Watch any of those TV shows behind the scenes at posh hotels and the bedrooms will have one thing in common: crisp white sheets, immaculately styled. In our own homes, the reality may depend more on whichever bedding happens to be clean that day. The sheets might have been crisp and brilliant white at one point, but now have seen better days. Sound familiar? It could be time for an upgrade. Be smart about what you buy and look after it well and it should last you well into the next decade.
While for some, five-star-worthy white cotton is the only way to go, others prefer to add a little detail: a subtle stripe, say, or some pretty embroidery in a contrasting colour. Perhaps you want artfully relaxed linen in an Instagram-friendly hue.
For inspiration, we asked interior design professionals what they buy for their own homes and recommend to clients. You’ll find a mix of high-street names, online specialists, smaller independents and insider brands used by hotels. Our experts share which of those aspirational social media favourites deliver style and substance.
Prices listed are for a double, except where specified. Remember to check individual brands’ size guides before buying.
The best bedding brands, picked by interior experts
Toast
I like the gentle stripe of the Toast bed linen because it softens the whole appearance of the bed, stopping it from being a stark white island in the middle of the room. Not being pure white is also far more user-friendly, and forgiving of my teenage daughter’s makeup, my son’s bedtime buttered toast and my occasionally lax ironing. Nicola Harding, interior designer and founder of Nicola Harding & Co and Nix Furniture
Organic cotton pyjama stripe duvet cover
£109 at Toast
Fitted sheet
£70 at Toast
Oxford pillowcase
Gilly Nicolson
I’m known for colour and pattern, but I keep my bed really plain: any pattern would interfere with my wallpapers and cushions, and I like the contrast of plain white sheets. In my own bedroom, I have sheets by Gilly Nicolson, a Scottish brand specialising in stitching. The set I have has two rows of stitching on the pillowcases – there are many thread colours and you can choose up to three rows of stitching. The soft bed linen is made in Portugal and feels luxurious. It’s an investment, but it’ll last a lifetime and my bed is my sanctuary. Eva Sonaike, interior designer and founder of Eva Sonaike studio and home decor
Corded stitch duvet cover
From £295 at Gilly Nicolson
Oxford pillowcase
From £90 at Gilly Nicolson
Fitted sheet
Piglet in Bed
My son has allergies, so I go for linen bedding in my kids’ rooms. I get duvet covers from Piglet in Bed, which come in loads of colours. Eva Sonaike
Dusk blue linen duvet cover
£179.10 at Piglet in Bed
Pillowcase
£49.50 a pair at Piglet in Bed
For children and teens’ bedding, where white isn’t always a practical choice, I love the stripey range from Piglet in Bed. Kate Watson-Smyth, author, designer and writer
Sandstone Red Pembroke stripe linen blend duvet cover
£189 at Piglet in Bed
Pillowcase
£45 a pair at Piglet in Bed
Fitted sheet
I love the natural linen by Piglet in Bed. I love how cocooning and warm it is in the winter, really holding the heat from my electric blanket, but also how cool pure linen is in the warmer months. And, of course, you don’t have to iron it, which is always a boon. Katherine Ormerod, author of Your Not Forever Home
Heritage linen bundle (duvet cover, fitted sheet, 2 x pillowcases)
Once you go linen, you never go back. It’s the lightweight, relaxed and natural feeling of washed linen from Piglet in Bed that makes this breathable bedding hard to beat. Apart from its cute name (I own piglets on my farm and would love my husband to let me keep them in bed), the brand has a vast range to choose from, from plains to patterns and everything in between. Banjo Beale, interior designer, broadcaster and author of Wild Isle Style
Ivory Kemptown stripe linen blend duvet cover
£189 at Piglet in Bed
Fitted sheet
£109 at Piglet in Bed
Pillowcase
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La Redoute
I get fitted sheets from La Redoute because its linen range is really good. They’re not crazily expensive and they come in similar colours to Piglet in Bed [where we get our duvet sets], so although it may not be exactly the same, it will still match – I don’t like to mix and match colours. Eva Sonaike
Linot washed linen fitted sheet
La Redoute makes great patterned bedding, and you can mix and match. I don’t like lots of cushions on the bed, so I tend to buy pillowcases in a mix of plain, floral and stripes or checks. That way the bed looks dressed and I can get straight in without having to remake it. I have seersucker checked sheets in red and green, which are super comfortable. There are matching pillowcases that have checks on one side and stripes on the other. I style them stripe side out, with a pink linen duvet cover on the red set and a tonal floral one with the green. Kate Watson-Smyth
Signatures Cottage caramel fitted seersucker sheet
From £31.50 at La Redoute
Standard pillowcase
£13.50 each at La Redoute
Elina washed linen duvet cover
King of Cotton
We’re real sticklers for high-thread-count Egyptian cotton in a sateen weave. The highest count you can afford is money well spent. Most recently, we used the 1,000-thread-count Egyptian cotton sateen bedding from King of Cotton and loved it. It has a comforting weight to it, drapes beautifully, and feels crisp and cool on the skin in the summer while being incredibly snug in winter. Charlotte Tilbury of Penrose Tilbury Interior Design
Egyptian cotton sateen duvet cover
£166 at King of Cotton
Flat sheet
£90.75 at King of Cotton
Oxford pillowcase
Frette
If money were no object, we would go for Frette, which we discovered at Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire. They were the best sheets we’ve ever slept on, but they come with a serious price tag.
