Textile defines bedroom style

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Buying bedsheets used to be simple, and the selections few. Now bedding offers higher thread counts, more design options with pillows and headboards, and enough brand selections to make crawling into bed a luxury. What better time than spring for an altogether new look in the bedroom?

A different color theme or pattern on the bed can help usher in the new season, says Leigh Oshirak, spokeswoman at Pottery Barn brands, a chain with several stores in the region.

"It's completely a design choice, but it's nice as the seasons change to freshen things in a way that's achievable," Ms. Oshirak says. "If you've already invested in a good sheet set, all you're really doing seasonally is freshening the top of the bed."

Pillows, sheets and comforters can be just as important to the overall presentation of a room as the furniture. Not to mention, a comfortable bed provides a good night's sleep.

"The holidays can be very heavy with velvet and richer textiles," Ms. Oshirak says. "You use a lot of quilting. We often have a lot of faux fur. When it's spring, we try to lighten things up with a light and refreshing color palette."

Cotton sheets with a 400-thread count or above are probably the most versatile, she says. The more the sheets are washed, the softer they should become.

"Some people find silk sheets can be a little slippery," Ms. Oshirak says. "Silky smooth sheets might be cotton with 600-thread count. Cotton at a high level can have the feeling of silk."

For spring, natural shades, pale blues and light greens are popular, Ms. Oshirak says. Each year, the company introduces new floral patterns. One of this year's patterns, the Marie Floral, comes as a duvet cover and sham. Golds, yellows, blues and greens are featured in the design. The pattern also comes on pillow covers and drapes.

Dramatic bold stripes are popular, Ms. Oshirak says. The Awning Stripe comes in red and blue on duvet covers, shams and cotton floor mats. The Courtney Stripe, a thinner stripe, comes in red and blue on items such as duvet covers and shams, bed skirts, daybed skirts, pillow covers, daybed covers and drapes. The stripes mix well with patterns and solids.

While a duvet cover is used on the top of the bed, layering sheets provides depth and breaks up the color. A down or down-alternative feather bed can add comfort. A silk quilt or dramatic throw at the foot of the bed is a nice touch, especially because two people don't always like the same temperature, she says.