ESL Podcast 497 - Shopping for Bedding

to decorate - to make something more beautiful by changing it or adding things to it, often by making something a different color, covering something, or hanging something on a wall

They decorated their living room with beautiful artwork.

bedding - the fabric and other things put on a bed

We'll need to get some warmer bedding for the winter.

sheets - the large, thin pieces of fabric placed over a bed that one lies between while sleeping

How often do you wash the sheets in your guest room?

pillow - the large, soft thing that one rests one's head on while sleeping

If your husband or wife snores at night, try putting a bigger pillow under his or her head.

blanket - a large, warm, thick piece of fabric used to keep one warm, usually put on a bed

They use a cotton blanket during the summer and a wool blanket during the winter.

thread count - the number of strings in a given area of fabric; a measure of how tightly a fabric is made, where high-quality fabrics have a higher thread count

The best hotels in the world use sheets with a thread count of 800 or higher.

fitted sheet - the large, thin piece of fabric that one lies on while sleeping and that has elastic at the corners so that it doesn't move off the bed

Yesinia didn't buy the right size fitted sheet for her new bed, and it's too big.

flat sheet - the large, thin piece of fabric that one lies under while sleeping

Ali's wife always rolls over in the middle of the night, taking the flat sheet with her.

pillowcase - the rectangular piece of fabric that is open at one end so that a pillow can be placed inside it, used to protect a pillow and keep it clean

Becca forgot to wash her face before going to bed, so in the morning, there was make-up on her pillowcase.

comforter - a large piece of fabric that is filled with feathers or a manmade material, placed over a bed and used to keep one warm at night

I'd like to use a warmer comforter, but I'm allergic to goose feathers.

duvet cover - the large, rectangular piece of fabric that is open at one end so that a comforter can be placed inside it, used to protect a comforter and keep it clean

You don't need to buy a new comforter to re-decorate your bedroom. Just buy a new duvet cover in a different color.

bed skirt - the large piece of fabric that covers the bottom mattress and hangs down to the floor, used for decoration

They use a bed skirt to hide the boxes that they keep underneath the bed.

mattress - the large, soft, padded surface that one lies on; usually one of two on a bed

Foster's back hurts whenever he sleeps on a mattress that is too soft.

exposed - shown; visible; able to be seen or touched

While she was working in the garden, her lower back was exposed whenever she bent over, so she got sunburned.

tacky - ugly and unpleasant to look at; without good style, taste, or fashion

Lynn says it's tacky to wear socks with sandals.

canopy - a large piece of fabric that hangs high above the bed, used for decoration and/or to keep insects away

Canopies are good for beds in castles and palaces, but not in regular homes.

to draw the line - to identify the limit of something, indicating that one will not do or have any more than that amount of something

I've listened to you complain about your job, house, and friends for hours, but I draw the line at listening to you complain about your husband.