These Are the Best Bedding Brands — Tested Over Months and Months for Comfort, Quality, and Style

If you're considering changing up your bedding right now, I don't blame you. Bad bed sheets reveal themselves most during the summer months, so if you find yourself experiencing night after restless night, it might well be time to invest in quality. Material makes such a difference when it comes to breathability and temperature regulation, so those cheap polyester sheets just aren't going to cut it.

But where do you start? Reading reviews for a brand is one thing, but it's hard to compare from brand to brand without getting hands-on. However, to give you the best chance of getting the sheets you'll thrive with, I've tested countless different sets from both luxury and high street brands. I've tried to be as objective as possible, noting the qualities of each, rather than my preferences, but some things are universal. Softness, breathability, good style, and number one on my list: a decent fitted sheet — these are qualities that make it pretty easy to pick a winner.

This is the first update I've made since completely overhauling this list, and I've included new brands this time around, from British favorites Christie to a designer collaboration from bedding brand Tielle.

I've separated this list into the luxury bedding brands, the likes of which I've given proper reviews for on the Livingetc site, and the more budget bedding retailers, which don't always have ranges that continue on from year to year. With that in mind, I've given their offering a test for this article, but not the total review write-up, giving a sense of the brand's quality, without necessarily rating every sheet set.

As we're in the summer months right now, I've started off with a few picks that are perfect if you're looking to control your temperature a little better, too, using the best materials for summer sleep.

So, without further ado, these are the bedding brands I think you should know about, and why.

The Best of the Best

Best Fitted Sheet: Rise & Fall Fitted Cotton Sheet

Best Linen Bedding: Bed Thread French Flax linen sheets

Best Cotton Bedding: Cozy Earth Soft Wash Cotton

Best Budget Bedding: IKEA ÄNGSLILJA bedding set

The Best Buys for Summer Bedding

Before we get into our main guide, these buys all use materials that are ideal for thermoregulating your sleep during the summer months, in styles that feel perfect for the season, too, from brands I've tested, and rate well.

Best Luxury Bedding Brands

Luxury bedding brands tend to offer higher quality materials, superior manufacturing, and nice-to-have details like great packaging, or certain services to prolong the life of your bedding. Price-wise, these brands tends to cost from £150-£200+.

Bed Threads

(Image credit: Future)

Bed Threads is a brand hailing from Australia that's made waves in the UK for its style credentials. It's known best for its 100% flax linen bedding (you can read my Bed Threads bedding review for more on that), brilliant photography, and on-trend color palette that feels a little more modern than some of its UK-born contemporaries.

In my bedding reviews, Bed Threads had one of the best linen sheet sets I tested. A bit of an all-rounder, it's a light and airy linen with a great texture that looked sophisticated on the bed. It's probably the best-in-class bedding brand for color range, and it has some exciting styles, too, like scalloped pillowcases, which offer something new.

The drawbacks? If you don't dry them flat, they're a bit of a pain to iron (more so than other linens, I found), and there were some loose threads inside (more on stitching later) — very minor grumbles.

If you're not a linen fan, Bed Threads launched organic cotton in 2025 — I've not tested it yet, but I'll bet you it's good.

Christy

(Image credit: Christy)

Christy is possibly the best-known name in bedding in the UK, and for good reason. It stands apart from a lot of the competition by turning all its time and attention to its material of choice, cotton, and elevating it for the modern bedroom.

This focus means it's one of the bedding brands that has the largest variety of styles of cotton bedding in its range, so if you're wed to this classic material, start your search here. Christy is probably best known for its classic white, hotel-esque sheets, but it has a whole lot more than that to offer if you have more decorative style leanings. I'm majorly into its patterned flannel bedding, for one, while something like its scallop-edged bedding has a classic feel, but with a fresh twist thanks to a bright green trim.

I've slept in Christy sheets many times, but perhaps Livingetc's interiors editor Emma Breislin says it best of the brand's most 100% cotton percale 200 thread count sheets: it "gives it that 'crispy' hotel-like feel, but didn't feel tough or scratchy in the slightest." Cotton tends to have a little more structure to it, but it's probably the best all-rounder for sheets if you need to satisfy a range of preferences, which is why it's the choice of hotel rooms.

Cultiver

(Image credit: CULTIVER)

Another Australian brand, Cultiver is the name in cool, contemporary bedding if you want to label-brag to friends in the know. It's among the most expensive bedding brands on this list, though marginally, but is it worth the price tag?

It's hard to ignore the style factor at play — Cultiver's branding and styling is my favorite of all the brands on this list, and its curation of colors and patterns all appeal to my more minimalist interior design style.

In terms of quality, Cultiver isn't necessarily better than its competition, and I had problems with it during my review in terms of the feel of its linen sheets, and how comfortable they were to sleep in night after night. I'd argue they're loved more for the brand's name, and good looks, more than the quality.

Cultiver closed its dedicated UK site last year, which means you can now only order globally, with international shipping costs.

