Since we were recently talking about changing sheets, how do you...

[Janna]

How do you put on the flat sheet? Of course that could be a question in itself...do you even use a top (flat) sheet?

If you do, how do you put it on? My mom taught me to to put the side with the design (even if it's just a frilly or lacy border at the top) down (the design is then facing the mattress) so it appears you're putting the sheet on backwards. That way, when you turn the top of the flat sheet over, you see the design. Does that make sense?

My kids hate it when I do this with their sheets because they think the design should be "up". Honestly, I don't really understand why my mom was so adamant about it, so I don't force the issue like she did. But since I was just putting my little guy's clean sheets on his bed today, it got me wondering what you do.

[Janet in Toronto]

We have duvet covers made of sheeting-type fabric so we just change those.

But when I use a top sheet, I do it the same way as your mother. Right sides together (that is, right side down on the top sheet). That way, when you fold the top sheet down over the blanket or duvet, you see the pattern. Also, when you fold the sheet/blanket back to get into bed, you see the right side of both bottom and top sheet.

Janet

[Pajama Mama]

Well, alot of our sheets are one color only but I always put it "right side up". I've never heard of putting them on design side down. Did your mom do this because she would flip the sheets over? Some folks "change" the sheets by turning them over--one week on one side, one week on the other...

Oh-TOP sheet--Man I need some more coffee---lol

[KH_]

I put the pattern side up (right side up). I *never* fold over my sheets to view them (with pillows with shams, etc.), so don't see any need to have it so the pattern could be seen that way. And my kids are doing well to get their beds made with the sheets/blankets actually pulled up and straight (instead of half of them hanging off one side), so it's really not necessary there . . .

[Excelsior! Academy]

We had to make our bed that way growing up. I hated for some strange reason, so I make mine the right (hee, hee) way now. Actually, I have some cute pillows that look better without seeing the top sheet. So I just make the bed, and pull the comforter over then top with pillows. Since it doesn't matter which way the sheet is I do it with the design on top.

[Paz]

We do not use flat sheets here because we all panic if our feet feel enclosed while sleeping. My kids inherited that paranoia from me. LOL!

[sdWTMer]

but, I don't force my kiddos to do this.

[Karen in CO]

I use top sheets, but NEVER tuck them in. I hate having my feet trapped. Of course the right way to put them on is pattern side up because I don't fold down the top sheet over the quilt.

[Amy in Orlando]

I do it the "right" way - design down.

[HomeOnTheRanch]

My mom always did them patterned side up. When they got a waterbed and the waterbed sheets were sewn with right sides together, she took them apart and re-did them.

I do them with right sides together, but I let the kids do it whichever way they want. I really don't care...it is usually dark when I'm sleeping and I can't see them anyway!

[Excelsior! Academy]

My mom always did them patterned side up. When they got a waterbed and the waterbed sheets were sewn with right sides together, she took them apart and re-did them.



That is funny!

[Stephanie in FL]

If I had patterned sheets I would do it the way your mother taught you, but for simplicity's sake I only use white linens on all the beds. They can all go in the same load of wash and I can bleach if needed and not worry about ruining the sheets.

I also only purchase white towels for the same reason. It gives the house that "spa" feeling. LOL.

[Daisy]

Yes, we use a top sheet and it is tucked in. Yes, I also put the sheet on with the pattern facing down (if it has one), but I like to partially fold over my quilt, sheets, etc. so it looks fancy. LOL.

[Mamagistra]

we all panic if our feet feel enclosed while sleeping. LOL!

Me, too! Foot prison: aiiiiigh! :eek: I still like my flat sheet; I simply don't tuck in the bottoms. :)

And to answer the question: I place the flat sheet right-side down then fold the top down with the bedspread.

[j.griff]

We do use top sheets, and I used to think the design or border should face up. It was my dh who pointed it out to me that if you put them on facing down, then the person using them can see the design better when they are in the bed, and it shows when you fold the cover down. I find it helpful to put them facing down now, because I honestly don't make my bed everyday, LOL. I just climb in at night and if I can see the design it helps me to know which corner to grab while I'm IN the bed, so I can straighten the sheets and covers. LOL, yes I am lazy, no I don't care. :-)

[Scarlett]

ALWAYS a top sheet....design up growing up, but once I had someone clean my house that did it design down and I like it. I do it that way now. But it is not a deal breaker....if someone in my house hated it...I'd not insist. (what is with all the dots in this post?)

