pleasure in order, and a well made bed with pillows standing at attention not only gets my day off to a good start, but it gives me pleasure whenever I walk past the bedroom.
Do you remember the scene in Thelma and Louise when Susan Sarandon is preparing to leave on the trip with Geena Davis (not knowing that she’ll never return), and she washes the few dishes in her sink and sets them neatly on a towel on the counter? That would be me. (Though as to driving a car off the rim of the Grand Canyon — not really me.) Just try the pillow trick. It takes only seconds to accomplish, and it will make your bed look extra nice 🙂
Hmmm. Never tried that! I always make my bed too – but sometimes not until after breakfast (shhh, don’t tell!). I like it to be tidy and inviting and it is the easiest way to make the whole room look neater. I have a very floppy down alternative pillow that could use some attending. I”ll get right on it – right after breakfast!
I recommend blueberry pancakes with Booty Family Farm maple syrup.
This has never entered my mind before but now that I know the trick, i’m a pillow stander upper. Makes for a lovely welcome in the bedroom. <3