Never underestimate the power of good bedding. A set of sheets can totally transform your bedroom, and with spring incoming, there's no better time to switch out your cozy sets for something a little silkier. Linen in a light color is also pretty breezy and you certainly can't go wrong with a floral cotton set for a fresh boho look.
But aside from the fact these bed sheets are super cute (if I do say so myself), they're also made from top-quality fabrics that will last through to summer and beyond. Yes, I and a few others from the Real Homes fam have tried them out, so we can recommend only the best bed sheets worth buying.
From some of our favorite bedding brands like Brooklinen, Parachute, and Cultiver, you can find the crispest and coziest sheets we'd actually suggest spending your savings on. But if you have a slightly bigger budget, then there's no better spring refresh than investing in a new mattress first.
The bed sheets we're talking about
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Our favorite sheet set
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Material: 100% long-staple cotton
Colors: 11
OEKO-TEK certified: Yes
+ Luxurious satin finish
+ Great value for money
- Needs ironing after washing
Brooklinen proves that quality and affordability don’t have to be mutually exclusive. With over 67,000 rave reviews and a near-perfect rating, Brooklinen's Luxe Sateen sheets are a clear favorite, and we'd have to agree. We love the luxurious satin finish that, after almost two years, still looks as good as new. They do get super wrinkly after washing, though.
Best cheap sheet set
Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king
Material: 100% cotton
Colors: 18
OEKO-TEK certified: Yes
+ Super cute prints and colors
+ Inexpensive
- Prone to creasing after wash
Target has always been a reliable source for bedding basics. Threshold (its own line) has nailed a collection of prints with perfect designs in everything from florals to geometrics — all for a small price. But the piece that we love most has to be the fitted sheet that has full perimeter elastic to keep it secured to your mattress. So simple but so genius! If you can't stand wrinkles, you'll have to iron it after washing, too.
Best bed sheets on Amazon
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
Material: 100% Microfiber
Colors: 42
OEKO-TEK certified: No
+ Good number of colors
+ Super cheap
- Aren't made to last
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to spend a small fortune on a great pair of sheets. With over 260,000 positive reviews on Amazon and a 4.5 out of five stars rating, it's safe to say that Mellanni's bedding is a fan fave among the Amazon crowd. The sheets are super-soft, great quality, and stylish with an embroidered edge. All this for a fair price? Consider us sold.
Best bamboo sheet set
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Material: Bamboo lyocell
Colors: 12
OEKO-TEK certified: No
+ Great eco-credentials
+ Luxurious sateen finish
- Slept sweaty for some
Bamboo bedding is quickly becoming one of the most preferred bedding materials, as it is naturally cooling and softer than you might expect. Ettitude has its own proprietary fabric called CleanBamboo that uses 500 times less water and produces 52% less CO₂ than cotton during production, giving bamboo even more eco cred. Beyond being incredibly soft, these slick sheets look super chic and come in a ton of colors, too.
Best cooling sheet set
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Material: 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton percale
Colors: 7
OEKO-TEK certified: Yes
+ Affordable
+ Cool, crisp finish like hotel sheets
- Top sheet costs extra
Parachute found that 40% of Americans sleep without a top sheet, so the brand wanted to create a bedding bundle with just the essentials. Nothing more, nothing less. They're designed to last, made from high-quality Egyptian cotton, and finished with a crisp percale cotton weave that makes them lightweight, breathable, and cool to the touch for a hotel-fresh finish.
Best linen sheet set
Sizes: Twin, queen, king, California king
Material: 100% linen
Colors: 10
OEKO-TEK certified: Yes
+ Prewashed for softness
+ Low maintenance relaxed look
- Expensive
Lightweight and breathable linen sheets are an excellent match for anyone who wants to keep cool overnight and avoid ironing pretty much altogether. Cultiver takes comfort very seriously and pre-washes all of its bedding. Seriously, it's one of the few linen sheets made with European Flax we've tried that were soft enough to put onto the bed straight out of the (plastic-free) packaging.
Best organic sheet set
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, Cali king
Material: 100% organic cotton
Colors: 9
OEKO-TEK certified: Yes
+ Eco-friendly
+ Soft to the touch
- Quite expensive
For Boll & Branch, organic isn't a buzzy marketing phrase; it is an integral part of the business. In fact, the company takes a sustainable and ethical approach to every step of the design process. Its sheet sets are made with organic long-staple cotton, which gives a lightweight construction and buttery-soft finish. In other words, this set is like sleeping on a puffy cloud, and the perfect mix of light and lavish.
Best white bed sheets
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Material: 100% premium viscose from bamboo fabric
Colors: 7
OEKO-TEK certified: No
+ Great quality
+ Eco-friendly
- Expensive
There's nothing better than fresh white sheets, so it's no surprise that white is the most popular bed sheet color on the market. But it's this set from Cozy Earth that gets our editor-in-chief's approval. This set is buttery soft to the touch and washes so well, which is impressive seeing as they're totally eco-friendly, too. They may be a bit of a splurge, but believe us, these are the freshest sheets around.
