Design: Winter bedding

Layering a bed in the winter helps you sleep the way you want to and deal with inevitable temperature fluctuations. It also adds comfort and makes you less reliant on flannel or lined pajamas to stay warm at night. You'll sleep more soundly and be ready to brave the elements when you get up in the morning.

Create a foundation

If your mattress is uncomfortable, you can instantly make it warmer and more plush with the addition of a featherbed. A featherbed is fitted to the top of your mattress under the bottom sheet and is filled with down or a down alternative. It creates a cushioning warmth around your body - so important if you have a sleep partner who pulls on the covers. If you don't like heavy covers, this foundation layer will help insulate your body without all that weight.

Select the right sheets

In colder climates, many choose flannel or jersey sheets. However, these cozy fabrics enable you to use less top covering no matter the climate. Perhaps more important, soft jersey or flannel sheets eliminate cold sheet shock when you get into bed. Standard sheets, such as percale, also lock in the cold longer, making the time is takes to warm up an icy bed seem like an eternity.

Layer the warmth

After selecting a soft, warm sheet, a top blanket or bedspread is the next layer. Having a blanket or thin bedspread will enable you to leave a heavier blanket toward the foot of the bed. Many people don't like a big, thick blanket around their faces or heads and find that their legs and feet are more likely to get cold. Having this layer gives you the option to zone your warmth for the way you like to sleep.

Choose down

Without a doubt, down is the best choice for lightweight warmth. Its insulating power is well established, and it offers maximum warmth with minimum weight. Whether you choose real or synthetic down, both work well to create a fluffy cocoon of warmth perfect for sleeping in on lazy weekends. A good option for blending your comforter with the rest of your bedding is to use a duvet cover. This large pillowcase for the bed allows you to slip in a down comforter.