The best children’s bedsheets and duvet covers

Between monsters under the bed, fear of the dark, and just downright refusing to get in, bedtime with young kids can be a struggle. But here at Real Homes, we’re firmly of the opinion that the right set of bedding can work wonders in getting them off to the Land of Nod. In fact, with snuggly soft and breathable fabrics, cool designs featuring their favourite animals or icons, and much more, it’s quite likely you’ll even have trouble getting them out of bed when breakfast time rolls around (good practice for when they’re teenagers then, we suppose).

The first thing, of course, is making sure they get the most restful night’s sleep possible with a quick glance at the construction label. Most of the sets on our list are 100% cotton, still number one for its cool and breathable nature that means they won’t overheat in the night, but these will tend to come with a slightly bigger price tag. Some more budget-friendly duvets and pillowcases will be a mix of cotton and synthetic, just as soft and cool, if not quite as breathable, and a lot easier on the wallet.

So then it’s just down to the design. We’ve rounded up offbeat designs worthy of any teenage or tweenage cave, from digital prints to quirky patterns, cute traditional designs with high-end details, and everything in between.

This astronaut bedding set is just the ticket for kids who permanently have their head in the clouds. A great addition to a space-themed bedroom, or to any quirky teenage space, the digital printed duvet and pillowcase combo show a suited and booted astronaut whose spot they can occupy for sweet interstellar dreams. Reviewers have reported well on the quality of the printing and softness of the sheets which, together with how darn cool the whole thing looks together, earns it our top spot. Have a big Disney fan in your life? There’s a sweet princess version, too. 

This unisex kids’ bedding from The White Company looks good and does good in equal measure, with an adorable design and a secret feature that’s both cool and comforting for children who aren’t big fans of the dark. The scattering of stars on the duvet cover and pillowcase looks sweet during the day, but it’s also busy charging, ready to glow in the dark once bedtime rolls around for an utterly enchanting effect. Reviewers loved its soft, high-quality feel, too — so it looks like you’ll both be having sweet dreams. 

Word on the street is that there are two things proving a big hit with kids right now: adorable pugs, and majestic unicorns. ASDA have very cleverly got on board and combined these two massive trends into one fabulous reversible duvet cover emblazoned with pugicorns, stars, moons and fluffy clouds for a magical night’s sleep. Available in single and double sizes, it’s a great fit for big and small bedrooms alike, and the budget-friendly price makes it a real steal. The best duvet cover set for pre-teens on our list.

Aspiring artists and serial doodlers are sure to love this very clever do-it-yourself duvet cover. Encourage their creativity with a customisable cover that’s printed to look like ruled paper (as if they’ll need any encouraging!) and its included set of ten wash-out pens, a set-up that means they can doodle to their heart’s content, then wash it all off and start again as soon as they get bored. It’s quite pricey considering the pillowcase is sold separately, but for the novelty and hours of fun it’ll give them, it’s worth it. 

For a good-looking set-up with timeless appeal, look no further than this cottage bedroom-ready duvet cover from The White Company. This classic gingham bedding set is fully reversible, with a statement-making large check on one side and a subtle small-square design on the other, and comes in three soft shades for boys and girls. The beauty of this set’s timeless design is that it suits all ages, and the inclusion of cot bed, single sizes and double sizes certainly helps on that front, too.

This cool emoji bedding set is just the thing for kids obsessed with The Emoji Movie, or just with expressing themselves through the ubiquitous little icons. All the favourites are here, including the crying laughing face, smiley cat and bashful monkey, so whatever their symbol of choice, they’re sure to be happy. Plus, with a low-maintenance machine-washable and tumble dryer-friendly construction and easy-on poppers, you will be too. With a blended construction that promises to be soft and breathable, and an of-the-minute design, this is a great inexpensive option and an ideal duvet cover set for teenagers. 

This reversible unicorn duvet cover set for kids is an inexpensive way to instantly add a touch of magic to your unicorn-obsessed child’s room. White with pastel patterns on one side, and a more unusual navy with paler accents on the other, the design encourages your kid to “shine on” and “sparkle like a star” — pretty inspiring stuff for a duvet cover! Parents have noticed that it washes beautifully, which is extra impressive considering the very small price tag. 

Whether you have a home on the range or a two-up-two-down in the city, this vintage-style farmyard duvet cover from The White Company is sure to look wonderfully rustic in your child’s bedroom. It’s full of sweet details including farm animal appliques — the darling french-knot sheep are our favourite — and classic gingham trim, and the 100% cotton construction promises to keep them cool and comfortable all night long. Plus, it’s reversible, with blue-and-white gingham on the other side to change up their look, should they feel like it. 

Encapsulate a bit of that Emma Bridgewater magic in every room of the house with this dinosaur children's bedding set. Decorated with triceratops, stegosaurus, deinonychus (that’s right, we know our stuff) and many more favourite dinos, your smallest Jurassic World fan is sure to love going to bed when it means hanging out with these cretaceous critters, not to mention a cotton casing that John Lewis have labeled “soft and breathable for a comfortable night’s sleep”. Sold.