The “15-Inch” Rule Designers Swear By for a Perfectly Made Bed

I totally subscribe to the rule that it’s best to make the bed every single day, but I’ll confess that I don’t usually put much thought into how I make my bed. So many people have come up with ways to hack this process — but after discovering what I’m calling the “15-inch” rule, I’m not sure I’ll consider another way ever again. 

The 15-inch rule is a handy little tip to keep in your back pocket when making up a bed because it makes the bed look so chic, put-together, and inviting. And yet, you probably won’t have to pull out a tape measure every time you make the bed. In an Instagram video from interior designer Loui Burke, the styling pro shares a few quick tips on how to get your bed looking designer-approved. And one of the first steps in styling the bed is to make sure your duvet and top sheet are folded back on themselves 40 centimeters (or about 15 inches).

My mother instilled in me that I must pull a duvet and comforter up under my pillows — so the idea of folding my duvet back onto itself to create a cuff felt very foreign and wrong at first. But after seeing the visual demonstration (and Burke’s before and after!), I instantly saw the appeal. First, your sheets get to be on display, which is particularly appealing if you love a good printed sheet. (Bonus points if you make the bed with a printed top sheet facing down so the print is up when the cuff is folded.)

The folded duvet also helps create overall height and fluffiness — especially when paired with a chunky throw blanket and oversized throw pillows (which Loui shares how to expertly install in a follow-up video). Your bed looks more like a cloud and, therefore, creates an impression visually of a bed that seems much comfier than ever before. And it’s also a styling move that many luxury hotels have copped to make their accommodations feel loftier. Who doesn’t want their bedroom to feel like a five-star hotel?

According to a few people who left comments on Loui’s post, making the bed using this 15-inch rule — as well as other tips like stacking sleeping pillows and adding a lumbar pillow — actually has changed their day-to-day lives for the better. “Not only do I make my bed this way now, but it’s also my favorite part of the day seeing it come together,” one person shared. Another added, “There is so much peace in this process. It almost feels like an ASMR video.” 

Of course, you don’t need to measure exactly 15 inches each time you pull the covers back to create that designer effect. But as long as you give yourself a nice fluffy cuff, you’ll instantly see the difference. Happy folding!