Our edit of where to buy bedding
When it comes to bedding, our ethos is that it is not something to skimp on. The bed linen you choose impacts the feel of a room, but it's also a crucial factor in how to sleep.
Click here to go straight to our gallery of the best bedding.
What's the best bedding to buy?
Bedding, and what the best sheets to buy are, depends largely on the time of year. Seasonality hugely affects your sleep, so it's a good idea to have a well stocked linen cupboard so you can sleep comfortably no matter the time of year. In the summer, a flat sheet is a lovely choice instead of a duvet for sleepers who run hot (we also recommend a good cooling pillow and mattress combination), though if you can't live without the latter we have a round up of the best duvets here. This gives you the comfort of coverage whilst remaining lightweight. We think high-quality linen, Egyptian cotton, or cotton percale are the best materials for this. If you don't want to have endless sheet sets in your house, then you always have the option to add a throw or blanket, in cashmere or wool, over the top of your flat sheet. If you're seeking comfort and a good night's sleep over all else, we do recommend buying good quality bedding for the softest finish.
Our top picks:
With a stylish selection of designs and affordable prices that belie the great quality of the linen, Dusk is a great destination for simple white bedding.
What we're buying: Several of the House & Garden team own sheets from the 'Marseille' range in 600 thread-count cotton sateen. They are the company's best seller and feel like sinking into a cloud.
A classic destination for crisp white bedding
The White Company's range is mostly white, as you would expect, at various levels of luxury but all of excellent quality. After all, there's a reason the retailer is an evergreen affordable favourite. Subtle patterns and detailing add variety to the collection of plain cottons.
What we're buying: The White Company's ladder-stitched Santorini Bed Collection is particularly pretty and looks just as good in a summer setting as it does in winter.
The best for value
John Lewis is a go-to for house essentials and their plain bedding sets are reliably good value. Handily, their sheets come in an enormous range of sizes, from single to king size to super king, so if you fall for a style or pattern you'll undoubtedly find it in the right size.
What we're buying: Our stand out favourites are their 100% linen sets which come in a range of pale colours and are a must-have for warmer weather.
The interior designer favourite
French retailer La Redoute is a great place for a whole host of wonderful homewares.
What we're buying: Joanna Plant, one of our top interior designers, has a real soft spot for La Redoute's bedding, having been quoted as saying, "I’m mad about La Redoute…their AM/PM range is particularly good. I have recently bought properly heavy linen and hemstitch sheets for very little money."
Newly launched in the UK, Sydney-based homeware brand Cultiver has burst onto the scene as a purveyor of fine quality bedding, tableware and home accessories.
What we're buying: You cannot go wrong with simple white linen sheets, so the ‘Linen Sheet Set with Pillowcases’ would be our first choice. Made from 100% European flax, these sustainable sheets are the perfect partner for summer nights.
For high quality linen
For plain linen sets, The Linen Works is a simple, easy place to shop. With a small range of elegant, pale colours, it's easy to create a stylish and serene bed, and the linens also come with a 50 year guarantee, testament to the brand's faith in its wares.
What we're buying: We strongly recommend the linen duvet covers if you're only looking to invest in one or two bits.
The one-stop shop
We're all in favour of shops that make life easy, and the stylish online retailer Brook + Wilde is all about facilitating your bedroom shopping.
What we're buying: Their mattresses are already one of our top picks and they also make a stylish sofa bed, and while you're there you should definitely pick up some of this lovely, 800-thread count 'Sandringham' bed linen. Crisp and cool, this is seriously smart bedding with a luxury hotel feel, and it's good value at £180 for a double set.
The high street go-to
H&M Home is a fantastic affordable standby, and its bedding collection is one of the most reliable things it stocks. There's a huge range of bedding online, in contemporary patterns and plain colours.
What we're buying: While basic cotton duvet sets starting at around £20, we recommend going straight for their washed linen sets, which come in at about £80 for a double duvet set.
The best for patterned bedding
For seriously bright and patterned bedding on the high street (albeit at the pricier end), Anthropologie is the place to be. Perfect for teenagers' rooms, these bold designs will liven up any space and make the bed the centrepiece of the room.
What we're buying: The boho retailer do a fantastic range of bedspreads. Our favourite is the Delissa Quilt: an eye-catching, reversible piece.
For colourful linens
The Conran Shop has long been the perfect place for stylish furniture and iconic investment pieces. However, it's their own range of pure linen bedding that's caught our eye this time.
What we're buying: The Pure Linen Bedding comes in 13 shades from earthy neutrals to the most eye-catching cobalt blue, and is designed to get softer and softer with each wash.
The best for that hotel feeling
That luxurious feeling of slipping into a hotel bed can be recreated night after night with Soho Home's bedding collection. The fabrics and styles are the same ones used globally in their houses, so they are really special pieces.