[Melissa in FL]

I put the design facing up. When we make beds here the kids pull the top sheet up over their pillow, then pull the comforter up over that, on top they place their favorite stuffed animals. It's not how I was taught, we had to put the sheet under the pillow and then tuck a small part of the comforter under the pillow. But, I don't think I was taught till I was about 10 and here even my three year old knows how to make her bed (not that she does it daily). It was the easiest way to teach children at such young ages and it does make the room look neat.
HTH
Melissa

[Jennifer in MI]

Pattern facing down, of course!! That way, when you get into bed, you're sleeping with the "right" sides facing you. And, I do fold down the top part and I like to see the right side up.

[Sandy in Indy]

Funny how we do things 'cause that's the way mom did them. My mom never folded over the spread, quilt or whatever was the cover of the bed. So our sheets are pattern-side up. And my hubby hates tucked-in sheets, and I hate loose sheets. So...dh wraps up in a blanket at night and I have a twin top sheet on my side of the bed--tucked in, of course.

[JennifersLost]

I got in a huge fight one weekend with a friend over this (during high school). She came to visit and we tried making the bed together - didn't go too well!. She could not grasp the "folding the top sheet over" concept.

[~Tara~]

"Pretty sides together"
That's how I remember my aunt saying it when I stayed with her right out of high school. She cleaned condos and hotels. Private service.
That was the first I was ever 'instructed' in how to properly sheet a bed.

I just liked the idea so stuck with it. Made sense enough to me.

I use a top sheet now that I have the duvet..only one cover and I don't want to have to wash it as often. Would rather just strip the sheet, kwim?
I don't tuck.
I only fold down the top when I actually fully *make* the bed. Most of the time it's simply 'yank the covers up to resemble a made bed' I pretty much only *make* it whenever I change linens :)

[Gwen in TX]

I was taught to put the design down, and then it shows when you fold the top of the sheet back over the blanket.

My mom would be so bothered by it, if she came to visit and I didn't do it that way. She would remake the bed. It is a habit thing.

Now about the toilet paper .....

[Katia]

I also make beds with "pretty sides together", but it really doesn't have anything to do with how it looks when you turn it down, but rather how it "feels" to your body climbing into the sheets.

Personally, I want the "nice" sides touching my body, both top and bottom. I would feel really funny if my body was touching the right side of the sheet material on the bottom but touching the wrong side of the material on the top. Weird!

So, I'm with the OP. Right sides together, but do it for your body:)

[Mrs. Readsalot]

Wow I had not really thought about this. We use plain sheets so this has never been an issue. I guess we are boring that way. Our ds does not like a top sheet and does not use one. He does has 4 comforters though.

[Tracey in TX]

Pretty side down. When comforter is turned down it has a lacy, pretty side facing up. (My mom used to drive me bonkers insisting on this :))

[dirty ethel rackham]

I was taught pretty sides together. 3 reasons:
1. feels better when you climb in.
2. folding an edge over the blanket looks more finished.
3. folding over the blanket reduces blanket contact with humans. Thus, the blankets stay cleaner.
Okay 4 reasons: when the top edge is folded over the blanket, it creates a package for pulling the covers up. I is frustrating to be cold in the middle of the night and grab only the sheet and not the blankets along with it.

Just one of my persnicketies that drives dh crazy:)

[WTMindy]

This is cracking me up because my dh thought I was crazy when we first got married for putting the right side face down (like my mother did). :) I kinda thought I was the only one who did that. Now, if dh is helping make the bed we do it his way. If not, mine. But our sheets are solid so it doesn't matter much.

[GreenKitty]

How do you put on the flat sheet? Of course that could be a question in itself...do you even use a top (flat) sheet?

If you do, how do you put it on? My mom taught me to to put the side with the design (even if it's just a frilly or lacy border at the top) down (the design is then facing the mattress) so it appears you're putting the sheet on backwards. That way, when you turn the top of the flat sheet over, you see the design. Does that make sense?

My kids hate it when I do this with their sheets because they think the design should be "up". Honestly, I don't really understand why my mom was so adamant about it, so I don't force the issue like she did. But since I was just putting my little guy's clean sheets on his bed today, it got me wondering what you do.


I put the flat sheet on top, with right side up. Though some of my kids kick the top sheet to the foot of the bed and it's never to be seen again. Until washing.

[Mrs Mungo]

I put the flat sheet face-down. That way when you fold down the top you have a pretty edge. But I don't care how my kids make their beds as long as they make them.