Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Pillow Talk


A rare photo of my bed when it's made

There are too many decorative pillows on my bed.

Well, that’s not entirely accurate.



I should say there are too many decorative pillows on the floor next to my bed: 3 euroshams, 2 king sized shams, 1 large square, 2 smaller squares and 2 rounds. I don’t make the bed every day. It takes too long. That’s my excuse, anyway…

Why all the pillows? Because I love the idea of a beautifully made bed, I just don’t like to spend the time it takes to make that idea a reality. I would prefer to have bedding that was less fussy, but I resist the change. Why?

Investment – The bedding is seven years old. Even so, it’s in good condition. It was also custom made and a lot of money was spent on it. (In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll tell you that my mom is an excellent seamstress, so the cost of labor wasn’t the issue, and my mother-in-law bought the fabric as a house warming gift. But the fabric was still expensive, and money was spent.) The matching window treatment is also custom made, as are the coordinating window treatments in the adjoining master bedroom. Then there’s the coordinating paint and accessories, etc. It seems like such a waste of time and money to redecorate just to avoid making my bed every day.



Coordinating window treatments in the master bath

But in the end, it’s just stuff. Pretty nice stuff, but stuff all the same. Perhaps I should make my bed every day. Then I could enjoy the beauty of a beautifully made bed.

But sometimes I think the things we want to own end up owning us. It’s a struggle for me. I need to simplify, and enjoy the gifts that cannot be bought with money. The gifts that are priceless.


30 comments:

Candy said...

Heck yeah, it's only 8 minutes of your day. Beautiful bed, by the way. Ever notice how somebody's else stuff looks newer and shinier than yours? That's how yours looks to me. Now put the knife down and step away from the pillows.

Glynn said...

We do love our stuff, no question about it. (So does the cat in the top picture.)

Michelle DeRusha said...

That is a beautiful, tranquil bedroom. I want to dive onto that lovely bed (and mess it up!).

But I do know what you mean...I wage a constant battle for my need for "stuff."

Heather Sunseri said...

Is the cat decoration, a pillow, or real?

Helen said...

Yep. Stuff.

Sarah Salter said...

You know, there's something to be said for creating beauty. It's a way to spread joy and sunshine and peace. The key with it--like everything else--is to find a balance.

(Feel free to come spread some of that joy & sunshine at my house...)

Stephanie Wetzel said...

I don't have any insight to add. I just wanted to point out that the screenshot from the video looks like a butt.

You're welcome.

Brad Moore said...

Well, there's something to be said for beauty, design, the artistic expression of it all. You could always scale down to a military cot, but I think you'd miss those pillows.

Annie K said...

Totally thought the same thing Steph did. That's all I have to add.

Anonymous said...

I have a plaque by my bed that says, "Ive learned in life, if I want something really bad, I need to make bed all week."

I NEVER get anything I want.

Anne Lang Bundy said...

That is one gorgeous bed.

Seriously, think about making it every day. Whatever else is a mess, the bed makes or breaks the bedroom. Mine is nothing as beautiful--just wools and cottons in warm colors to counter the Michigan chill. But at the end of the day, having the bed to pull apart makes it all the more inviting.

Then when finances are in the toilet, the day has been a trying ruckus of children, and my husband and I are ready to do one another in, an inviting bedroom can make up for a whole lot.

Besides, I think you deserve that picture just for yourself every day.

Helen said...

" I just wanted to point out that the screenshot from the video looks like a butt."
Steph RCD


Wait...you mean it isn't?

Candy said...

I didn't see the cat. I was too busy trying to figure out which one was a eurosham. So then I had to count all the pillows. And then I thought you could throw them in the bathroom since that would change things up a bit and they'd totally match. But then the cat wouldn't be able to see out the window. Unless he stood on the pillows and looked out the bathroom window. I think you'd better leave it.

Cynthia Schuerr said...

Oh my gosh, this is so funny. I used to be a stickler for making the bed every morning, yet in the past couple of years, I can't seem to make myself do it. It's such a waste of time. but, I cannot get into a bed at night if the sheets and blankets are all rumpled up. So, I end up making it before I get into it, anyway. Ha Ha! Well, at least I smooth the sheets and fluff the pillows. Am I a whack job, or what?