What we're buying: What Soho Home does so well is understated luxury, for that reason, we'd plump for some crisp linen bedding in a neutral colour like cream. Their Luna Duvet Cover in cream would be a brilliant choice.
The best for creating your own sets
With their own ranges sitting alongside name brands like Yves Delorme and Sheridan, there's little wonder Fenwick is quickly climbing the bedding ranks.
What we're buying: Fenwick's own range is particularly handsome, offering 1000 thread count crisp white sheets at very reasonable prices. Their ‘Mayfair’ set is the last word in luxury.
The best in the business for silk bedding
For glorious, cool silk bedding, there is nowhere comparable to Gingerlily. All their pieces are designed in-house and crafted from pure long strand silk of only the finest quality. Sleeping on silk has a well known range of health benefits, too, so both your skin and hair will thank you for using this bedding.
What we're buying: Anything and everything silk. Thanks to Gingerlily's cohesive range, we encourage you to mix and match colours together. If we could only choose one thing, we'd get their Ivory Silk Oxford Pillowcase as the benefits for your skin and hair are immeasurable. To read more about silk pillowcases, head to our guide.
The best for long lasting softness
In a change of pace from other brands, Rebecca Udall prioritises long staple cotton yarns over thread count. From less wrinkly sheets (read: easier to iron) to a softer finish, there are myriad benefits to this approach. Woven in Portugal, these sheets and made with longevity in mind.
What we're buying: Their new collection with illustrator Isla Simpson, or their signature scalloped bed sheets.
The best for decorative bedding
Oliver Bonas' bedding collection is full of sumptuous velvets and rich colours that look a lot more expensive than their high street price tag might suggest.
What we're buying: They have a great range of reversible quilts that are plain on one side and patterned on the other, which look lovely when folded over at the top.
The best for every bed in the house
Soak and Sleep's website plays host to a huge range of bedding, from pure mulberry silk, French linen, chalk pure hemp, Egyptian cotton and more. As a result, you could kit out your entire household's bedrooms in one fell swoop, whilst catering for everyone's different wishes and needs.
What we're buying: Soak and Sleep's 600 Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Bed Linen has a heavier weight feel to it that allows it to hang pleasingly over the end of the bed. Thanks to its sateen weave, it has a subdued and delicate shine that makes it look really luxurious.
What is the best quality bedding?
When buying bedding, the key advice to always follow is to opt for the highest thread count you can afford. As our resident decoration expert Rita Konig says, 'getting into bed at the end of the day is made so much better if you are climbing between really soft, crisp sheets.' We spend more of our time up-close and personal with our bedding than anything else in our houses, so investing some time in choosing it will really pay off.
What is the most comfortable type of bedding?
Preferences vary widely on the best finish for sheets. If you particularly like a crisp feel, opt for 'percale' fabrics - these are traditionally woven with a one-yarn-over, one-yarn-under method for a lightweight, matte finish. 'Sateen' fabrics expose more of the surface of the thread, with a three-yarn-over, three-yarn-under technique; this makes the sheets feel softer and silkier to the touch. Sateen bedding is also less likely to crease than percale sheets.
MAY WE SUGGEST: The top places to buy crisp, white sheets for a hotel-worthy bed
If you prefer an informal look, linen is the way to go. Made from the fibres of the flax plant, linen is stiffer in texture, though over time linen bedding will become incredibly soft. Linen bedding tends to be more breathable than most cotton weaves, so it's a popular choice for summer. It does crease very easily, but we think in a very attractive way. If you're thinking seasonally, you could opt for linen sheets in the warmer months, and then flannel bedding in the cooler ones. Flannel bedding is brushed on one or both sides of the surface to create a soft, cosy feel.
What style of bedding is best?
And of course, don't forget to consider how you want your bedding to look. There's a huge variety of colour and detailing out there to choose from. If your bedroom is quite masculine, soften it up with scallop-edged or frilly cotton sheets, or if you want a super-feminine feel then patterned bedding or a floral eiderdown will have a great effect. A classic pintuck Oxford border, or an embroidered line around the edge, will create that sophisticated hotel look, or opt for rumpled linen in a soft pastel shade if you prefer a more rustic look.
How to choose pillowcases
Pillowcases are well worth investing in, as much if not more so than your fitted sheet or mattress topper. Of course, from a luxury perspective, silk pillowcases are the best that money can buy. Mulberry silk and other forms of the material have long shown to deliver benefits to your skin and hair by reducing creases and pressure on skin. Even better, they are not nearly so impractical as they used to be, with many brands offering machine washable options (though they do recommend hand washing). If you find your face is often puffy in the morning, take stock of what pillowcase combination you're using. If you are sleeping on down pillows, try changing to a hypoallergenic filling. To read our guide to the best pillows head here.
