THE best linen bedding is not only as soft as clouds to sleep on but it's also hypoallergenic and bacteria resistant.
And even better for hot sleepers - loinen is naturally moisture wicking, which keeps you cool on even the warmest summer nights.
Linen is made from the fibres of the flax plant, one of the first plants to ever be farmed.
Unlike cotton, flax doesn’t need a ton of water and pesticides to grow, which means that linen is a pretty sustainable fabric.
However, due to its labour-intensive farming processes and the time it takes to spin yarn from it, it’s a lot more expensive than cotton.
Argos Boxing Day deals 2023: Save up to 50%
Beautiful and luxurious linen bedding might be, but duvets and pillowcases made from the natural fabric are not for neat freaks – you need to be prepared to embrace the crumple.
If you can manage that, then read on for our list of the best linen bedding, at prices to suit all pockets.
Unless otherwise stated, prices quoted are for a standard-sized double duvet set to allow for easy
We tested: La Redoute Elina linen duvet cover
- La Redoute Elina Linen Duvet Cover, now £170 at La Redoute - buy here
If only 100% pure linen will suffice, then this set from La Redoute could be the best linen bedding for you.
Available in a staggering 23 colours, the biggest issue you’ll face is deciding which colour to pick - after much deliberation we opted for the peacock blue, which has character without drawing too much attention to itself, although we were tempted to make more of a statement with the Eucalyptus or Tuscan Land (which is the colour of clay).
The linen La Redoute uses is pre-washed, meaning that it shouldn’t be too rough on your skin when you first use it, and the material is designed to be slightly crinkled for a cosy, slightly dishevelled look that requires no ironing.
You will likely notice when you first climb under the covers that it isn’t as soft on your skin as cotton bedding, but that comes with the territory with linen bedding, and don’t give up: it will get softer the more you wash and use it. After a few rounds in the washing machine, we found that its cosiness justified its price.
READ MORE:
- Best mattress toppers
- Best mattress deals
- Best mattresses for kids
Linen & Cotton Store
- Stonewashed linen bed set, from £99.99 at Amazon – buy here
You might not consider Amazon to be a first point of call for luxurious bed linen, but this crisp duvet and pillowcase set made from 100% European-made linen might change your mind on that.
The bedding comes in a range of chic faded pastels including blue, lilac and classic white, but we love the dusky taupe hue (pictured) best of all.
13 best silk pillowcases to care for your skin and hair, tried and tested
Linen & Cotton also stocks extra-soft matching fitted sheets for £76.99 each.
Simple & Opulence
- Natural linen bedding set, £115.99 from Amazon – buy here
This high quality king-sized bed set comprises duvet cover and a pair of elegant Oxford-style pillowcases, both made in a gorgeously tactile natural-coloured linen.
The duvet colour fastens with clear plastic buttons (hidden on the inside of the cover once the duvet is inside) and also has four corner ties to help keep the duvet secured centrally inside the cover.
A matching fitted sheet is also available to buy on Amazon so why not treat your bed to the full set?
H&M
- Washed linen valance, £79.99 from H&M – buy here
If you own a space-saving divan bed, you’ll need a valance to cover the base and protect it from getting dusty, but these can be tricky to find in linen.
Matching your bed valance to your bedding will give you a pulled-together boutique-style look so is definitely worth the extra investment, particularly if you’re buying new bed linen at the same time.
H&M stocks a box pleat valance design in washed linen (pictured) or a frill design to coordinate with its range of fitted sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases.
IKEA
- Ofelia Vass Duvet Cover and 2 Pillowcases, white200x200/50x80 cm, £35 from Ikea - buy here
Crafted from crinkled seersucker fabric, the Ofelia Vas's Duvet Cover makes for an easy-breezy, linen-like addition to your bedroom come summer.
Ikea say that the fabric "feels light and crisp" and white is always a reliable choice when it comes to choosing your warm-weather bed linen.
You get a duvet cover and two pillowcases all for just £35, which is an absolute steal, especially when they look this good.
Bedfolk
- Linen Bedding Bundle, from £199 from Bedfolk - buy here
Bedfolk prove just how stylish linen bedding can look: so good that the fact it'll keep you cool comes as a secondary benefit.
It's been made from 100 percent linen in the Portuguese city of Guimarães, free of any harmful chemicals or synthetics.
You can choose from Moss (khaki green), Ink (dark blue), Snow (gentle white), Rose (blush pink) and Clay (a soft neutral) – Moss creates a relaxing earthy tone that's perfect for unwinding in your bedroom.
Piglet
- Piglet Linen Duvet Cover, from £160 from Selfridges - buy here
Selfcare is the most valuable investment, so why not treat yourself to a premium Piglet linen duvet cover from Selfridges.
It'll be like settling into slumber at a 5-star hotel every night.
Made from 100% natural stonewashed French flax, this bed linen is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Sweet dreams.
Soak and Sleep
- Light Grey French Linen King Size Duvet Cover, £120 from Soak & Sleep - buy here
This Soak & Sleep Light Grey French Linen cover is made from 100 percent flax sourced from Normandy in France.
Featuring the popular slightly crinkled effect, this duvet cover has temperature-regulating properties to keep you feeling comfortable as you catch your Zs.
One of Soak & Sleep's happy customers says it all: "Love this bedding! I have now bought this bedding for everyone in the house. I highly recommend!"
Habitat
- Habitat Linen Petrol Blue Bedding Set - Double, £53.33 from Argos - buy here
Made in India from 100% linen, the Habitat Linen Petrol Blue Bedding Set is luxurious without having a premium price tag.
For £53.33 you get a duvet cover and two pillow cases for a double bed and the linen requires no ironing to leave it with a natural subtle crease.
We love the deep blue, which is a lovely rich colour for winter.
Why is linen bedding so expensive?
Linen is one of the world’s oldest fabrics and it’s made from the fibres of the flax plant.
But despite its long history, the process for producing linen hasn’t advanced very much, which means it’s still very labour intensive to farm the crop, produce the fibres and weave it into fabric.
The extra work at every stage all adds up, which is why it’s one of the most expensive fabrics out there for bedding.
Are linen sheets worth it?
Flax fibres are naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to bacteria, which means linen is as well.
It also happens to be great at moisture wicking and is super breathable, both great properties for hot sleepers and summer nights.
Plus, unlike synthetic fabric, it doesn’t produce static, and the more you wash it the softer it is (some bedding is pretreated so it's super soft from the get go).
There are other fabrics that have similar properties to linen. Silk for example is seriously soft and non-static, but it’s not as strong. While cotton is durable like linen, it's not moisture wicking.
That’s one of the reasons why fans of linen love it so much – it has so many benefits and will last for ages.
Is linen bedding cooler than cotton?
Despite feeling heavier, linen is breathable and moisture wicking, which makes it a great fabric for summer as it takes away the heat as any sweat dries.
Although cotton is breathable too, it actually absorbs moisture rather than wicking it away so if you sweat a lot, it can feel hot and clammy.
Is linen better than Egyptian cotton?
It’s all a matter of preference.
Linen, after some wear, is super soft and durable like good quality Egyptian cotton. But it also has the benefit of being moisture wicking and breathable.
Egyptian cotton is durable and breathable, but it’s not moisture wicking, which means it can feel hot in summer. But the fabric looks and feels more luxurious than linen.