Cozy Earth

(Image credit: Cozy Earth)

Cozy Earth isn't well known in the UK, but this luxury bedding brand is super popular in the States, and actually one of the most purchased products from Livingetc's guides over in the US. And that's not to say it's not available here — you get free, fast delivery from the US on orders over $350, which sounds a lot, but when the brand's Bamboo bedding costs £355 at King Size, it's basically just free delivery regardless.

Yes, it's expensive, but as the reviews show, if you've got the wallet deep enough, it's worth the investment. Our own reviewer over in the US described the Soft Wash Cotton Bedding as the softest sheets they've ever touched. And, having had a feel of them as we landed some review samples here in the UK, I think I might agree.

This is the place to shop if you're looking for different types of bedding at its peak luxuriousness, with modern, never-too-fussy styles that always feel elegant.

Feather & Black

(Image credit: Feather & Black)

Feather & Black is best known as somewhere to buy a bed, but it has a great bedding range, too. I've not written an official review for Livingetc on Feather & Black yet, but I have slept in one of the brand's cotton bed sets over the past year, coincidentally, so I'd definitely recommend them to friends and family.

I've slept in the Cotton Collection Dyed Stripe Set from Feather & Black, and I love it for a simple reason. I'd say it's a little crisper, and more structured, than some cottons — but for a small sacrifice of that extra, extra softness, you get bedding that looks a lot better. It doesn't cling to the duvet so much, meaning the overall effect is a bit smoother, solving one of my biggest bugbears of cotton bedding.

Heal's

(Image credit: Heal's)

Full disclosure, Heal's bedding hasn't been through the thorough Livingetc testing process quite yet, but I have been hands-on with it in the store to get a sense of the quality, and I'd say, knowing Heal's as a brand too, you won't be disappointed with what you purchase.

It's not a vast bedding range, but it's a small, curated selection that leans into Heal's slightly mid-century leaning style in terms of color. Cotton or linen, plain or patterned, there are some fun designs in here too, so worth a look when shopping for bedding.

Linen Bundle

(Image credit: Luke Arthur Wells)

I tested something a little out of the ordinary for my own tastes from Linen Bundle, the brand's Luxe Sateen duvet cover set. I don't often opt for sateen or silk sheets because of their texture, but it is hard to argue they're silky soft against the skin. The weaving technique gives you the feeling of silk, but the practicality of cotton.

Regardless, I was impressed by the quality, with neat, durable seams, and Linen Bundle also has a more matte Percale bedding option. My only complaint? They don't come in a whole range of the most exciting colors, and the patterns are a little 'country' for contemporary tastes.

Piglet in Bed

(Image credit: Future)

Piglet in Bed is one of the heavyweight luxury bedding brands in the UK, having even taken its offering global at this point. It was one of the brands that introduced colorful linen bedding to the luxury market, so much so that it's become an undeniable aesthetic all of its own as an alternative to hotel-like white sheets.

I've had Piglet in Bed bedding a few times, but the one I put to the test for Livingetc was its linen blend bedding review, a clever idea that takes the best parts when comparing linen vs cotton sheets and fewer of the drawbacks. If you're uninitiated with linen sheets, this is what I'd choose first, as linen isn't, honestly, for everyone in terms of comfort, no matter how stylish it looks.

Piglet in bed as a modern aesthetic, with lots of color and pattern, even though in some respects it has a little bit of a country-style interiors leaning in its styling at times. Regardless, these are versatile designs that have a space in any room of the home, with thoughtful attention to detail that makes the sheets worthy of a luxury bedding brand.

Rise & Fall

(Image credit: Rise & Fall / House of Grey)

I'm unofficially awarding Rise & Fall with the title of Livingetc's 'Best Fitted Sheet'. As someone who can toss and turn a bit during the night, fitted sheets that don't stay put are a serious no-go. During my reviews, I've found some excellent ones that cling on for dear life, but none better than Rise & Fall's fitted sheet. Not only is it deep, and not only does it have strong elastic, but it also has rubber grips that keep it fixed in place. When I first tested the brand, they had a separate deep fitted sheet, but now, the deep sheet is the standard.

During my Rise & Fall bedding review, I also found the bedding brand's cotton bedding delightfully soft, and among the most comfortable I'd tried, and I have since been cycling it in regularly. I've been sleeping with this bedding set on and off for over a year, and it still holds up.

It has a small, sensible edit of bedding colors across its cotton and linen, but if you like timeless bedding, there will be something to satisfy you, undoubtedly.

Secret Linen Store

(Image credit: Future)

Secret Linen Store, in many ways, marked the start of the online bedding brand boom, bringing a contemporary approach to styling a bedroom with pattern and color that we weren't really seeing done up until then. It's inspired a fair few copycats over the years, but has sustained because, well, its bedding is good.

When I conducted a Secret Linen Store linen bedding review, I noted that its linen was a little stiffer and heavier than some other brands to begin — not to be unexpected, given that linen sheets soften over time and washes — but it gives a sense of the robustness and longevity we could expect from this brand's bedding. The quality is great, and the attention to detail is impressive.

