What is the best bed linen for summer? These 3 materials will help you keep your cool at night, even in the summer heat
These types of bed linen will help you stay cool at night, even during heatwaves
Quick Menu
Shop our selections by category:
1. Best linen bed sheets
2. Best bamboo bed sheets
3. Best cotton bed sheets
We've all been there in the warm summer months - long, sleepless nights where you end up tossing, turning and flipping your pillow for the cool side. We think it's best to get ahead and pre-empt night-time discomfort, so do your shopping now so you've got the right bed linen on hand and ready to go to help you get a full night's sleep.
When it comes to picking the best bed sheets for summer, you've got to pick a fabric that keeps you cool. Sheets made from linen, bamboo and cotton with a percale weave are known for being lightweight and airy, a perfect choice for warm sleepers.
You also should consider sheets that are versatile. 'I love sleeping under linen which is cool in summer yet comforting in winter,' says Jo Littlefair of Goddard Littlefair. 'It also has the added benefit that it looks effortlessly stylish when not ironed, life is too short!'
To help you find the sheets for your bedroom, we've scouted out the best of the best, readily available to buy now for a sleep-filled summer ahead.
Best linen bed sheets
Linen sheets are breathable, wick away moisture better than cotton and synthetic alternatives, and generally feel light on the skin - all to help you sleep a little better in the summer months.
Price: $240
Available in an array of different colors, these linen sheets from Bed Threads would make a great addition to your bedroom. I quite like the light terracotta shade for summer, making you want to dive right in, perfect for a master bedroom.
Price: $129.99
This linen set comes with four pieces, including a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two pillowcases. I just love this soft pistachio color, sure to bring a calming feel to your bedroom. The rich linen blend keeps it breathable and cooling throughout even the hottest nights.
Best bamboo bed sheets
As a textile, bamboo is naturally thermoregulatory, which means it helps you keep cooler in summer when you need it, and warm in the winter, making these a great choice for your bed year round.
Price: $199
Some of the best bed sheets are made of bamboo viscose and feature a luxurious twill weave finish that’s 3 degrees cooler and twice as soft as cotton. Pick from an array of colorways, sage and tahitian breeze have caught my eye.
Best cotton bed sheets
Cotton is a much better choice than synthetic bed sheets to ensure your bedding is breathable, lightweight and absorbent.
Price: $91.80
Cooling and super crisp, these classic percale sheets bring hotel quality to your bedroom. With a 270 thread count, there is something timeless and luxurious about the feeling ofcrisp white sheets against your skin. This set includes one fitted sheet and two pillowcases, pair with a duvet for the full set.
Price: $138
Introduce print to your cotton percale bed sheets with this lightweight and breathable set for the most pleasant and cooling night's sleep. I like the calantha sand print but there are plenty of fun options to take your pick from here.
Price: $43.64
On sale for a bargain price, this set from Overstock has a nautical theme with a novelty pattern that would make a grea addition to make a child's bedroom more fun, while helping them sleep well during the summer.
What is the best thread count for sheets to stay cool?
If you're worried about how you can stay cool in bed this summer, look for that all-important low thread count. Something between 200 and 280 would work wonders, and this way, your bedding will stay soft while also allowing vital airflow when you sleep.
'For bedding, choose a thread count over 200 but don't be swayed too much by anything over 800,' says Jo Littlefair of Goddard Littlefair. 'Choose sheets that are produced responsibly with quality fibers as these manufacturers are hopefully using longer length fibers that won’t fray and split.
Bed sheet thread count refers to the number of vertical and horizontal strands in one inch of fabric but contrary to the popular belief, it's not strictly true that the higher the thread count, the better. In fact, more threads mean a thicker and heavier material, so look for something lower which will guarantee lightness.
Be The First To Know
The Livingetc newsletter is your shortcut to the now and the next in home design. Subscribe today to receive a stunning free 200-page book of the best homes from around the world.
Oonagh is a content editor at Livingetc.com and an expert at spotting the interior trends that are making waves in the design world. Writing a mix of everything and everything from home tours to news, long-form features to design idea pieces on the website, as well as frequently featured in the monthly print magazine, she's the go-to for design advice in the home. Previously, she worked on a London property title, producing long-read interiors features, style pages and conducting interviews with a range of famous faces from the UK interiors scene, from Kit Kemp to Robert Kime. In doing so, she has developed a keen interest in London's historical architecture and the city's distinct tastemakers paving the way in the world of interiors.
-
Hand-Painted Borders and Trims Are the Antidote to Dated Accent Walls — Here's How to Make it Look Good
From doorways to window frames, hand-painted trimmings are the latest trend bringing plenty of personality into your home
By Olivia Wolfe Published
-
It's Not Even 2025 yet, but I Already Know We're About to See the "Croissant Sofa" Everywhere
For the evolution of the trend for curved sofas, look to this breakfast food, say designers
By Luke Arthur Wells Published
-
I Never Thought I'd Pick Plaid Curtains, But Here's 6 Cozy Sets I'm Eyeing Ahead of the Holidays
Plaid has its time and place, and that time is now. These six anything-but-fussy drapes will transform your space for the holidays — and they’re more affordable than you think
By Julia Demer Published
-
Bows Are (K)not Going Anywhere This Christmas — Shop My Favorite Picks, Including a Supersized Style
If you thought you’d sworn off bows for good, think again. This holiday season, festivity calls for bows on bows on bows — the bigger, the better
By Julia Demer Published
-
Athena Calderone’s New Crate & Barrel Line Brings 1930s Glamor — Straight from Her Chic Tribeca Pad to Your Living Room
The interior designer has combined striking architectural features of the Art Deco era with contemporary materials for an effortlessly elegant second collection
By Maya Glantz Published
-
The "Buttery Soft" Petite Plume x Parachute Pajama Collection Has Me Dressing Up to Spend the Night In
The pajama collection focuses on what both brands do best: sleep. Match the lineup of earthy, calming neutrals to the bedding you likely already own — and enter your most stylish slumber yet
By Julia Demer Published
-
The Best Sleep Masks for a Reinvigorating, Stylish Nighttime Routine — Picked by Our Editors
From minimalist designs bringing quality rest to the fore to eccentric styles marrying comfort and aesthetics, these are the best eye masks to purchase this year
By Gilda Bruno Published
-
I'm Not Big on Halloween, But H&M's Collection Feels Like it Will Be Stylish Well Beyond the Spooky Season
A last-minute stock up of spooky-inspired pieces feels a lot less scary when you know you'll want to use them all year-round
By Olivia Wolfe Published
-
Heard of "Cluster Pendant Lights"? Shop the Jewelry-Like Ceiling Fixture I’m Predicting Will Be Huge in 2025
Draped like a necklace with a cosmopolitan edge, this industrial elegance is already an instant classic. Shop the trend before it becomes everyone’s go-to
By Julia Demer Published
-
Suede Is the Fashion-to-Interiors Crossover to Watch for Fall 2024 — Shop 6 Decadent Decors
You saw it on the runways, and you probably have it in your closet. Suede for fall is back — more so than usual — and we’re layering it lavishly in every nook and corner
By Julia Demer Published