The Minimalist Bed: Monastic Bed-Making Is In—And We’re Here for It

For photoshoots in particular, King points out, a bed has a tendency to dominate a room, and depending on the shot angle, this large rectangle can get distorted. The monastic, minimalist bed helps with this problem. “The elephant in the room gets a lot more calm and quiet, not stealing the show,” King explains. “It also looks cleaner on camera.” Particularly on a shoot that does not have a soft stylist (professionals whose job it is to zhuzh pillows, blankets, sheets, etc.), this is a fail-proof way to make the room feel polished. Plus, King insists, “It works in any type of bedroom.”

To get the look just right, follow these steps: Remove all pillows from the bed, completely flatten the top sheet, then lay the bedcover flat on the bed, smooth out the top. Fold down the top of the cover about a third of the way down the mattress. From there, grab two pillows (preferably exact in size) and lay them flat, side by side with a small gap between. Pull them down to be on top of the folded bedcover, about three inches over the crease towards the edge of the bed. Lift one side of the bedcover over the pillows towards the headboard, then the other and smooth out.

From there, fuss with the pooling of the excess fabric around the bed, allowing it to hit the floor in a way that feels natural. If you wish to tuck the bedcover into the platform, King advises, styling with some bolster pillows and a nice large blanket or quilt at the end of the bed is recommended.