Secret Linen Store is another bedding brand with a slightly British country aesthetic, which might not always be the Livingetc readers' favorite, but there's a lot of versatile plains and patterns in here that work as well in a modern rustic scheme as it does in a more classic one. Sophisticated texture, great colors, and interesting patterns to play around with, it's a bedding brand that I'd say delivers on all fronts.

The White Company

(Image credit: The White Company)

Chances are that The White Company doesn't need much of an introduction — it's one of those rare homewares stores that has transcended mere 'shop' status into something of a lifestyle brand. However, that's not to dismiss that The White Company is probably best known for its bedding.

Of course, it suits those looking for a particular aesthetic. Not always white necessarily (you'll find some other neutrals and muted colors among its offering), but certainly a more pared-back, wholesome, and timeless style. It is, surprisingly for this luxury bedding list, one of the only brands still really delivering on that classic, white, hotel-style bedding, and while that is undoubtedly its specialty, with all kinds of decorative details to elevate the look, you'll also find some more relaxed styles within its bedding range.

I tried The White Company Savoy Bedding for my review, the brand's most popular style, and it's a classic for a reason. Super soft, comfortable, lightweight, and breathable, with that fresh hotel look that you can't go wrong with.

Tielle

(Image credit: Tielle x 2LG Studio)

I've recently tested Tielle's bedding for the first time, and its offering is a masterclass in cotton bedding. The brand uses long-staple cotton to achieve its thread counts, whereas some budget brands use twists of short-ply to boost the thread count. This is where higher thread count really counts — it's not always a metric you can trust.

With Tielle, you're getting classic hotel good looks — crisp, all-white bedding, with the different varieties shifting up texture over color.

The brand recently launched a new collaboration with interior designers 2LG Studio, a neutral take on the trending moire pattern — a fresh idea for adding quiet pattern to a bedroom.

Other luxury bedding brands to shop

I may not have tried-and-tested these bedding brands yet, but based on reputation alone, and knowledge of their other products, I'd certainly still recommend them.

Toast

Toast, as a brand, has a charming, artisanal quality to it, highlighting makers and natural materials in a grounding way, and Toast's bedding delivers on the same: earth tones, organic cotton, and understated colors and patterns.

Soho Home

Soho Home's bedding is at the luxury end of this list, with prices up to some £550 for certain bedding sets. It's a small collection of its House cotton percale (used in Soho House around the world), and a more textural Luna linen.

Linen Bundle

I tested Linen Bundle's Luxe Sateen bedding, and though that texture isn't usually to my taste, it's hard to ignore that it's super soft on the skin. Sateen is a weaving technique that offers a super silky feel, but with the practicality of cotton.

Nordic Knots

If you're looking for a cool brand to buy bedding from, consider Nordic Knots. Best known for its rugs, its bed linen range is equally design-forward. I particularly love this 'shirt blue' percale set with a red trim.

Tekla

Another cool brand to know, Tekla offers a simple cotton bedding range in on-trend, zeitgeist-y colors and finishes. For the cool apartment-dwellers.

Where to Buy Affordable Bedding

Affordable bedding tends to come from high street brands, and while price may play a factor in your decision, it shouldn't be at the expense of quality. Here are the ones I rate.

H&M

(Image credit: H&M Home)

H&M Home is one of my favorite budget homeware brands in general, and it's bedding is no different. I head there for good quality basics, and have slept in its linen blend sheets many a night. Those classic materials tend to continue on season to season, for a little while at least, while more dynamic, modern designs might only be available for a limited time.

IKEA

(Image credit: IKEA)

One of my favorite bedding sets I've ever owned was, perhaps surprisingly, from IKEA. Unfortunately, they no longer sell that set, however, I recently re-tested IKEA's affordable ÄNGSLILJA cotton set, and it's as good as the set I remember.

IKEA is one of those brands that, while more budget-friendly, is never going to sell you poor-quality products.

However, I have a complaint. IKEA's bedding is actually based on European sizes, so if you buy the size labeled king size in store, you might find it actually is too large for your king size duvet. Pay attention to the measurements, and check against the size of your duvet.

La Redoute

(Image credit: La Redoute)

La Redoute's linen bedding, Linot, has a pretty good reputation as a more affordable option (taking into account how regularly La Redoute has huge discounts, more than the base price point), so I had to try it for myself. In my La Redoute linen bedding review I found it's not without its faults, but it does offer great value against great style, so it is one to consider before you invest in one of the more luxury brands (if they're on sale).

M&S

(Image credit: M&S)

If you want a bedding brand that feels a little more premium in all but price, I'd suggest heading to M&S. Its homewares section does timeless style that's actually pretty affordable for the style of its designs, and nowhere is this more acute than in its bedding.

Its Pure Linen set, for example, is less than half the price of some of the luxury bedding brands, and after putting it to the test, I'd say the quality is comparable. I also tested the brand's 'Best Ever' cotton bedding set, and it was not only super soft and comfortable, but showed the signs of good quality bedding.

Next

As an interior stylist, I've owned more sets of Next's bed sheets than I care to admit. Its range is so large, and deep, that I can almost guarantee I'll find the exact color and material I'm looking for. I've had Next's sheets in finished like brushed cotton, linen, waffle cotton, and more.