We've rounded up the best places to buy bed linen and the best bed sheets here in the UK and further afield. So, whether you prefer rustic linens, crisp cotton or soft flannelette; bright colours or pretty patterns, we have created the perfect shopping list for your very best night's sleep.
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Bedding and bed sheets 2023
1/27Once Milano
Once Milano are reviving traditional Venetian handcrafted linen, and their stylish bedding comes in a variety of rich, jewel-like shades with charming details, including monogramming. They also make delightful plain and patterned quilts, along with linens for the table and loungewear.
What we're buying: Once Milano's Linen Bed Cover with Sewing is evocative of beds in warm, summer villas. It's rustic and stylish at once and makes a subtle statement.
2/27D Porthault
Beloved of our decoration columnist Rita Konig, the Paris-based D Porthault specialises in unabashedly feminine bedding at the most luxurious end of the spectrum.
What we're buying: D Porthault have a long and distinguished history - the 'Coeurs' pattern was designed for the Duchess of Windsor in the 1950s. Expect scallops, frills, and playful patterns of hearts and flowers.
3/27Gayle Warwick
Gayle Warwick's luxurious linens have long been a favourite of interior designers, but her new block printed collections are designed to bring accessible luxury to a wider range of consumers.
What we're buying: The 'Confetti' collection pictured here can easily be mixed and matched with white and blue bed linen.
5/27Zara Home
A genuinely great standby for all sorts of inexpensive homewares, we've long been fans of Zara Home's classic white bedlinen. The range often features embroidery and detailing that makes it look much more costly than it is, and there's also a highly cosy collection of flannel bedding for chilly winters.
What we're buying: Zara Home move fast, so their offering changes constantly. However, you're likely to find a toile, a floral print and some stonewashed linen at any given time. Each of them would be a lovely choice.
6/27Trove by Studio Duggan
Trove launched in 2019 as the product wing of interior design firm Studio Duggan, and their online shop is filled with extremely stylish furniture and accessories, including this heavenly ruffled line of bedding.
What we're buying: Trove's Ruffle Pillow Slip makes a beautiful addition to any bed and comes with four different colour trims.
7/27Yves Delorme
Paris-based Yves Delorme sell both their own line of bedding along with other designer brands, and it comes in both riotous florals and serene neutrals, so there's something for everyone.
What we're buying: Yves Delorme provide a personalised service at the lovely Monogrammed Linen Shop in Chelsea, which is very much worth a visit.
8/27Cologne & Cotton
Few things make a home more inviting than crisp white linen, and this is the speciality at Cologne and Cotton. Whether you like your bedding patterned, embroidered, or clean and simple, you'll find something for you here, along with scented candles and elegant nightwear. There are branches in Marylebone, Kensington and Fulham as well as Cheltenham and Leamington Spa, and the serene shops are worth spending some time in.
What we're buying: Cologne and Cotton's Eau De Nil Rosa bedding is really lovely and feminine without being too fussy.
9/27Toast
If immaculate hotel-style bedding isn't quite up your street, Toast make a line that is a bit more rustic and relaxed. In a range of smart ticking stripes and plain white or pink, these organic cotton sheets are wonderfully soft and thick.
What we're buying: Toast's Organic Cotton Pyjama Stripe Bedding looks delightfully cosy and closes with three pretty ribbon ties.
10/27Sophie Conran
Sophie Conran's select bed linen collection is feminine and luxurious, with pretty scalloped designs, traditional embroidered sets, and delightful patterns, hand-block-printed in Jaipur.
What we're buying: Sophie Conran's Scalloped Bed Linen is rather iconic and comes in multiple charming colourways.
11/27Volga Linen
Volga Linen offers a range of pure linen sourced from Europe and Russia, mostly in classic ivory with fine detailing, but with some colourful throws and crushed linen in bright hues added into the mix.
What we're buying: Their delicately embroidered Hemstitch Pillowcases are lovely for finishing off a bed.
12/27Caravane
With spaces in Marylebone and Kings Cross, French homeware store Caravane is expanding its reach in the UK. It's a treasure trove of colourful, thoughtfully designed furniture and accessories, and the bedding, in trendy washed linen or smart piped cotton, is no exception.
What we're buying: A more apt question would be, ‘what aren’t we buying from Caravane?' However, if we had to choose just one thing, we would have one of their ‘Counterpane’ pieces at the top of our wishlist.
14/27Camomile London
Camomile's aesthetic embraces all things pretty and understated, with a wide variety of bedding for all ages.
What we're buying: We particularly like their gentle floral patterns, such as the Minako Conflower Duvet Cover (pictured) which comes in all sizes from cot to king.
15/27Piglet in Bed
Founded in 2017 from a garden shed deep in the West Sussex countryside, Piglet in Bed started out by offering unfussy, low maintenance bed linens that you won't shy away from using. Since then, the brand has expanded exponentially and now includes sleep and loungewear, tablecloths, napkins and more.