We love an Oxford pillowcase, too: it’s like a little frame around the humble pillow, adding a real elegance to the bed setup. Bedding should always be white in our opinion, although embroidery is allowed. Charlotte Tilbury
Triplo Bourdon white/milk cotton duvet cover
£629 for king size at Frette
Fitted sheet
£230 for king size at Frette
Oxford pillowcase
Tekla
Our go-to bed linen brand has been Copenhagen-based Tekla for many years. We also use its towels. It has a great range of cotton and linen bedding in an array of colours. We have the linen in blue and the colour matches our walls perfectly. It’s super clean and simple, beautifully made and washes really well. We go for linen in warmer weather and tend to switch to cotton in the winter. We keep the bed dressing simple with a matching throw. Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead of 2LG Studio
Morning blue organic cotton duvet cover
£210 at Tekla
Fitted sheet, 140 x 200cm
£105 at Tekla
Pillowcase, 50 x 75cm
We love Tekla’s percale bedding range. It’s 100% organic cotton, but also lightly stonewashed for a worn-in feeling, which gently softens even further over time without wearing out. We go for fitted sheets, but get a spare flat sheet to replace the duvet on hot summer nights.
There are great colours and stripes to choose from if you’re so inclined, but we prefer our bedding plain and neutral, so our choice is broken white – a pure, pristine white. We also love petal pink if we ever do decide to venture away from white bedding. Charlotte Buchanan, interior designer and co-founder of Buchanan Studio
Broken white organic cotton duvet cover
£210 at Tekla
Fitted sheet, 140 x 200cm
£105 at Tekla
Pillowcase, 50 x 75cm
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Soak&Sleep
I love Soak&Sleep bedding: it hits the perfect spot of quality, style and affordability, making it my top recommendation for clients and my own home. Its cotton-linen blend is particularly brilliant, with a mix that makes it breathable for keeping cool in summer and cosy when it’s colder. The slight texture makes the bed feel and look elevated but inviting, and I like how it has a more relaxed feel than stiff Egyptian cotton. I particularly love the white blackberry linen cotton range; it’s a little more interesting than plain white, with a subtle, sophisticated pattern that isn’t too dominating. Athina Bluff, founder of design studio Topology Interiors
Pinstripe duvet cover
£65 at Soak&Sleep
Fitted sheet
£40 at Soak&Sleep
Pillowcase
From £22.40 a pair at Soak&Sleep
Richard Haworth
The bedding I have in my own home and recommend to clients is from Richard Haworth. The brand supplies hotels, and I discovered its linens after staying with a friend who owns The Beckford Arms in Wiltshire and admiring the bedding. It washes brilliantly and it’s really well priced. I’ve had my current set for six years and it still looks as good as new.
