My Search for the Softest, Most Luxurious White Sheets
I compared white sheets across materials, details, and price points - here's what I found
I have a white sheet that I’m loyal to, but I was intrigued when I heard a prominent home tastemaker emphatically recommending her sheets (and subsequently noted tons of people raving about them). I started to wonder, do I really have the best sheets? Perhaps I need to do more investigating…
Nothing is more important than quality sheets as far as I’m concerned because they drastically impact sleep. If I was starting from scratch with my home, investing in sheets would be the first thing I’d do, hands down. Specifically, I’d suggest a good quality white sheet. I almost think of white sheets as a building block for styling a bed — start with the white sheets as the foundation and layer with accents, like throw pillows and throws, that deliver color and character and can be interchangeable depending on mood or seasonality.
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sense of spen• cer
noun [sɛns, əv, ˈspɛnsər]
Reflecting one’s identity through their interiors
A home with character and soul
When a house becomes a home
Let’s go back to these viral sheets for a moment. A little while back I started following @thisoakhouse who shares the behind the scenes of her L.A. home renovation and all of her extremely tasteful design designs and product picks. Oh, and did I mention, her mother is Nancy Meyer? Yes, the queen of cozy, luxurious movie interiors.
So the story goes, she and her family rented a house in the Hamptons one summer, and after the first night, Nancy Meyers marveled at how wonderful the sheets were. Assuming they were something high end like Frette, they stripped the bed, only to find they were Land’s End!
Say no more, of course I had to try these much-hyped sheets for myself. #influenced But I didn’t stop there. I went on a quest to compare these sheets to others across a range of materials, details, and price points. So, that’s what I’m going to share with you!
Comparison at a glance
Boll & Branch Signature Embellished Sheet Set | Starting at $249 Buy now
Land’s End 400 Thread Count Premium Supima Cotton No Iron Sateen Bed Sheet Set | Starting at $179.95 Buy now
Garnet Hill Embroidered Wrinkle-Resistant Sateen Sheets | Starting at $99* Buy now
Sferra Diamante Collection | Starting at $480 Buy now
Bellino Fine Finens Greenwich Percale | Starting at $293 Buy now
Matouk Classic Chain Flat Sheet | Starting at $239** Buy now
*for flat sheet; fitted sheet and pillowcases sold separately. **for flat sheet; fitted sheet, pillowcases, and shams sold separately.
My bed made with Land’s End sheets and Boll & Branch shams
White sheets options from $ to $$$
Boll & Branch - embellished percale
What people have to say:
“Best sheets hands down. You can feel and see the quality, especially over time. we’ve tried a lot of other organic cotton brands, and nothing else compares.”
“I love these sheets. Soft yet crisp with just the right amount of detail. I was happy to see B & B offer something with detail.”
Product info:
Name: Signature Embellished Sheet Set
Price: Starting at $249
Rating: 4.6 stars (816 reviews)
Thread count: They don’t rely on thread count to determine quality. They say they formulate the highest quality threads in 4-over-1-under weave that leads to new levels of softness with each wash.
Material: 100% organic long-staple cotton with a soft finish
Features: Fair Trade Certified, eyelet edging (in various colors)
Land’s End - sateen
What people have to say:
“I swear by them. Been using lands end for years”
“THE BEST! Honestly I’ve considered taking them on vacation with me.”
“These sheet feel like silk against your skin. It's my second set and I really can't say enough about the quality and feel. Heavenly.”
Product info:
Name: 400 Thread Count Premium Supima Cotton No Iron Sateen Bed Sheet Set
Price: Starting at $179.95
Rating: 4.4 stars (2030)
Thread count: 400-count
Material: 100% supima®, sateen finish
Features: No iron
Garnet Hill - embroidered sateen
What people have to say:
“These sheets feel silky and luxurious. We love them.”
“Great sheets, they stay white and never need ironing.”
Product info:
Name: Embroidered Wrinkle-Resistant Sateen Sheets
Price: Starting at $99 (for flat sheet); pillow cases at $59; fitted at $89
Rating: 4.6/5 (172 reviews)
Thread count: 400 thread count
Material: 100% combed pima cotton, sateen finish
Features: No iron, ladder-stitch detailing (in various colors)
Sferra - luxury embellished
What people have to say:
@thisoakhouse highly recommends these sheets and says she rotates between them and the Land’s End sheets
Product info:
Name: Diamante
Price: Starting at $480 (for flat sheet); fitted sheet at $365; pillowcases at $315; shams at $303
Rating: NA
Thread count: NA
Material: 100% long-staple cotton, sateen finish
Features: Macramé lace inset threaded with a satin ribbon and stitched with hemstitching; Made in Italy
Bellino Fine Linens - percale with colored border
What people have to say:
I came across this post of someone talking about a recent experience staying at the Greenwich Hotel and how the sheets on the bed had a delightful border that got changed every day with a different color.