Next is a retailer that offers extra deep sheets, which is something every good bedding brand should have, in my opinion, and you'll find a really wide collection of patterns and styles online, as well as in store. Not all of them, for sure, are of a Livingetc readers' level of sophistication, but it's worth delving in to find the ones you do like, as, in my experience, the quality is better than like-for-like priced sheets at the lower end of the market.

Next also stocks other brands within its range, so keep an eye on which you're buying into, and check reviews separately.

FAQs

What Does Good Quality Bedding Look Like?

As you can probably see, there's a lot to wade through in the world of bedding, so if you come across a brand, how do you know if its bedding is any good?

Your first question might be about the best thread count for bedding, but it might not be worth getting too hung up here. The thread count basically refers to the number of threads within a certain square area, and it can be a sign of quality, but the higher the number doesn't necessarily mean the better the sheets.

Instead, Molly Freshwater, co-founder of Secret Linen Store, says you should always look at the fibers. "Natural fibers like linen and cotton are what I reach for every time," Molly says, explaining thread count doesn't matter as much as a quality such as fiber length. "Look for long-staple cotton or 100% linen — fabrics that are breathable, kind to skin, and improve with age. Where it comes from, how it’s woven, and even how it's finished matters more than any number on a label. Thread count gets all the attention, but the feel is what tells you if it’s right." Materials like Egyptian cotton are the gold standard in fiber length, too.

So, what else do you look for? Part of how we test bedding is looking at the quality of the manufacturing by delving inside the duvet and pillow covers. "Good stitching is like good handwriting: you can tell when someone’s really taken their time," Molly says. "Neat, consistent stitches help your bedding hold its shape, wash after wash. It’s about durability but also about care and pride in the making."

"Even, tight stitching prevents seams from fraying, and well-stitched bedding feels smoother and more comfortable against the body," agrees Lauren Knowlsen, head of design at bedding brand Rise & Fall. "Well-constructed seams are less likely to allow dirt to become trapped, contributing to better hygiene."

Should You Change Your Bedding In Different Seasons?

Certain bedding material is thermoregulatory, in that it'll keep you cooler in summer, and warmer in winter, depending on what your body needs. That makes it ideal for people sharing a bed where one may be a hot sleeper, one a cool sleeper.

However, if you want to up the ante, you can definitely switch from lighter bedding in the summer, to heavier in the winter. "In the summer, cool and breathable is exactly what you want. Linen and cotton percale are both lovely for that fresh, crisp feel against your skin," Molly says. "But bedding doesn’t always have to be cool. In the colder months, I lean towards cosier textures like brushed cotton or heavier linen. I think your bed should work with the seasons and most importantly, it should feel right for you, whether that’s cool, cozy, or somewhere in between."

How Do You Care for Bedding Properly?

There are different ways to wash bed linen, depending on the fibers of your bed sheets, but the basic principle is: keep it simple.

"Wash at 40°C with a gentle detergent, nothing too harsh," Molly says. "Line-drying is my favorite when the weather plays ball; there’s nothing like sheets dried in fresh air. A gentle tumble dry is fine too, just keep it low. And don’t worry too much about creases, natural bedding has that perfectly imperfect look that I think makes a bed feel even more welcoming."

Genevieve Rosen, co-founder of Bed Threads, has some more advice. “Always wash in cold or lukewarm water with a mild liquid detergent, skip the fabric softener, and give your sheets plenty of space to move in the machine," she says. She agrees: "Air drying is ideal, but if you tumble dry, go low and gentle, removing them while still slightly damp."

Good linen storage is well-organized, and in a cool, dry place.

How Long Should Bedding Last?

Well, it depends on the fiber of the sheets again. Cotton sheets should have a lifespan of two to three years, while the lifespan of linen sheets is typically three to five years, making it much more durable than cotton, although this can be extended when cared for, according to an expert from La Redoute.

"Linen sheets soften over time, as washing dissolves residual pectin in the fibers. This is especially true for pillowcases and fitted sheets, which bear more weight and absorb more oil and sweat. These will also experience greater wear and tear compared to duvet covers," the expert adds.

Sheet lifespan can also vary depending on whether they’re used daily, monthly, or seasonally, as well as the quality of the fiber used.

White Sheets or Color and Pattern?

If you're asking me this question, unless I'm staying in a hotel, I'm just not a huge fan of plain white sheets. They sometimes feel a little stark, and get dirty much easier, so I'll often choose something like a cream or light beige, if not a dark bedding choice. I also love a stripe. It's hard to ignore that the growing bedding trends all focus around more colorful bed linen, too. For other people, anything other than white sheets is a crime against design.

"I always say: dress your bed for you," Secret Linen Store's Molly says. "I love plains in soft, earthy tones — they feel calm and grounding. But a joyful stripe or check can lift the whole space and give your bed a bit of personality. White is timeless and fresh, but color can be just as restful when chosen with care. There’s no right or wrong, just what makes you smile when you walk into the room. A bed should be a beautiful, welcoming space that feels like yours." Good advice, indeed.

