What are the true hallmarks of luxury bedding?

To truly upgrade your sleeping setup, it’s important to prioritise high-quality duvets and pillows.

The right duvet makes the difference between deep, restful sleep and a night of tossing and turning for being too hot or too cold. The right pillow ensures you wake up without an aching neck or headache!

These guidelines will help when purchasing your own luxury bedding inners.

Duvets

Every duvet has a tog rating which gives an indication of the duvet’s warmth. For warmer months, look for duvets with ratings between 2.5 and 7 togs to keep cool and comfortable. When the weather cools down, use duvets with ratings between 9 and 13.5 togs to stay cosy and snug.

Duvets with natural fillings are more breathable than those with synthetic fillings. Natural fillings also have better thermal properties and tend to last longer than synthetic. For soft and warm duvets, look for feathers and down that come from birds native to areas with cool climates.

If you or a family member is allergic to feather and down duvets, you can use high-quality alternatives that mimic the thermal properties of natural fillings.

Pillows

When choosing luxury pillows for your home, you need to find the perfect balance between comfort and support. Your pillow is meant to keep your spine in a neutral position as you sleep. This keeps your neck, shoulders, and back in alignment throughout the night. If you share a bed - you might have different pillow needs!

Soft to medium pillows are best for those who sleep on their fronts. Medium pillows are best for those who sleep on their backs. Medium to firm pillows are best for those who sleep on their sides.

Similar to duvets, it’s best to choose pillows filled with natural filling. These remain breathable throughout the night and hold their shape for longer than synthetic pillows. Opt for a high down-to-feather ratio if you want a soft pillow, 50/50 for medium pillow support, and 100 per cent feather for firm support. Polyester mix pillows are a good option for those with feather and down allergies.

If your pillow feels too firm to be comfortable, use a soft down pillow on top or purchase a pillow insert. This doesn’t lessen the support of your main pillow but makes for a more comfortable sleep.

Now that you’ve got luxurious bedding inners, it’s time to cover them with high-quality bed linen. The best bed linen not only looks good but also increases your quality of sleep by helping with temperature regulation.

It’s a common misconception that a higher thread count is always the better option, as different thread counts just result in different textures. When making your decision, also look at the quality of the raw material, the fabric’s weave and the overall design.

Material

Just like with your duvets and pillows, natural materials are the way to go for bed linens. Synthetic fibres are less expensive, but the money you save isn’t worth the uncomfortable and hot sleep you’ll get. High-quality, 100% natural fibres respond to changes in temperature and humidity. This ensures comfortable, cosy and restful nights year-round.

Cotton

Cotton is the most common material for luxury bed linens. Soft, cool, comfortable and durable, the list of benefits seems to go on forever! The best organic cotton for a feeling of luxury is long-staple cotton - Egyptian cotton in particular.

The Forget Me Not Bedspread is an eye-catching cotton bedding option made from 100% organic cotton.

Linen

Linen is breathable, comfortable and absorbent. Higher absorbance is ideal for those who tend to get hot while they sleep. Although linen can feel stiff when it’s brand new, it softens after a few washes. This results in a smooth and luxurious bedding texture.

The Sove Linen Duvet Cover sports this fabric in a variety of colours, including a classic white (Latte) and a warm terracotta shade (Toast).

Weave

Weave refers to the way the threads of your linens are arranged. Your choice of weave is based on personal preference and available budget.

• Plain weave - soft and light, comfortable and breathable, good value for money
• Percale - tighter than plain weave, crisp and smooth, matte appearance,
• Twill - diagonal weave, extremely soft, weighty feel with a distinctive drape
• Sateen - fine threads and high thread count, incredibly smooth, luxurious sheen
• Dobby weave (patterned) - textured geometric patterns, often used for details along the edge
• Jacquard weave (patterned) - thick fabric with multidimensional matte or sateen pattern, expensive

Related article: 9 different types of bed sheets and their pros and cons

Visually, design is the most important aspect of your bed linen. The design of your bedding determines how well your bed fits into your bedroom’s aesthetic. Do you want your bed to blend into the surroundings, or should it stand out?

For versatile and timeless bed linens, don’t be tempted by trendy designs and patterns. Opt for neutral colour options and steer clear of bold patterns. To keep things interesting, look for fabrics that have subtle, intentional textures. Most bedding companies have a staples range for this reason.

Once you have an adaptable base, you can experiment with coloured and patterned throws and pillowcases to bring the latest interior design trends into your home.

To make a statement, choose bedding with eye-catching patterns, such as those from the Wildflower Bedding Range.

Luxury bedding only works when you have all the necessary pieces. To have a comfortable rest, make sure you have the following bedding pieces:

Mattress toppers

A mattress topper goes on top of your mattress underneath the sheets. They help to prolong the life of your mattress and can aid with back support and overall comfort.

Sheets

Fitted (elasticated) sheets are easy to put on and will stay in place, keeping the bed looking tidy and inviting. Flat sheets create a gorgeous multi-layered effect. These sit between the fitted sheet and the duvet. This setup is great if you don’t enjoy the feeling of your duvet cover but love the look of it.

Pillowcases and duvet covers

When deciding on pillowcases and duvet covers, you can choose between two types of edging. Housewife edges fit the contours of the pillows and duvets exactly. Oxford edges have a border around the edge of the pillows and duvets.

You can choose to use a combination of both options to add depth to your bedding set-up.

Blankets and throw pillows

The final layer of your luxury bed includes blankets, throws, and throw pillows. These elements add decorative flair and an extra layer of warmth during the cooler months.

The Washed Velvet Quilted Throw is ideal to spice up a simple bedding setup. The velvet fabric and quilted pattern add depth to your bed, resulting in a display of inviting luxury.

If you’re after cosy warmth, the Twill Wool Throw is the way to go. Available in navy and vanilla tones, this throw celebrates subtlety of texture.

From the materials and weight of the inners to the weave and design of the covers, there are plenty of traits and hallmarks that make luxury bedding stand out from the rest. Within these, you also have the flexibility to customise and stylise your choices to match your personal aesthetic and tastes. With the right inners and outers, you can bring hotel-style comfort to every bed in your home.

Related article: A guide to bed sheets: thread counts, sizes and more