Bedding buying guide
Learn everything you need to know about bedding with our comprehensive guide
Choosing the right bed linen is about more than just selecting a style to suit your bedroom: it’s about creating a comfortable, relaxing space to unwind as well as one that looks beautiful. Simply swapping your bedding is one of quickest and most affordable ways to make changes to the appearance of your room. Whether you’d prefer simple and sophisticated or bold and bright, we’ll help you find the right bedding for your home and sleeping needs.
In this guide we'll tell you everything you need to know about:
Thread count
When you’re looking for bed sheets you’ll see a thread count filter. Thread count denotes the number of threads per square inch of fabric. A higher thread count is usually associated with a finer yarn as more of the yarn is able to fit into a square inch of the fabric, which is in turn associated with quality. Sheets that have a higher thread count will usually feel denser, which again gives a feeling of luxury. However, other factors such as the material used can also affect quality.
Bedding materials
When you're picking out your bedding, you'll be able to choose from a range of different materials. Here, we outline some of their benefits and drawbacks.
Cotton
Cotton is the most common bedding fabric, so you’ll have lots of different options of style, colour and price point available to you. Cotton is also a durable fabric that's breathable and easy to clean.
Bamboo
Bamboo is seen as a more sustainable material than cotton, which is one of the reasons why bamboo bedding is increasing in popularity. Bamboo is a soft and durable material, but it will often be more expensive than similar cotton options.
Linen
Linen is a fabric that’s known for its ability to keep you cool and linen bedding is no exception, which makes it an ideal choice for the summer months. Linen bedding may have a slightly course feel at first but this will be reduced the more it's washed. Linen sheets have a luxurious feel and will often be more expensive than other sheet materials as a result.
Bedding sizes
Most bedding is available in three standard sizes; single, double and king size. You’ll want to choose the right size for your existing bed and duvet.
Single bedding is designed to fit 135 x 200cm duvets, double bedding is designed to fit 200 x 200cm duvets and king size bedding is designed to fit 220 x 230cm duvets.
Look for a duvet and cover that is at least as large as your mattress – and opt for slightly larger if you prefer a more luxurious look and feel.
Don’t forget to consider pillowcases too. These are available in two different shapes: Housewife and Oxford. Housewife pillowcases snugly fit the pillow to give a neat, fitted effect whilst Oxford pillowcases feature a stylish fabric trim all around the edge of the pillow. Consider the number of pillowcases you’ll need when selecting bedding – most bedding sets contain two pillowcases, so you might want to think about additional contrasting pillowcases if you prefer to sleep with more pillows than this.
Bedding designs
Whether you prefer bold and bright, or simple, refined luxury, we have bedding choices to suit your home. Opt for crisp, sophisticated neutrals to complement a contemporary interior, or richly coloured, embellished designs to bring warmth to your home. Here are some of the options you might want to consider.
Printed designs
Printing onto a fabric is a simple way of creating intricate and colourful designs. Our printed designs are double-sided and available in a range of styles. This bed linen is made from a Polycotton blend material which offers easy care at an affordable price.
Simple embellished designs
These are simple classical designs where folds, ruffles and other simple textures have been added to the fabric. These techniques include pleats, heat seal, seersucker and quilted textures, which add another dimension to the bedding.
Detailed embellished designs
These designs are especially intricate and provide more texture and detail. Elaborate techniques such as embroidery and appliqué have been used in these fabrics. Detailed embellished designs will add a touch of style and luxury to your bedroom.
Synthetic pillows
Synthetic pillows, such as hollowfibre pillows, are a great option if you’re shopping on a budget but still want a pillow that's comfortable and easy to clean.
Down pillows
Down pillows provide a luxury sleeping experience that feels soft and cosy. These pillows have a premium feel and will retain warmth like down duvets. However, because of these qualities they will often be more expensive than other pillow types.
Feather pillows
Feather pillows offer a more affordable but still luxurious alternative to down. Feather pillows are more supportive than down and can also help with temperature regulation.
Memory foam pillows
Memory foam pillows, just like memory foam mattresses, are designed to mould to your head and neck while you sleep to give you a customised, comfortable sleeping position. These pillows are ideal for anyone with neck pain issues but as they are designed to let your head ‘sink’ into them, they can be warmer than other pillow types.
Pillows and sleep types
Pillows are available with firm, medium and soft firmness ratings. The way you sleep will determine how firm you need your pillow to be.
Side sleepers
Side sleepers should choose a medium to firm pillow. If you sleep on your side and your head is too high or too low, you could damage the natural alignment of your spine, so a firmer pillow is best.
Stomach sleepers
If you sleep on your stomach, you want to prevent raising your head too high as this can cause a backwards arch in your spine leading to discomfort. For this reason, if you sleep on your stomach you should choose a soft pillow that helps keep your neck and spine at the same angle.
Back sleepers
If you sleep on your back, it’s important that your head is supported but not pushed too far forward which could create discomfort. As a result, it’s recommended you choose a medium to firm pillow.
Duvet tog ratings
Tog rating is a measure of heat retention, with higher tog ratings meaning better heat retention. As a result, duvets with a higher tog rating will be warmer and duvets with a lower tog rating will be cooler.
Tog ratings are important as you can’t always tell how warm a duvet will be based on the thickness or the material.
Duvet fillings
When shopping for your duvet you’ll have a range of different filling options to choose from. These will have an effect on how warm and comfortable your duvet feels, so take the time to find the right fit for you and your budget.
Down Fillings
Down is an excellent insulator for its weight, which is why it’s a popular filling choice for winter jackets. Your down duvet will be lightweight and breathable, whilst also keeping you warm through the winter. Because of these qualities, down duvets will often be more expensive than other duvet types.
Feather fillings
Feather duvets are often the more affordable option when compared with down. Feathers are heavier and flatter than down, which means you’ll get a weightier duvet which some people will prefer. Feather duvets will still keep you warm and are an excellent choice if your budget won’t stretch to a down duvet.
Microfibre fillings
Microfibre fillings have a similar feel to down but are more affordable. Microfibre is lightweight and airy, which makes it ideal for those who sleep warm.
Hollowfibre fillings
Hollowfibre fillings also feature synthetic fibres but with larger spaces between them than you'll find in a microfibre duvet. This makes these duvets highly breathable, perfect for summer nights or those who sleep warmer.
Mattress toppers
Mattress toppers are designed to add extra comfort to your mattress. This makes them ideal for anyone who isn’t ready to replace their current mattress but wants to increase its comfort.
Mattress toppers may also help prolong the life of your current mattress by providing it with some protection and reducing the load placed on it. Mattress toppers can also be helpful if you don’t feel your mattress is quite right. If your current mattress is too firm, you can combine it with a softer mattress topper to give you a more comfortable sleeping surface.
That concludes our comprehensive bedding guide. As you can see there’s a huge range of different options available, so take a look at our bed buying guide, mattress buying guide and bedding collection so you can start creating your perfect sleep environment.