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They're soft, cosy and super sustainable Bedding Fabric
As we spend a third of our life asleep, it’s worth getting your bedding right. Cotton is the go-to material for cosy, breathable bedding, but it isn’t the most eco-friendly fabric — and what if you prefer a more rustic look? We’d recommend linen bedding instead...
This sustainable, natural material is hypoallergenic, hardwearing, super-soft and requires no ironing — its rumpled, lived-in texture looks lovely fresh out of the washing machine.
Not convinced? Here's why we’ll be tucking ourselves into linen sheets tonight:
It’s eco-friendly. Linen is made from flax; a totally natural, biodegradable material. It requires no additional water to grow aside from rain — a far cry from the 10,000 litres required to grow 1kg of cotton. Every part of the plant can be used, too, so there’s no wastage — linseed oil is also made from flax, for example.
It’s great value for money. This fabric is exceptionally strong and hardwearing. Invest in the right set and you could enjoy it for up to 50 years – again reducing wastage.
It’s comfy to sleep in. Linen’s weave allows for greater airflow than cotton, making it better at wicking away moisture in the summer so you stay cooler in bed – a good choice for hot sleepers. This quality also means it dries quickly after a wash, so you won’t be hanging around for hours waiting to make the bed.
What’s more, linen gets softer the more it’s washed, so its cosiness only improves over time. Look for pre-washed sets when purchasing to enjoy this feeling fresh out of the box.
Note, unbleached linen has a subtle ecru or beige hue, but is often dyed in rich, vibrant tones, so there should be something out there to suit your tastes.
We’ve scouted out some of our favourite linen bedding sets for all budgets – from reasonably priced steals at H&M to luxury options from Rise & Fall and Bedfolk. Note all prices refer to double sizes, unless stated otherwise.
Rise & Fall has a gorgeous selection of high-quality bedding, including its range of 100% European flax linen sheets. The bedding is free from harsh chemicals, and it’s made with majority renewable energy, earning extra sustainability points.
We have this chic olive set and can confirm it’s a great investment. Cosy, lightweight and crisp, we often find ourselves reaching for it over other sheets in our drawers come laundry day. Plus, a handy storage bag is included to keep everything neat and tidy.
M&S is one of our go-to retailers for bedding, offering high-quality sheets at a reasonable price. The brand's range is smaller but still has everything you need for a full cosy linen scheme. The blush pink is our favourite, but it’s available in five other pretty colours.
These sheets are certified by OEKO-TEX®, so you can be sure no harmful substances have been used in production. This bedding also has the largest shade range we've found, encompassing delicate pale pinks and beige through to deep navy and black.
On the down side, there are no bedding sets available – you must buy all pieces separately. Saying that, due to all the colours, plus the three different pillow sizes, you'll be able to create a bedding scheme entirely unique to your tastes. Be creative!
Save £18 with the code SAVE20.
Heal's has some of the prettiest colours we've seen for linen bedding and we love that they can be mixed and matched to create some fun, vibrant clashing schemes.
Head to Etsy to shop thoughtful pieces from small independent sellers. There are a host of linen bedding shops on the platform, but we thought the extensive colour and size range (you can order custom dimensions if needed) was particularly lovely here.
Take note, the price above refers to king size.
H&M is improving its eco-credentials, with the brand committing to use all recycled or sustainably sourced materials by 2030.
Its 100% linen bedding range is available in a range of colours including this soothing blue. A set includes two pillowcases and a duvet cover, but you'll have to buy a sheet separately.
When Bedfolk says this bedding is soft, it means it. We tried the Ink colourway and it was the softest linen that we've ever felt —impressive!
Even better, the deep, dark tone was very sophisticated and looks lovely on the bed. We also like how the sets come in a matching linen bag, to keep everything neat in your drawer when not in use.
It looks like lots of sizes are out of stock right now though, so take a look at Bedfolk's cotton range as an alternative. Take note, the price above refers to a single.
We love Soak&Sleep's hotel-quality cotton sheets, so we were pleased to see its linen range. They're available in nine complementary shades that are ideal for mixing and matching — or you can buy all in one colour and save 5%.
The price above refers to a double-sized bedding bundle.
There are no sets at John Lewis, so you'll have to stock up separately, but we do like these sweet lace-edged pillowcases to give beds a little more oomph.
JL also has this washed linen option, available in six colours.
This is a luxury option — a double duvet cover alone costs £170 — but the quality is worth the price.
The brand offers a monogramming service too, which would make a set of these sheets a fantastic gift for a deserving recipient. The sheets are available in a range of muted hues for a relaxing, serene bedroom environment.
Pillows and fitted sheets are available to buy separately.
For a slice of luxury, keep an eye on Soho Home. As the associated interiors brand for private members club Soho House, you can expect to shop the same stylish pieces you'll find at its clubs around the world, helping you bring that effortlessly cool vibe to your own home. Start here with this deep olive bedding.
Linen bedding sets are usually full colour (and CPL has plenty of those), so this subtle ticking striped bundle is a welcome change. The blue hue is very soothing, too.
This set has been woven from Fair Trade-certified soft flaxen linen; we love the flecks of black running through this grey set. It also has four interior ties to keep it in place, so no more bunching if you tend to toss and turn.
Investing in a reversible bedding set essentially gives you two looks for the price of one – which is a great bonus when you're investing in expensive quality items.
This Urbanara option is light on one side and a deep navy on the other; perfect for swapping over at the changing of the seasons.
Piglet is a premium brand with prices to match, but it's the only brand to sell full bedding bundles with sheets and extra pillowcases included.
All the colours are gorgeous and, although a full bedding bundle (with a fitted sheet, flat sheet and four pillowcases included) will set you back just shy of £400, it should last for life. There are also sets without the extras, if you prefer a more minimal scheme.
We like how there's matching pyjamas available too.
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