The Laboratory’s latest design dilemma: how to hide the underpinnings of my makeshift bed and all the art materials stored under it? A bed skirt was clearly the solution, but the traditional route posed a number of problems. Classic bed skirts come in set sizes and lengths, none of which really fit my rigged bed. And since I envisioned a whole other bed in the future, it was very possible that it wouldn’t work for the new one. Not to mention, they are designed with only one purpose— to be a bed skirt — a box with a cotton top and linen sides that would be difficult to repurpose down the line. I was loathe to invest in something that would neither be great to start, nor stay great.

Stumbling on the Rough Linen website got me thinking about using a sheet as a bed skirt, and just folding it to fit my bed. I could change the size as needed, and a linen sheet could come in handy down the line for other uses: a table cloth perhaps, or a throw for the sofa (which is why they are such a great investment).

diy linen bed skirt dust ruffle 4
Sally Schneider

But then I decided it would be nice if the hem was finished uniformly all the way around, generally not the case with a sheet, which makes for a rougher, drapier look. On Rough Linen’s site, I found something called a Summer Cover, which was a large swath of fine linen, with a neat 3-inxh hem on all four sides.

I called Trisha of Rough Linen to discuss and found a philosopher at heart, who believed greatly in the multi-use possibilities of her linen products, that it is essential “to do what pleases you”, not just follow what is in fashion. To try the idea out, I ordered her lightest weight, and least expensive, Summer Cover in Queen size, which measures 105″ x 100″, ample for many purposes and bigger than the width needed to go across the bed and down to the floor.

The trick was to fold the excess fabric into a neat center crease. A friend helped me lift the mattress off its platform and I quickly made the crease, so that the hem exactly touched the floor on all sides.

diy linen bed skirt dust ruffle 5
Sally Schneider

The result was pretty swell, although if I had it to do over, I might have bought heavier weight linen. (Live and LEARN!)

diy linen bed skirt dust ruffle 1

But THE APPROACH WORKS well. It diseappeared my ugly trove of foamcore and other useful materials stored under the bed, and gives a sweet, crisp look to the room.

diy linen bed skirt dust ruffle 2

The bed skirt is endlessly resizable. It is, in itself, a beautiful piece of hemmed linen for whatever use I devise down the line, as life is always changing.

Related posts: rough linen’s clever ideas for tabletop + home decor
chic, draped + wrapped sofa = instant slipcovers
diy or buy: stylish frayed-edge linen pillows
reminder: you don’t have to iron or hem linen cloths

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7 replies on “diy instant bed skirt from a linen sheet or coverlette

  1. And the result looked lovely. It really hide all the unwanted materials and looked good.

  2. Great solution.
    For years I use sheets in all kinds of materials and colors as bedspreads, bedskirts and curtains. Works great!
    Thanks for your inspiring blog.

  3. Thanks for the inspiration. I finally know what to do with the excess of my grandmothers lovely linen tablecloths. The stains won’t be seen, only the best parts. I can sew together smaller ones to make duvet covers as well. This really got me thinking.

  4. Great repurposing idea but just you wait. We’ve got a post coming on a novel way to deal with stains.

  5. Your bedroom is so surreal. I absolutely love the idea of using a piece of fabric for a makeshift bed skirt and being able to use it for something else later on. I also adore your bed cover, where did you find it? I would love to add it to my collection of linens.

  6. Surreal? Hmmm. What’s surreal about a pink wall, a yellow mantle with no fireplace, tree trunks and branches…. (:
    The bedskirt came from Rough Linen. It is their Summer Cover, which was a large swath of fine linen they were offering at the time, with a neat 3-inch hem on all four sides.

    If I had to do it over again, I would go with a slightly heavier guage linen. But it is a lovely piece…would make a fine tablecloth or curtain…

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