Breakfast in bed needn't be reserved for Mother's or Father's Day and birthdays. Nothing beats lying on some sumptuous sheets with the morning sun streaming through the window, and with nothing to do for the next hour. So why don't we do it more often? It's hard to make time for simple pleasures, but breakfast in bed can really set you up for the day. It's a time to take stock, to catch up with your partner before the busyness sets in, to relish some peace and to break with your normal routine.
Here's some inspiration to help you make the best breakfast, set the most beautiful tray and do the maximum amount of lazing around you can manage. All you need is a bed, a steaming cup of coffee, and just enough energy to make it to the kitchen and back.
A simple cup of coffee served the right way can feel like a total treat. Dig out your best cups, add an interesting plant or jar of flowers from the garden and lay them out on a fancy tray. Job done.
Everybody loves a hot stack of fluffy pancakes. They take mere minutes to whip up (save time by making the batter the night before) and look amazing topped with fresh berries, a dollop of creamy yoghurt and a swirl of maple syrup. Serve with tea, juice and a smattering of glee.
If you want something to impress the person slumbering next to you, arrange bright patterns of fruit, nuts and seeds on top of a bowl of oatmeal or muesli. A spoonful of peanut butter will add protein and a contrasting texture to the soft fruit and crunchy seeds. This is a treat for the eyes as well as the stomach.
For a bit of fun or added romance, try this loveheart eggy toast: cut out a heart (or any other shape) from the centre of some fresh artisan bread and grill one side on a hot griddle or under the grill until it has browned. Turn the bread over and break an egg into the hole, then return to the heat until the egg has set just as you like it. Spread the cut out piece of bread with some jam or peanut butter and serve it alongside. Eggs over-easy, easy-peasy.
If you've no time for cooking, some chopped fruit carefully arranged on a wooden board will lift a plain bowl of cereal into the realm of luxurious feasting. Add your nicest teaspoon, a pretty cup, a napkin and a finger-bowl of treats for the perfect finishing flourish.
Easy, beautiful and just a little bit special. Here's to lots of luscious breakfasts in bed!