If you're considering changing up your bedding right now, I don't blame you. Bad bed sheets reveal themselves most during the summer months, so if you find yourself experiencing night after restless night, it might well be time to invest in quality. Material makes such a difference when it comes to breathability and temperature regulation, so those cheap polyester sheets just aren't going to cut it.

But where do you start? Reading reviews for a brand is one thing, but it's hard to compare from brand to brand without getting hands-on. However, to give you the best chance of getting the sheets you'll thrive with, I've tested countless different sets from both luxury and high street brands. I've tried to be as objective as possible, noting the qualities of each, rather than my preferences, but some things are universal. Softness, breathability, good style, and number one on my list: a decent fitted sheet — these are qualities that make it pretty easy to pick a winner.

This is the first update I've made since completely overhauling this list, and I've included new brands this time around, from British favorites Christie to a designer collaboration from bedding brand Tielle.

I've separated this list into the luxury bedding brands, the likes of which I've given proper reviews for on the Livingetc site, and the more budget bedding retailers, which don't always have ranges that continue on from year to year. With that in mind, I've given their offering a test for this article, but not the total review write-up, giving a sense of the brand's quality, without necessarily rating every sheet set.

As we're in the summer months right now, I've started off with a few picks that are perfect if you're looking to control your temperature a little better, too, using the best materials for summer sleep.

So, without further ado, these are the bedding brands I think you should know about, and why.

The Best of the Best

Best Fitted Sheet: Rise & Fall Fitted Cotton Sheet

Best Linen Bedding: Bed Thread French Flax linen sheets

Best Cotton Bedding: Cozy Earth Soft Wash Cotton

Best Budget Bedding: IKEA ÄNGSLILJA bedding set

The Best Buys for Summer Bedding

Before we get into our main guide, these buys all use materials that are ideal for thermoregulating your sleep during the summer months, in styles that feel perfect for the season, too, from brands I've tested, and rate well.

Best Luxury Bedding Brands

Luxury bedding brands tend to offer higher quality materials, superior manufacturing, and nice-to-have details like great packaging, or certain services to prolong the life of your bedding. Price-wise, these brands tends to cost from £150-£200+.

Bed Threads

(Image credit: Future)

Bed Threads is a brand hailing from Australia that's made waves in the UK for its style credentials. It's known best for its 100% flax linen bedding (you can read my Bed Threads bedding review for more on that), brilliant photography, and on-trend color palette that feels a little more modern than some of its UK-born contemporaries.

In my bedding reviews, Bed Threads had one of the best linen sheet sets I tested. A bit of an all-rounder, it's a light and airy linen with a great texture that looked sophisticated on the bed. It's probably the best-in-class bedding brand for color range, and it has some exciting styles, too, like scalloped pillowcases, which offer something new.

The drawbacks? If you don't dry them flat, they're a bit of a pain to iron (more so than other linens, I found), and there were some loose threads inside (more on stitching later) — very minor grumbles.

If you're not a linen fan, Bed Threads launched organic cotton in 2025 — I've not tested it yet, but I'll bet you it's good.

Christy

(Image credit: Christy)

Christy is possibly the best-known name in bedding in the UK, and for good reason. It stands apart from a lot of the competition by turning all its time and attention to its material of choice, cotton, and elevating it for the modern bedroom.

This focus means it's one of the bedding brands that has the largest variety of styles of cotton bedding in its range, so if you're wed to this classic material, start your search here. Christy is probably best known for its classic white, hotel-esque sheets, but it has a whole lot more than that to offer if you have more decorative style leanings. I'm majorly into its patterned flannel bedding, for one, while something like its scallop-edged bedding has a classic feel, but with a fresh twist thanks to a bright green trim.

I've slept in Christy sheets many times, but perhaps Livingetc's interiors editor Emma Breislin says it best of the brand's most 100% cotton percale 200 thread count sheets: it "gives it that 'crispy' hotel-like feel, but didn't feel tough or scratchy in the slightest." Cotton tends to have a little more structure to it, but it's probably the best all-rounder for sheets if you need to satisfy a range of preferences, which is why it's the choice of hotel rooms.

Cultiver

(Image credit: CULTIVER)

Another Australian brand, Cultiver is the name in cool, contemporary bedding if you want to label-brag to friends in the know. It's among the most expensive bedding brands on this list, though marginally, but is it worth the price tag?

It's hard to ignore the style factor at play — Cultiver's branding and styling is my favorite of all the brands on this list, and its curation of colors and patterns all appeal to my more minimalist interior design style.

In terms of quality, Cultiver isn't necessarily better than its competition, and I had problems with it during my review in terms of the feel of its linen sheets, and how comfortable they were to sleep in night after night. I'd argue they're loved more for the brand's name, and good looks, more than the quality.

Cultiver closed its dedicated UK site last year, which means you can now only order globally, with international shipping costs.