Great looking bed, BTW. Your mother is very talented. :-)

Corinne Cunningham said...

Your bedroom is gorgeous!
But I know what you're saying. I go through it now and then, purging the stuff. Sometimes it needs to be done...

Billy Coffey said...

I won't mention the fact that you have a very girly bedroom and just say this - I'm making it my mission this year to get rid of as much stuff as possible. That said, I can't sleep with less than two pillows, either.

Tony C said...

It's like a picture from the Biltmore Mansion!

I'd be afraid I'd come in, plop down for a quick nap and end up strangled by that pillow with the rope!

Jeff Selph said...

Nice. We're lazy. We have a fitted sheet, whatever the other sheet is called, and one thin blanket. When we were first married, we used a fancy comforter, but I always got too warm and kicked it off of me. Sarah was either suffocated by the pile of blankets on her or freezing, because I kicked it the other way.

Maureen said...

For Lent, you could try giving up not making the bed.

Unknown said...

I feel your pain. I, too, enjoy my things, but have no desire to maintain too many of them.

But when I look at your room, I think "No need to redecorate!" Especially if you really do like the colors and patterns. I took the extra pillows from my bed-set and tucked them into one of those zipper bags you can squish all the air out of and tucked it on a shelf for this very reason.

I see at least five potential pillow arrangements that would cut your day-to-day collection down to two or three. And you could rotate those in storage from time to time also. What a lovely joint gift from your mothers!

jasonS said...

That's a lot of pillows! I'm the one who makes our bed every day because I'm the neat freak and less clutter helps me. I only started making it consistently about 5 or 6 months ago, but I appreciate coming in to see it (seems more inviting than a messy one with pillows all over the floor).

Anyway, I also get your other point as well though I have focused my comment on making beds. :)

Bina said...

I so totally read this while eyeing my own stack of comforter/pillows/deco blankie... My husband deTESTS all the frillies of the room and I have to fight like mad to defend them...only to find that I make the bed IF company (that will make it past the entryway) are coming over. sigh.
Pass the knife.

Bina said...

PS - your house is beautiful.

I hate you.

:)

Marni said...

I was SO gonna say what Steph and Annie said. Snort! You know what Kathy? You need new friends. Mature ones even. hahahahaha.

I don't ever make up my bed because of the 4 king sized, 2 body sized, 2 regular and 4 decorative pillows on it. Plus a duvet and the down comforter since our bedroom feels like a meat locker in the winter. It's too much work. But when I do it, I log it in my exercise journal as "cardio".

But your bedroom is so pretty. Like something out of InStyle magazine.

Amy Sorrells said...

I love, love, love throw pillows, too. Our bed might be a close 2nd in # of pillows to yours (and our room is near that same color green, too!). Your bedroom is GORGEOUS. Some things are worth the work, I think. Not worth our focus, certainly, but worth our gratefulness and definitely worth the work to make a cozy abode. Sure is nice to come home to. Thanks for this post, girl!

Annie K said...

Billy's comment totally made me think of Steve Martin's line in Planes, Trains and Automobiles... "Those aren't pillows!" snort!

♥ Kathy said...

I think it's really pretty Kat..maybe you could sleep REAL STILL and then just pull the covers up in the morning :)

Robin Arnold said...

I used to have that many on the bed but decided I'd rather stay married. I hide fancy pillows in plain sight like sitting behind a vase on a bedside table, or on a shelf. I whittled it down to 4 on a queen size bed. Mind you my husband named his pillow, it's called Wart (made from crushed foam). I also have perfected the get out of bed last and kind of make the bed while still lying in it trick. I do make the bed everyday. I think I get yoga points for that if Marni gets cardio.

And, I so saw the gluteus maximus illusion they saw.

Michelle Potter said...

Could you use some of the pillows to decorate another part of the room? They could go in a chair, or like someone else said, on a dresser behind a vase? Just because they are pillows doesn't mean they have to go on the bed, and they might be quite lovely in some space that doesn't get used and moved around every day.

Anonymous said...

Your bedroom is GORGEOUS. And those window treatments rock. Just saying.

I have a bazillion pillows too. I think it's just something I inheirited from my mom. Lots of pillows. ;)