Best cozy sheet set
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king
Material: 100% cotton
Colors: 14
OEKO-TEK certified: Yes
+ Super cozy finish
+ Great quality
- No Cali King size
There’s something inexplicably cozy about wearing a flannel shacket on a chilly, winter day. If you want to bring that same comfort to your bedroom, give the Legends Hotel Velvet Flannel bedding collection from The Company Store a try. The 5-ounce cotton construction is durable and weighty enough to keep you warm without overheating — a must for anyone who gets chilly at night.
Real Homes review process
Real Homes' review process is editorially independent and not influenced by any third parties. All our reviews are based on the real-life experience of using these sheets at home, many of which have been used (and washed) many times over.
These gorgeous bedding sets are often given to us free of charge, and due to the personal nature of bedding, we have been able to keep our samples and invite others to try them for their own feedback. These are our favorite bedding sets based on factors like quality of construction, material, breathability, color options, value for the money, and ease of care.
Here's what our testers had to say:
Louise's apartment is pretty much a bedding warehouse. Seriously, there's a new sheet set or duvet delivery nearly every week — so you can rest assured she knows a thing or two about what makes a great bed.
She's slept on a few of these bed sheets but it's the bamboo set from Ettitude that stands out from the rest, for her: "The silky finish just makes my rather plain bedroom look luxury. But even better, the smooth bamboo is kind on my sensitive skin and is simply cozy AF."
Jaclyn, our previous sleep editor and former ecommerce editor at Homes & Gardens, knows her stuff when it comes to great bedding. She's tested some of the best mattresses, duvets, comforters, and more. When it comes to fresh sheets, she's tried, tested, and recommended only the best. Her favorite?
The Brooklinen sheet set, of course.
Our global editor in chief Melissa can't get enough of the Cozy Earth sheets.
"I didn’t think bedding could actually be life-changing until I tried these sheets from Cozy Earth. My husband is a hot sleeper, I’m constantly shivering, and the seasons factor into how we feel, too. In short, finding a happy medium with bedding has been a nightmare. This set is buttery soft to the touch and neither of us has woken up at an uncomfortable temperature since we first put them on. I refuse to buy any other sheets — they are so worth the investment and work year-round."
How to choose the sheets for you
- Size: Bedding isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. In addition to buying sheets that match your bed size, you'll need to take the depth of your bed into consideration, too. Make no mistake, most mattresses are compatible with a traditional set of sheets. However, if your mattress’ height exceeds 14 inches, you’ll likely need to invest in deep-pocket sheets. Since deep pocket sheets have some extra fabric, they stretch over the extra height and offer a snug, non-constricting, fit.
- Material: When it comes to shopping for bedding, there’s a good chance you prioritize softness above all else. After all, nobody wants to spend those precious eight hours wrapped in stiff, scratchy sheets. However, the type of fabric you choose can play a huge role in your bedding’s overall comfort. Lightweight, breathable fabrics like bamboo or linen are ideal for the summer or for anyone who runs hot when they sleep. Conversely, heavier fabrics like flannel and cashmere will come in handy once the temperature drops. If you’re looking for middle-of-the-road bedding you can use year-round, opt for a cotton material like percale or sateen.
- Finish: The finish of sheets is just as important as the material. Before you add some new bedding to your cart, check out the fine print. Anyone who is prone to pesky allergens will want to buy sheets that are hypoallergenic or made with materials that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. Want your bedding to get Mother Nature’s seal of approval? Keep an eye out for sheets with Fair Trade, OEKO-TEK, or even GOTS certification.
What’s the difference between percale and sateen?
This may come as a surprise to you, but not all cotton sheets are created equal, and they often fall into two categories — sateen and percale. Their nuanced weave patterns make a difference.
Percale’s simple one-over-one-under weave typically results in crisp sheets with a matte finish. Sateen, on the other hand, uses an intricate four-over-one-under weave to create a luxurious, silky feel.
Does thread count matter?
For years, it's been believed that your bedding thread count matters — the higher your thread count is, the softer it will feel. However, a lot of top bedding brands like Brooklinen and Parachute claim thread count isn’t as important as we once thought.
Thread count is determined by the number of vertical and horizontal strands in one square inch. While this may sound appealing, it could actually result in thicker, coarser threads, making it heavy and hot. According to Brooklinen, anything over a 500-thread count should raise some eyebrows. Instead, prioritize quality. High-quality, single-ply bedding may have a lower thread count, but there’s a good chance it’ll be softer and more durable than those 800-thread-count sheets that seem too good to be true.