What we're buying: Staying true to the company's original purpose, we are shopping Piglet's ‘Bedtime Bundles', a user friendly way to dress your whole bed in just a few clicks. The oatmeal stripe is particularly lovely as it offers a nice alternative to plain white bedding.
16/27Lulu & Nat
If you're in search of bedding for children's rooms (or whimsical adults' rooms), Lulu & Nat is a wonderful place to shop. Their pretty patterns also come on pyjamas, so you can coordinate your entire bedroom experience, and also tablecloths and napkins.
What we're buying: Lulu & Nat's bedding is supposed to be fun but, if that doesn't appeal to you, they also offer plenty of ways to tone it down. For a pop of colour, you can't go wrong with their Provence Floral Quilt.
17/27Larusi
Larusi originally started out specialising in Berber rugs and textiles from Morocco, but brought in a bedlinen range in 2012.
What we're buying: Larusi's informal, perfectly crumpled 100% linen bedding comes in a variety of utterly beautiful, earthy colours.
18/27Frette
Many of us long for the luxurious feeling of a five-star hotel bedroom in our everyday lives, and as Frette linens dress the beds of some of the world's most prestigious hotels, this is the best place to start.
What we're buying: The Across Sheet Set is made from the finest pure cotton sateen, resulting in an effortlessly glamorous looking bed. Yes, it's a little more high end with its pricing but investing in a good night's sleep will always be worthwhile.
19/27Savoir
Savoir are best known for their beautifully crafted and individually customised beds (used in The Savoy, no less), but they also make wonderfully indulgent linens as well as sumptuous down bedding.
What we're buying: The Dream 650 Pillowcase is made from pure cotton sateen and feels cool and crisp to the touch.
20/27Tielle
Tielle Love Luxury were set up as a retail brand by a leading supplier of linens to the hotel industry, and have created an easily navigable range of bedding in rising thread counts and muted colours. along with a wide range of duvets, pillows, towels and robes. There's something here for every budget.
What we're buying: The Classic Hotel 300 Thread Count Bedlinen is used in hotels all over the world, so you know you're going to be getting high quality, crisp sheets.
21/27Loaf
Jaunty purveyors of comfortable sofas and upholstered beds, Loaf also do a strong line in crushed linen bedding in stylish colours. It's a small, select range but an eminently useful one.
What we're buying: Loaf offer a Lazy Linen range and a Lazy Cotton range, both of which are designed to look a little lived in. Both are excellent quality, so it simply comes down to whether you prefer cotton or linen.
22/27Neptune
Neptune make practically everything you could ever want for your house, from entire kitchens to plant pots and it's all utterly lovely. The bedding is no exception.
What we're buying: The simple Albertine collection, made from supersoft Egyptian cotton with a sateen finish, only comes in white, but with a choice of three neutral-coloured ribbon trims.
23/27Designers Guild
Full of painterly patterns and jewel-like colours, Designers Guild's collections certainly make for a statement bed. They're also made with luxurious materials and come in plain white cotton and linen for the pattern-averse.
What we're buying: Designers Guild's Biella Midnight and Wedgwood Bed Linen is rather clever as it is reversible, giving you the power to mix and match the toning colours should you wish.
24/27Sarah K Linen
Inspired by her travels in India, the eponymous Sarah K was set up in 2012. Products celebrate and herald the bright colours and patterns of India and are an ode to traditions such as block printing, hand embroidery and weaving.
What we're buying: Sarah K's bedding in recognisable by its ditsy prints and deliciously frilly bedding. We are fans of her Multi Ditsy Pillowcases, which add some colour to a bed without being too in your face.
25/27Laura Ashley
Since 1953, Laura Ashley have been at the forefront of British design. Their bedding is everything you'd expect it to be: feminine, whimsical and charming. It's lovely for all ages, though we think it would be particularly charming in a young girl's room.
What we're buying: If you're on the hunt for patterned bedding, we recommend perusing Laura Ashley's selection.
26/27The Secret Linen Store
With a focus on sustainability, The Secret Linen Store is a one stop shop for lovely rumpled linen bedding. They have various colour ways and are more experimental with patterns than most other brands, which is surprisingly rare with linen bedding.
What we're buying: Their French Ticking Stripe Natural Bed Linen is particularly handsome and would make a lovely counterpoint to plain bedding.
27/27The Needo
Spanish brand The Needo set out with a goal to offer hotel quality bedding at an affordable price. Judging by their products, we'd say ‘mission accomplished!'. Available in sateen and percale finishes, their bed linen ranges from 300 to 500 thread count.
What we're buying: Produced sustainably in Portugal, we'd plump for the Set Easy Needo Percal in a fresh lilac colourway and 300 thread count.
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