Cozy Earth

(Image credit: Cozy Earth)

Cozy Earth isn't well known in the UK, but this luxury bedding brand is super popular in the States, and actually one of the most purchased products from Livingetc's guides over in the US. And that's not to say it's not available here — you get free, fast delivery from the US on orders over $350, which sounds a lot, but when the brand's Bamboo bedding costs £355 at King Size, it's basically just free delivery regardless.

Yes, it's expensive, but as the reviews show, if you've got the wallet deep enough, it's worth the investment. Our own reviewer over in the US described the Soft Wash Cotton Bedding as the softest sheets they've ever touched. And, having had a feel of them as we landed some review samples here in the UK, I think I might agree.

This is the place to shop if you're looking for different types of bedding at its peak luxuriousness, with modern, never-too-fussy styles that always feel elegant.

Feather & Black

(Image credit: Feather & Black)

Feather & Black is best known as somewhere to buy a bed, but it has a great bedding range, too. I've not written an official review for Livingetc on Feather & Black yet, but I have slept in one of the brand's cotton bed sets over the past year, coincidentally, so I'd definitely recommend them to friends and family.

I've slept in the Cotton Collection Dyed Stripe Set from Feather & Black, and I love it for a simple reason. I'd say it's a little crisper, and more structured, than some cottons — but for a small sacrifice of that extra, extra softness, you get bedding that looks a lot better. It doesn't cling to the duvet so much, meaning the overall effect is a bit smoother, solving one of my biggest bugbears of cotton bedding.

Heal's

(Image credit: Heal's)

Full disclosure, Heal's bedding hasn't been through the thorough Livingetc testing process quite yet, but I have been hands-on with it in the store to get a sense of the quality, and I'd say, knowing Heal's as a brand too, you won't be disappointed with what you purchase.

It's not a vast bedding range, but it's a small, curated selection that leans into Heal's slightly mid-century leaning style in terms of color. Cotton or linen, plain or patterned, there are some fun designs in here too, so worth a look when shopping for bedding.

Linen Bundle

(Image credit: Luke Arthur Wells)

I tested something a little out of the ordinary for my own tastes from Linen Bundle, the brand's Luxe Sateen duvet cover set. I don't often opt for sateen or silk sheets because of their texture, but it is hard to argue they're silky soft against the skin. The weaving technique gives you the feeling of silk, but the practicality of cotton.

Regardless, I was impressed by the quality, with neat, durable seams, and Linen Bundle also has a more matte Percale bedding option. My only complaint? They don't come in a whole range of the most exciting colors, and the patterns are a little 'country' for contemporary tastes.

Piglet in Bed

(Image credit: Future)

Piglet in Bed is one of the heavyweight luxury bedding brands in the UK, having even taken its offering global at this point. It was one of the brands that introduced colorful linen bedding to the luxury market, so much so that it's become an undeniable aesthetic all of its own as an alternative to hotel-like white sheets.

I've had Piglet in Bed bedding a few times, but the one I put to the test for Livingetc was its linen blend bedding review, a clever idea that takes the best parts when comparing linen vs cotton sheets and fewer of the drawbacks. If you're uninitiated with linen sheets, this is what I'd choose first, as linen isn't, honestly, for everyone in terms of comfort, no matter how stylish it looks.

Piglet in bed as a modern aesthetic, with lots of color and pattern, even though in some respects it has a little bit of a country-style interiors leaning in its styling at times. Regardless, these are versatile designs that have a space in any room of the home, with thoughtful attention to detail that makes the sheets worthy of a luxury bedding brand.

Rise & Fall

(Image credit: Rise & Fall / House of Grey)

I'm unofficially awarding Rise & Fall with the title of Livingetc's 'Best Fitted Sheet'. As someone who can toss and turn a bit during the night, fitted sheets that don't stay put are a serious no-go. During my reviews, I've found some excellent ones that cling on for dear life, but none better than Rise & Fall's fitted sheet. Not only is it deep, and not only does it have strong elastic, but it also has rubber grips that keep it fixed in place. When I first tested the brand, they had a separate deep fitted sheet, but now, the deep sheet is the standard.

During my Rise & Fall bedding review, I also found the bedding brand's cotton bedding delightfully soft, and among the most comfortable I'd tried, and I have since been cycling it in regularly. I've been sleeping with this bedding set on and off for over a year, and it still holds up.

It has a small, sensible edit of bedding colors across its cotton and linen, but if you like timeless bedding, there will be something to satisfy you, undoubtedly.

Secret Linen Store

(Image credit: Future)

Secret Linen Store, in many ways, marked the start of the online bedding brand boom, bringing a contemporary approach to styling a bedroom with pattern and color that we weren't really seeing done up until then. It's inspired a fair few copycats over the years, but has sustained because, well, its bedding is good.

When I conducted a Secret Linen Store linen bedding review, I noted that its linen was a little stiffer and heavier than some other brands to begin — not to be unexpected, given that linen sheets soften over time and washes — but it gives a sense of the robustness and longevity we could expect from this brand's bedding. The quality is great, and the attention to detail is impressive.

