Best of Bedding [Guide]
Did you know that the average person will spend one-third of their life in bed? And for those of you who binge Netflix from your boudoir - even longer! With such a time commitment to our mattresses, I believe it is important to invest in good bedding.
I was recently having a chat with a friend about bedding and it was funny to me how different we all are in our sleep preferences. I myself have very specific needs. I am very particular about the kind of linens that I sleep on because my skin is highly sensitive. I can’t have anything scratchy touching my skin. My sheets must be white, cool, and very smooth and if the sheets feel the least bit textured, I will not be able to sleep a wink.
A friend of mine was telling me that she is always cold at night and prefers sheets that have a "cozier" feel to them. I decided to turn to my Instagram community and find out what type of sleepers they are and what type of bedding and brands they prefer. A big thank you to all that participated! It was really helpful and I became aware of brands that I never even knew existed which was great. I also found out that 90% of the people that responded said they prefer white sheets to colored sheets. Among the responses, more people prefer silk pillowcases to cotton and more people prefer cotton sheets to sateen or cashmere. Here is what my readers said their main priority was when it comes to bedding. They want “softness” and stated in the questionnaire that “quality sheets are worth every penny.” They primarily look for “form and function” when buying sheets. So - If you're looking to refresh your bedding at home, I’m hoping you'll find a recommendation below!
My Favorite Bedding - Cool Sheets
As I said earlier, I’m super picky about the sheets that I sleep on and can vouch for the importance of finding reputable brands of linens that stand the test of time. My husband and I got married over 40 years ago. We received a beautiful set of monogrammed bed linens as a wedding gift which were on rotation in our linen closet for more than 20 years. They were from a store on the Lower East Side of New York City called Harris Levy Fine Linens. This shop has been in business since 1894, and the next time you get to New York, you should definitely stop in. The 133-year-old store is a family-owned business and the 4th generation of this family is now running it. As a matter of fact, I just got off the phone with Meryl Levy who owns and runs the business with her husband, Bob. She knows the business backwards and forwards, and can answer any question that you might possibly have about bedding. You must check out their website, and then call them with any questions you have. I’m sure you’ve bought sheets in the past that you weren’t 100% satisfied with, but the personalized customer service you’ll receive on the phone is as if you were there in person. They also offer a monogram service with any of their sheets and pillowcases and use special swiss hand-guided embroidery on their linens, unlike most other stores that offer an embroidery service.
If you run warm at night, then I highly recommend percale sheets to keep you cool. Harris Levy has a private label percale line of sheets (less expensive) and they also have their Grande Hotel Collection. Both of these are smooth, cool and crispy and feel amazing on your skin. I have 2 sets and love them. You will need to call to get pricing.
Another brand of sheets that is great If you’re a hot sleeper is Wamsutta Dream Zone bedding. I love these sheets and use my Bed, Bath and Beyond coupons to get a new set at 20% off. The more you wash these sheets, the softer they become. I also love the Wamsutta Dream Zone Dream Bed with the duvet and shams. The duvet and shams have a clean design with pintuck stitched detail which elevates the whole look. Check it out!
My Instagram followers suggested a brand called Duxiana. As I was reading about this luxury brand, I found out that they have a line of percale sheets that is great for people who are always hot at night. They are crisp, cool, and breathable which is why I want to try them. These percale sheets are a perfect choice for people that always get hot and sweaty in bed no matter how cool you keep your home.
Cashmere Sheets
Brooklinen - Heathered Cashmere Sheets: On the poll that I put out to my Instagram followers, one of my friends answered that she is always cold at night. She is partial to the brand Brooklinen and loves their Heathered Cashmere Sheets. She swears by these sheets and says that they are decadent. According to Brooklinen’s website, these sheets keep you warm and fuzzy, not hot and stuffy. Even if you live in a warm climate, if you’re running your air conditioning at night, these sheets could be just what you’re looking for.
Bamboo Sheets
Cozy Earth - Bamboo Sheets: Oprah guarantees these linens are the “softest sheets ever”! The bamboo fabric they use is super soft, temperature regulating, and breathable. In other words, it keeps you cool. The quality of these linens is an enhanced weave that won’t pill. It’s certified free of harsh chemicals or dyes with a direct supply chain and ethical factories.
Linen Sheets
Linen sheets are light yet cozy, chic yet casual. Linen is known for its perfectly imperfect, signature rumpled look. Parachute Home and Brooklinen are two companies that are both known for their linen sheets.
Parachute - Vintage Linen: Made of pure European flax, Parachute Home’s linen is casually elegant with timeless appeal. Its luxurious, soft texture is achieved through garment washing – and only gets better with time.
Brooklinen - Linen Sheets: Effortless elegance and casual style inspire Brooklinen’s Washed Linen Sheets collection. Light yet cozy, linen is perfect for warm days or cool nights. Each piece is washed and dyed in small batches, giving this collection a playfully unique and individual character.
Anti Aging Silk Pillow Cases
Sleeping on silk is a long-time beauty secret among celebrity hairstylists, dermatologists, and beauty experts. It has been shown to absorb less face cream and moisturizers. Silk pillowcases create less friction on your face than cotton pillowcases which prevents sleep crease. The silk material also preserves blow-outs and is anti- bedhead.
SLIP Silk Pillow Case: Slipsilk™ is specially commissioned and made to their exacting standards, developed and refined over ten years to provide the ultimate combination of shine, thickness, softness, and durability. They use the highest grade (6A) long fiber mulberry silk, with a thickness of 22 momme, and enforce the strictest quality guidelines, including non-toxic dyes.
Shhh Silk Pillow Cases: The Shhh pillowcases are sold in pairs and at a slightly lower price point than SLIP. This company also pays it forward with $1 of every online purchase going towards life-changing global charities. I love when companies have this global mission of giving as part of their business model.
Taking Care of Your Sheets & PillowCases
When you invest money into high-quality sheets and pillowcases, it is important to take care of them properly. There are a lot of harsh chemicals in most of your everyday detergents. I highly recommend looking into more eco-friendly options for detergent. Not only is it better for you and the environment - it’s also better for your sheets and clothes.
The Laundress Signature Detergent: The Laundress Signature Detergent is a non-toxic, eco-friendly, all-natural, plant-based, and very concentrated laundry detergent - meaning a little goes a long way. It has a fresh scent that is not too overwhelming and a perfect choice for your sheets. What I also like about The Laundress is that they offer a refill pouch that uses 62% less plastic than traditional laundry detergent bottles. I don’t know about you, but in the past, every time I threw out a super thick detergent bottle, I felt bad about it knowing that it would take hundreds of years to break down in a landfill. I can’t believe that it’s taken this long for detergent refills to be available - #SaveThePlanet
Wool Dryer Balls: I have been using Downy and Bounce dryer sheets in my laundry for years, but I’ve decided now is the time for me to try a different alternative that’s a little more earth-friendly as well as non-toxic. I’ve heard so many great things about how these wool dryer balls are a terrific chemical-free solution for reducing wrinkles and the need to iron bedding and clothing.
Fine Mesh Laundry Bag: These mesh laundry bags are perfect for washing your silk pillowcases. They will protect the delicate fabric from other items in the wash and washing machines with agitators that could distress the silk.
No matter what type of sleeper you are, I hope I’ve given you some new ideas to elevate your bedding. With the 4th of July around the corner a lot of these brands featured offer discounts so be sure to keep your eyes out for some good deals!
Sweet dreams my friends!
xx Barbara