About a year ago, I made the switch to linen bedding, after I discovered what I found to be the best linen sheets on the market (more on those later). After countless nights spent tossing and turning trying to find the cold spot on the bed, a simple fabric swap was all it took for me to slumber like a baby.
You see, linen is naturally temperature-regulating, meaning it’ll keep you cool in the summer and warm in the colder months. It also comes in a wider range of colors than other fabrics, so you can have more fun playing with different color schemes in your space. If you’ve never tried linen, it might be a bit of an adjustment, but we can say with confidence that it won’t take long to fall in love with the fabric. Here’s the breakdown.
What should you look for when buying linen bedding?
Linen is derived from the flax plant and typically comes from Belgium (widely hailed as the cream of the crop), Portugal, or France, so you might want to take a look at the origin while shopping. Unlike other sheets, thread count doesn’t matter when it comes to linen; it’s more about how the fabric actually feels on your skin. Some options are coarser or scratchier, while others are soft from the get-go. Linen softens the more you wash and use it, though. Generally, linen has a rumpled look that gives a boho, relaxed vibe, versus a crisp, wrinkle-free hotel sheet.
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Be advised that high-quality linen bedding is more of an investment than percale or cotton sheets, with prices typically between $200 and $350 for a queen-size set. We think it’s worth it, though. You’ll want to look for OEKO-TEX and GOTS certifications, which ensure that the products you receive don’t contain or haven’t been treated with chemicals that are known toxins.
How should you care for linen sheets?
Once you receive your new linen sheet set, toss ’em in the wash, using warm water to reduce the amount of potential shrinkage. Many sets are pre-washed, which means you won’t deal with much—if any–shrinking. Don’t treat linen with fabric softeners or powdered/pod detergents. Liquid detergent is all you need. When dried, linen creates more lint than other fabrics, but don’t fret; it slows after a few washes. If you want to lengthen the lifetime of your sheets, air dry them instead of using the dryer.
Below, we’ll walk you through the best linen sheets we’ve found to give your bed a fresh, lived-in feel. We included picks from buzzy brands like Bed Threads and Quince, plus mainstays like Brooklinen, Parachute, Boll & Branch, and Linoto.
Source: SELF
