With the dark nights and cold days, often we can’t wait to get back into bed. This January, take your bedroom from boring to beautiful with these styling tips from Jackie McLoughlin at British bedding brand Appletree.

A current trend in bedding is reversible duvet covers and mixing prints. This not only provides two options for the main design on show but it adds a fantastic additional feature to a bed when the top of the duvet cover is turned down.

Throws are still a great styling device for beds, but not too neatly folded along the bottom of the bed. The best throws look informal, casually draped over the corner of the bed. Neutral colours in grey, cream and beige are big this year and will suit a mixture of tastes. Adding a bedspread can not only inject a strong colour element into the focal point of the room but it's also a great instant update. What’s more, once you’re fed up with one look, invest in another…

Similarly, cushions are essential for a super stylish bed. But how many? Three is a magic number in styling, or certainly an odd number, and maybe stick to under six in total in a Super King or King and three for a Single. Mix cushions in different shapes, colours, designs and textures for a current look, and display in a non-uniform arrangement. On-trend metallics are a hot look for 2018 and will pretty much go with any style of bedding design.

Texture and layering is another key trend. The aim should be to achieve 'casual elegance' – layer up bedding and accessories for an effortless look that doesn't try too hard. This year, popular trends include velvets, patchwork and metallics.

Dressing beds is all about attention to detail. Small details like a button, exposed zip, piped edge or metallic foiling can add that extra layer of sophistication to bed styling. And what lies beneath is important. For the more meticulous homeowner, a flat sheet with old school hospital corners is a nice detail especially in a guest room.

You do get what you pay for when it comes to bedding – both in terms of duvet and pillow covers and the filled bedding. Go for the best bedding you can afford – it will not only ooze style but also withstand regular washing. Remember to give pillows and duvets a good shake before dressing the bed to even out the filling and return their plump.

The Appletree design team has created four stunning new collections, each of which has its own inspiring story and contains a selection of bedding products and accessories that can be mixed and matched to create a stunning style statement.

For more information, head to www.appletreeliving.co.uk