Product info:
Name: Greenwich Percale
Price: Starting at $293 (for sheet set); shams at $63
Rating: NA
Thread count: NA
Material: Cotton percale
Features: Simple applied border in Azure, Mediterranean Green, SIlver
Matouk - embroidered percale
What people have to say:
“Top notch quality...washes beautifully....a dream to sleep on this lovely sheet. Treat yourself....you will be glad you did!”
Product info:
Name: Classic Chain Flat Sheet
Price: Starting at $239 (for flat sheet); pillowcases at $174; shams at $174; fitted sheet at $135
Rating: NA
Thread count: 350 thread count
Material: Long-staple cotton percale
Features: Classical Greek motif embroidered detail (in multiple colors)
These are my favorite sheets...
My Duvet Recommendation
I narrowed it down to two, and I love both of them but for slightly different reasons. The beauty with sheets is that you rotate between different sheets. So, I like that I get the best of both!
The Land’s End sateen sheets win out for softness, and the fact is they get softer with every wash. So, they’re a dream to sleep on. I’m not usually the biggest fan of sateen — a little too slick for my taste — but these don’t feel icky or look shiny. On the plus side, they’re no iron and look pressed straight from the dryer. But, they leave something to be desired in terms of design. I just wish they offered a version of these with some kind of distinguishing detail. So, they’re a great basic sheet that delivers on function over form. Also, you can’t beat the price when it’s 50% off (which is most of the time).
The Boll & Branch embellished percale is the best of both worlds — soft and beautifully detailed. I’ve purchased several sets over the years and have even gifted them. There’s so much low grade cotton these days that is cotton only in name, so it really appeals to me that Boll & Branch has a pretty established reputation for quality. And it consistently delivers. I also like that they offer a variety of styles, each with a little special detail to set them apart (the white eyelet has always been my favorite).
Tips to Keep Bed Linens White
Keeping linens white is a big area of focus in our household; my husband has a shaved head so more oils touch the sheets/pillow cases and can turn them yellow — gross! Luckily for me, when he gets obsessed with fixing something, he does lots of research and experimentation. So, here’s what we have found works best to keep sheets white.
Change bed linens weekly
Wash bed linens by themselves
Have more than one set of sheets and rotate amongst them
If there are any stains, like blood, pre-wash on cold with regular detergent
Then, wash with 1/2 cup of baking soda (which helps to brighten whites and remove odors) added directly to the washing machine; usual amount of regular detergent; 1 cup of white vinegar (which helps to soften fabrics and brighten whites) to the fabric softener dispenser
Dry the linens outside — my mom swears by this; apparently the sun helps to naturally bleach the white linens. I wish we had the option but sadly stringing up a clothing line is not an acceptable option in New York.
Finishing Touches
Like I said at the top, one of the reasons I like using white sheets is they provide a perfect foundation for layering accents that provide a dose of color and character and can be interchangeable. These include boudoir pillows, throw pillows, and throw blankets or quilts. Check out my bedroom styling guide for more tips and inspiration — including ‘room outfits’ to shop.
Boudoir pillow
A mini pillow, or boudoir pillow as it’s also called, is a small way to add pattern. They look good with one in front of each sham. You can customize them with a monogram or even a message for a personal touch.
Throw pillows
There are endless possibilities to customize your plain white sheets with throw pillows. You can choose a pair of lumbar or square pillows or one long lumbar or bolster, with the option to include a smaller one in front.
Throw blanket or quilt
A throw not only adds more coziness and warmth, but also can offers an opportunity for a big visual statement via a pop of color or bold pattern. It can be folded or throw on the foot of the bed, or laid over the top of the bed.
Other Bedding Recommendations
Pillow Inserts
Costco Down Pillows
There’s long been a rumor that Costco pillows are surprisingly good and affordable. A family friend who doesn’t spare expenses on quality home furnishings confirmed that they’re the real deal. If they’re good enough for her, they’re good enough for me. So, I purchased some for my guest room. I tested them out when I was sleeping in there recently (in the first weeks of bringing my baby home, I’d sneak in there to get sleep while my husband was on duty).
Hotel Grand White Down Pillow ($52.99) Buy now
Sferra
@thisoakhouse strikes again. These down alternative pillows are her pillows of choice with lightweight feeling of down and the hypoallergenic quality of modern techno fibers.
Sferra Acadia Medium Pillow ($102) Buy now
Duvet Insert
You can read about my journey to find the best fluffiest duvet insert, but I’ll save you to suspense and share the duvet I purchased and LOVE below.
Boll & Branch
I cannot speak more highly of this duvet insert — switching from synthetic to down made a huge difference. It is so cozy and warm that I cannot wait for the temperatures to drop so that I have an excuse to use it. The fill is so thick and cloud-like it is beyond comfortable.
Boll & Branch Down Duvet Insert Buy now
Boll & Branch Signature Embellished Duvet Set Buy now