Some time ago we emailed our weekly specials with a boxed-ended bedspread on it, noting that it’s a “perfect inner layer for triple sheeting”. That week we received many emails asking “what’s triple sheeting?” It turns out that one of the most elegant ways to make up guest beds isn’t quite the industry standard we imagined.

What is triple sheeting anyway?

In addition to being a great way to showcase to guests your clean, fresh and professional rooms, triple-sheeting is a hygienic way of making up rooms. Essentially triple sheeting consists of a base layer sheet (usually a fitted sheet), followed by a flat sheet, then a bedspread and a final flat sheet on top.

So, it’s just a duvet cover?

You’re probably thinking “So you’re just making a cheap duvet cover – what’s the point?”. The point is that duvet covers can collect dirt, body odours and various other nasties that no guest would appreciate. They’re also cumbersome to remove from duvet inners for washing, meaning they often get left on beds longer than they should. And you’re effectively replacing a whole duvet cover with a single extra sheet, which is cheaper to buy and much easier to clean.

Here’s how:

Now how do you go about making your beds up with triple sheeting? Follow these simple guidelines and you’ll have clean, professional and modern beds in no time:

1. Put your base layer sheet down (we suggest a fitted sheet).
2. Put your next sheet on top of the bed, ensuring that both sides are the same length and that the top of the sheet just meets the headboard. Don’t tuck it in yet.
3. Put your bedspread over the sheet. Try using a boxed-ended quilt, though you could use a continental quilt with edge-flaps for tucking in. Whatever you use, the top edge should be about 15-20cm from the headboard.
4. Place your final sheet over the bedspread as in Step 2, ensuring the edges are equal.
5. Take the headboard edge of the middle and top-layer sheets and fold back over the top of the bedspread, making sure to stop where the bedspread starts.
6. Fold again, this time taking both sheets and the bedspread about 15-20cm down the bed. You should be left with a space of 30-40cm from the top of the top layer to the headboard of the bed.
7. Tuck in the end and sides of the bed and add your pillows.

To keep it crisp and tidy, we suggest using the same sheeting for all three layers (the same as your pillowslips) and enhance this with decorative embellishments such as valances, cushions, bed runners or a neatly folded bedspread. Or you could use a decorative top sheet. Experiment and see what best fits your décor palette.

Click here to view our extensive range of sheets and other guestroom linens.