Buyer Guide: Bed Linen
Looking for bed linen can be a little overwhelming, with sellers offering various fabric blends and thread counts, and mixing British, American and European terminology and sizing to throw you off even more! Read our guide to get you back on track and on your way to find your bedding of your dreams.
Sheets
Let’s start from the first point of making a bed: your sheets. Whether you know them as bed sheets, top sheets, fitted sheets or flat sheets, a good sheet is an invaluable item to have in your arsenal.
The primary purpose of a sheet is to lie between your mattress (and topper or protector) and yourself. Using a sheet offers a primary layer of protection for your mattress, as well as soft, silky comfort. Sheets can also be used as a midlayer between you and your bedspread, duvet or blankets (this is a very practical solution during unpredictable British summers, where one night you’ll need a sheet, duvet and blanket and the next you’ll be sweating with anymore than a thin layer of cotton).
Fitted Sheets
Fitted sheets are still a fairly modern innovation on the traditional flat sheet. They sit on top of your mattress and any topper or protector you may be using and are much easier to use than their flat predecessors. These are designed to perfectly fit the proportions of your bed and have elasticated edges that wrap around the base of your mattress.
Our fitted sheets are elasticated around the entire ‘skirt’ of the sheet, rather than just at the corners, so you can be sure that they will stay put if you move during the night. We offer two depth options (25 cm and 46 cm) to ensure that your sheet fully covers your mattress, even if you have an extra-height mattress or thick topper.
Flat Sheets
The original sheet choice, flat sheets can be used in two ways: use them in the same way as fitted sheets and fold them around your mattress, or use them as a top sheet underneath bedspreads, duvets or blankets. Flat sheets are essentially large rectangles of fabric, designed to be considerably bigger than your bed so that there is plenty of fabric to tuck underneath your mattress.
The great thing about this type of sheet is its versatility. They are exceptionally handy for use with unusually-sized mattresses, such as those on four-foot beds, as you can fold as much or as little fabric underneath as necessary. As a top sheet, they provide a smart, hotel-quality look when used underneath duvets and blankets, and prevent any sweat or dirt penetrating the duvet cover or bedspread. Top sheets can also be used without any further bed coverings in the occurrence of a hot summer night.
Duvet Covers
Duvet covers are large ‘bags’ of fabric, usually in a rectangular or square shape, designed to cover your duvet. They are sewn along three sides, with the fourth side left open for easy insertion of your duvet and a button closure. They come in a range of sizes, to fit all sizes of duvets. All of our duvet covers come with matching pillowcases (the single size comes with one pillowcase and the double, king and super king sizes come with two) for a polished look.
Pillowcases
Pillowcases sit around your pillows (and protectors) and add a soft, cushiony surface for you to rest your head on. We offer two styles, Oxford and Housewife.
Housewife This is the most frequently used pillowcase style, perfect for modern, minimalistic bedrooms as well as more traditional settings. Favoured because of its ease of use, this rectangular pillow cover features an open end with an interior flap used to keep the pillow tucked neatly inside.
Oxford Oxford pillowcases offer a more decorative alternative to housewife pillowcases. These covers have an open end, much like the housewife style, so it’s easy to pop your pillow in and out when changing your bed linen. Oxford pillowcases are often used when a more lavish look is required; they feature a fabric border that frames the pillowcase, making your pillows look much larger and plumper.
Continental Bedding
Our continental bedding range has been designed to fit European sizings, which are slightly different to standard UK sizes. We stock duvet cover sets and single pillowcases.
Continental Duvet Covers Made in three popular sizes for the European market, our duvet covers come with matching pillowcases for a neat, coordinating look. Our 155 x 200 cm and 155 x 220 cm covers each come with one pillowcase, and our 240 x 220 cm covers are sold with two matching 80 x 80 cm pillowcases. These duvet covers are sewn on three sides to enclose your duvet and feature one open end with a buttoned closure to allow you to change your bedding quickly and easily.
Continental Pillowcases Like the duvet covers, our continental pillowcases are available in a mixture of square and rectangular shapes, in three of the most popular European sizes: 40 x 40 cm, 40 x 80 cm and 80 x 80 cm. These pillow covers are sewn on three sides, and feature a zipper closure on the fourth side so that you can remove and insert your cushions and pillows easily.
Fresh Fabrics
All of our bed linen is made from high quality, 100% Egyptian cotton so you can be sure that your bedding will be soft, hypoallergenic and breathable. Available in 200, 330, 400 and 1000 thread count fabrics, you’re sure to find the perfect bed linen to create a relaxing bedroom retreat. Read more about our Egyptian cotton
Stuck on sizes? Read our size guide