Secret Linen Store is another bedding brand with a slightly British country aesthetic, which might not always be the Livingetc readers' favorite, but there's a lot of versatile plains and patterns in here that work as well in a modern rustic scheme as it does in a more classic one. Sophisticated texture, great colors, and interesting patterns to play around with, it's a bedding brand that I'd say delivers on all fronts.

The White Company

(Image credit: The White Company)

Chances are that The White Company doesn't need much of an introduction — it's one of those rare homewares stores that has transcended mere 'shop' status into something of a lifestyle brand. However, that's not to dismiss that The White Company is probably best known for its bedding.

Of course, it suits those looking for a particular aesthetic. Not always white necessarily (you'll find some other neutrals and muted colors among its offering), but certainly a more pared-back, wholesome, and timeless style. It is, surprisingly for this luxury bedding list, one of the only brands still really delivering on that classic, white, hotel-style bedding, and while that is undoubtedly its specialty, with all kinds of decorative details to elevate the look, you'll also find some more relaxed styles within its bedding range.

I tried The White Company Savoy Bedding for my review, the brand's most popular style, and it's a classic for a reason. Super soft, comfortable, lightweight, and breathable, with that fresh hotel look that you can't go wrong with.

Tielle

(Image credit: Tielle x 2LG Studio)

I've recently tested Tielle's bedding for the first time, and its offering is a masterclass in cotton bedding. The brand uses long-staple cotton to achieve its thread counts, whereas some budget brands use twists of short-ply to boost the thread count. This is where higher thread count really counts — it's not always a metric you can trust.

With Tielle, you're getting classic hotel good looks — crisp, all-white bedding, with the different varieties shifting up texture over color.

The brand recently launched a new collaboration with interior designers 2LG Studio, a neutral take on the trending moire pattern — a fresh idea for adding quiet pattern to a bedroom.

Other luxury bedding brands to shop

I may not have tried-and-tested these bedding brands yet, but based on reputation alone, and knowledge of their other products, I'd certainly still recommend them.

Toast

Toast, as a brand, has a charming, artisanal quality to it, highlighting makers and natural materials in a grounding way, and Toast's bedding delivers on the same: earth tones, organic cotton, and understated colors and patterns.

Soho Home

Soho Home's bedding is at the luxury end of this list, with prices up to some £550 for certain bedding sets. It's a small collection of its House cotton percale (used in Soho House around the world), and a more textural Luna linen.

Linen Bundle

I tested Linen Bundle's Luxe Sateen bedding, and though that texture isn't usually to my taste, it's hard to ignore that it's super soft on the skin. Sateen is a weaving technique that offers a super silky feel, but with the practicality of cotton.

Nordic Knots

If you're looking for a cool brand to buy bedding from, consider Nordic Knots. Best known for its rugs, its bed linen range is equally design-forward. I particularly love this 'shirt blue' percale set with a red trim.

Tekla

Another cool brand to know, Tekla offers a simple cotton bedding range in on-trend, zeitgeist-y colors and finishes. For the cool apartment-dwellers.

Where to Buy Affordable Bedding

Affordable bedding tends to come from high street brands, and while price may play a factor in your decision, it shouldn't be at the expense of quality. Here are the ones I rate.

H&M

(Image credit: H&M Home)

H&M Home is one of my favorite budget homeware brands in general, and it's bedding is no different. I head there for good quality basics, and have slept in its linen blend sheets many a night. Those classic materials tend to continue on season to season, for a little while at least, while more dynamic, modern designs might only be available for a limited time.

IKEA

(Image credit: IKEA)

One of my favorite bedding sets I've ever owned was, perhaps surprisingly, from IKEA. Unfortunately, they no longer sell that set, however, I recently re-tested IKEA's affordable ÄNGSLILJA cotton set, and it's as good as the set I remember.

IKEA is one of those brands that, while more budget-friendly, is never going to sell you poor-quality products.

However, I have a complaint. IKEA's bedding is actually based on European sizes, so if you buy the size labeled king size in store, you might find it actually is too large for your king size duvet. Pay attention to the measurements, and check against the size of your duvet.

La Redoute

(Image credit: La Redoute)

La Redoute's linen bedding, Linot, has a pretty good reputation as a more affordable option (taking into account how regularly La Redoute has huge discounts, more than the base price point), so I had to try it for myself. In my La Redoute linen bedding review I found it's not without its faults, but it does offer great value against great style, so it is one to consider before you invest in one of the more luxury brands (if they're on sale).

M&S

(Image credit: M&S)

If you want a bedding brand that feels a little more premium in all but price, I'd suggest heading to M&S. Its homewares section does timeless style that's actually pretty affordable for the style of its designs, and nowhere is this more acute than in its bedding.

Its Pure Linen set, for example, is less than half the price of some of the luxury bedding brands, and after putting it to the test, I'd say the quality is comparable. I also tested the brand's 'Best Ever' cotton bedding set, and it was not only super soft and comfortable, but showed the signs of good quality bedding.

Next

As an interior stylist, I've owned more sets of Next's bed sheets than I care to admit. Its range is so large, and deep, that I can almost guarantee I'll find the exact color and material I'm looking for. I've had Next's sheets in finished like brushed cotton, linen, waffle cotton, and more.

