How to Layer a Bed: Jennie's Formula for Queen and King

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and some pieces Jennie has shared came from brand partnerships, including gifted products or paid collaborations. This post includes a paid partnership with Quince. Our full disclosure.

To layer a bed, build from the mattress up: fitted and flat sheets, a lightweight quilt, then a duvet or comforter folded back so the quilt shows. Finish with Euro shams, sleeping pillows and one accent pillow, plus a throw at the foot. For fullness, Jennie puts two down inserts in one duvet cover.

That last detail is the one people ask about most. Below is the whole formula, layer by layer, with the exact pieces Jennie has linked on her LTK, so you can copy it for a queen or a king.

The formula in one table

Every layer has a job. Here is what each one does and the piece Jennie linked for it.

In Jennie's own words, from her February 2026 LTK post (a paid partnership post with Quince): "This is my go-to formula for a layered luxury bedroom look: Dried Sage organic percale sheets, a sand European linen duvet cover stuffed with two down duvet inserts, and the European Dream quilt set in Willowleaf for subtle contrast."

You can see the same rooms in context on Shop the Look.

Sheets: the base color

Sheets show in two places: the fold at the top of the bed and the pillowcases. Treat them as your base color. A soft green or a deep brown reads as a deliberate choice, while white keeps things quiet.

In the same Quince bed as the formula above, Jennie wrote in her September 2026 LTK post (a paid partnership post with Quince): "I started with the Dried Sage organic percale sheets for that crisp, breathable base."

Want warmer color ideas for the sheet layer? Our guide to warm winter bedding colors covers chocolate, green and cream.

The quilt and the duvet: why Jennie uses two inserts

The quilt goes on first, over the flat sheet. The duvet goes on top of it and gets folded back about a third of the way, so you see sheet, quilt and duvet stacked at the top of the bed. That stack is what makes a bed look layered and not just made.

For height, Jennie fills one duvet cover with two inserts. From her September 2026 LTK post: "added the sand European linen duvet cover with 2 down duvet inserts for that plush, hotel-style fullness, and layered in the European Dream quilt set in Willowleaf for soft texture."

Choose the insert by how full you want the bed to look. The Premium Down Comforter is one of the pieces Jennie linked in the same post.

Pillows for a queen vs a king

Pillows go in rows: tall Euro shams at the back, sleeping pillows in front, then one accent pillow. The width of the bed decides how many of each you need. This is a common starting point, not a rule:

Jennie's formula uses the European linen 26x26 shams in sand as the back row. In her October 2026 bed, she finished the front with a textured lumbar.

Finish with a throw

A throw ends the bed and makes it look lived in. Fold it in thirds across the foot, or drape it loosely off one corner. Chunky knits work well over flat linen because the textures are so different.

A bench at the foot gives the throw somewhere to land. Jennie's October 2026 bed has a chunky wood bench from Wayfair.

Three combinations from Jennie's own bed

Neutral: sage and sand

Dried Sage sheets, a Willowleaf quilt and a sand duvet. Jennie called it "breathable, neutral, and perfect for a modern farmhouse or organic home aesthetic" in her February 2026 post.

Color: espresso and sand

Dark sheets under light layers. From Jennie's October 2026 LTK post: "Proof that neutral bedding doesn't have to be boring!" and "The deep brown sheets add just enough richness, while the lighter layers keep everything feeling soft, airy and timeless."

Winter: oatmeal and faux fur

For colder months, keep the same layers and add weight at the foot. This bed in Jennie's photo library pairs oatmeal bedding with a faux-fur throw.

If you are refreshing the whole room, start with our weekend bedroom refresh, and check the rug size guide before you buy a rug for under the bed.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a bed look fluffy like a hotel?

Add height. Jennie puts two down inserts in one duvet cover, then folds the duvet back over a quilt so the layers stack at the top of the bed.

How many pillows go on a king bed?

A common setup is three Euro shams across the back, two or three sleeping pillows in front and one lumbar. A queen usually takes two Euro shams.

Does the quilt go over or under the duvet?

In this formula, the quilt goes under the duvet, on top of the flat sheet. Folding the duvet back shows the quilt as its own layer.

Do you need a flat sheet?

It's optional, but it adds one more layer at the fold and keeps the quilt off you while you sleep. Jennie's formula starts with a full sheet set.

Ready to build your own? Browse every piece Jennie links on the Shop.