I do love pure white bedding – it feels luxurious and allows colour and pattern to come from the headboard, quilt and cushions. The Carlyle stripe is my favourite set; it’s plain but has a micro stripe detail to add a little interest. Laura Stephens, founder of Laura Stephens Interiors
Carlyle sateen stripe duvet cover
£60 at Richard Haworth
Mock Oxford pillowcase
Sophie Conran
If I’m looking for bedding with a pretty vibe, I go to Sophie Conran. The quality of the bedding is great and I love the scalloped edge on this set, which adds a feminine feel. Laura Stephens
Navy scalloped duvet cover
£120 at Sophie Conran
Oxford pillowcase
Is there anything more luxurious than high-thread-count, crisp cotton sheets? That feeling of slipping into a hotel bed, but in your very own room? When I’m hosting guests, I will generally opt for Sophie Conran’s beautiful embroidered sheets – though I get them professionally pressed because I just cannot make them look good with my own iron and board. My favourite is the navy colourway. Katherine Ormerod
Anemone lilac duvet cover and two standard pillowcases set
Rise & Fall
I love Rise & Fall, which makes sustainable bedding. I particularly like that the fitted sheets have a label saying “short side” and “long side” – it’s worth the price for that alone. In my home, I have the olive duvet and pillowcases. I pair it with the stripe sheet. Kate Watson-Smyth
Relaxed & Refined linen duvet bundle (1 duvet cover and 2 standard pillowcases)
£143.50 at Rise & Fall
Fitted sheet
£63 at Rise & Fall
Stripe flat sheet
For cotton fitted sheets, I always go to Rise & Fall because of the use of hospital-style elastic. They literally never move out of place and are so easy to get on and off. Katherine Ormerod
Cool and crisp organic luxury fitted sheet
When I want crisp cotton, Rise & Fall offers fantastic options. The percale cotton feels more luxurious than the price tag suggests, and I like the sustainability credentials. The creamy buttermilk shade is my favourite, as the colour is soft yet impactful. Jessica Horton, interior designer and founder of Deorling
Crisp and Cool organic duvet cover
£80 at Rise & Fall
Flat sheet
£60 at Rise & Fall
Standard pillowcase
Sirimiri
I can’t recommend Sirimiri enough to anyone looking for that blend of sustainability and luxury. Its fabrics are crafted with care, offering a beautifully soft texture that’s built to last, and the various tones would complement most bedroom styles. For me, the commitment to sustainable sourcing and eco-friendly production makes it feel like a worthwhile investment in both quality and conscience.
For a classic, timeless look, I love the honeycomb pillowcase with its subtle texture, and the cording pillowcase for a touch of colour. This pairing adds a bit of visual contrast while keeping a cohesive look. Alex Dauley, interior designer and founder of Dauley Designs
Organic cotton duvet cover
From £306 at Sirimiri
Honeycomb pillowcase
From £150 each at Sirimiri
Fitted sheet
Cologne & Cotton
My home is full of bold colour but my bedroom is painted a pale pink. I like the bedding to be light and calming, but not necessarily all white. I get lots of mine from Cologne & Cotton, and I mix and match sets. I might go for the striped blue fitted sheet and a white duvet cover with blue scalloped embroidery. The brand also makes pillowcases for boudoir pillows in most sets, so I’ll have one of those, but in a different pattern within the same colour range. Stephanie Barba Mendoza, founder of Stephanie Barba Mendoza interior design studio
Blue Rosa duvet cover
£72 at Cologne & Cotton
Oxford pillowcase
£34.20 each at Cologne & Cotton
Blue candy stripe fitted sheet
Cologne & Cotton has great kids’ options too. I like the woven check percale cotton range, which comes in different colours and then brushed cotton in winter, which is really cosy.
Check cotton percale duvet cover
£45 for a single at Cologne & Cotton
Fitted sheet
£28.80 for a single at Cologne & Cotton
Oxford pillowcase
£23.40 each at Cologne & Cotton
Solden brushed cotton duvet cover
£54 for a single at Cologne & Cotton
Fitted sheet
£37.80 for a single at Cologne & Cotton
Household pillowcase
£19.80 each at Cologne & Cotton
Bed Threads
Australian brand Bed Threads is a favourite of mine. Its pure linen bedding comes in gorgeous, rich shades that work beautifully for heritage homes, giving that lived-in luxury feel that only gets softer over time. I mix and match the rust and turmeric sets. I prefer a flat sheet over a fitted one for versatility and ease of tucking. Jessica Horton
Turmeric linen duvet cover
£170 at Bed Threads
Rust flat sheet
£120 at Bed Threads
Pillowcase
Sally Newall is a freelance consumer journalist with more than a decade’s experience as a product reviews editor. She’s covered everything from fitness kit to furniture to fashion, and a lot more besides. She is an interiors obsessive who is forever dreaming of her next home project