Next is a retailer that offers extra deep sheets, which is something every good bedding brand should have, in my opinion, and you'll find a really wide collection of patterns and styles online, as well as in store. Not all of them, for sure, are of a Livingetc readers' level of sophistication, but it's worth delving in to find the ones you do like, as, in my experience, the quality is better than like-for-like priced sheets at the lower end of the market.

Next also stocks other brands within its range, so keep an eye on which you're buying into, and check reviews separately.

FAQs

What Does Good Quality Bedding Look Like?

As you can probably see, there's a lot to wade through in the world of bedding, so if you come across a brand, how do you know if its bedding is any good?

Your first question might be about the best thread count for bedding, but it might not be worth getting too hung up here. The thread count basically refers to the number of threads within a certain square area, and it can be a sign of quality, but the higher the number doesn't necessarily mean the better the sheets.

Instead, Molly Freshwater, co-founder of Secret Linen Store, says you should always look at the fibers. "Natural fibers like linen and cotton are what I reach for every time," Molly says, explaining thread count doesn't matter as much as a quality such as fiber length. "Look for long-staple cotton or 100% linen — fabrics that are breathable, kind to skin, and improve with age. Where it comes from, how it’s woven, and even how it's finished matters more than any number on a label. Thread count gets all the attention, but the feel is what tells you if it’s right." Materials like Egyptian cotton are the gold standard in fiber length, too.

So, what else do you look for? Part of how we test bedding is looking at the quality of the manufacturing by delving inside the duvet and pillow covers. "Good stitching is like good handwriting: you can tell when someone’s really taken their time," Molly says. "Neat, consistent stitches help your bedding hold its shape, wash after wash. It’s about durability but also about care and pride in the making."

"Even, tight stitching prevents seams from fraying, and well-stitched bedding feels smoother and more comfortable against the body," agrees Lauren Knowlsen, head of design at bedding brand Rise & Fall. "Well-constructed seams are less likely to allow dirt to become trapped, contributing to better hygiene."

Should You Change Your Bedding In Different Seasons?

Certain bedding material is thermoregulatory, in that it'll keep you cooler in summer, and warmer in winter, depending on what your body needs. That makes it ideal for people sharing a bed where one may be a hot sleeper, one a cool sleeper.

However, if you want to up the ante, you can definitely switch from lighter bedding in the summer, to heavier in the winter. "In the summer, cool and breathable is exactly what you want. Linen and cotton percale are both lovely for that fresh, crisp feel against your skin," Molly says. "But bedding doesn’t always have to be cool. In the colder months, I lean towards cosier textures like brushed cotton or heavier linen. I think your bed should work with the seasons and most importantly, it should feel right for you, whether that’s cool, cozy, or somewhere in between."

How Do You Care for Bedding Properly?

There are different ways to wash bed linen, depending on the fibers of your bed sheets, but the basic principle is: keep it simple.

"Wash at 40°C with a gentle detergent, nothing too harsh," Molly says. "Line-drying is my favorite when the weather plays ball; there’s nothing like sheets dried in fresh air. A gentle tumble dry is fine too, just keep it low. And don’t worry too much about creases, natural bedding has that perfectly imperfect look that I think makes a bed feel even more welcoming."

Genevieve Rosen, co-founder of Bed Threads, has some more advice. “Always wash in cold or lukewarm water with a mild liquid detergent, skip the fabric softener, and give your sheets plenty of space to move in the machine," she says. She agrees: "Air drying is ideal, but if you tumble dry, go low and gentle, removing them while still slightly damp."

Good linen storage is well-organized, and in a cool, dry place.

How Long Should Bedding Last?

Well, it depends on the fiber of the sheets again. Cotton sheets should have a lifespan of two to three years, while the lifespan of linen sheets is typically three to five years, making it much more durable than cotton, although this can be extended when cared for, according to an expert from La Redoute.

"Linen sheets soften over time, as washing dissolves residual pectin in the fibers. This is especially true for pillowcases and fitted sheets, which bear more weight and absorb more oil and sweat. These will also experience greater wear and tear compared to duvet covers," the expert adds.

Sheet lifespan can also vary depending on whether they’re used daily, monthly, or seasonally, as well as the quality of the fiber used.

White Sheets or Color and Pattern?

If you're asking me this question, unless I'm staying in a hotel, I'm just not a huge fan of plain white sheets. They sometimes feel a little stark, and get dirty much easier, so I'll often choose something like a cream or light beige, if not a dark bedding choice. I also love a stripe. It's hard to ignore that the growing bedding trends all focus around more colorful bed linen, too. For other people, anything other than white sheets is a crime against design.

"I always say: dress your bed for you," Secret Linen Store's Molly says. "I love plains in soft, earthy tones — they feel calm and grounding. But a joyful stripe or check can lift the whole space and give your bed a bit of personality. White is timeless and fresh, but color can be just as restful when chosen with care. There’s no right or wrong, just what makes you smile when you walk into the room. A bed should be a beautiful, welcoming space that feels like yours." Good advice, indeed.