Our American cousins make up brilliant beds, they are like sleeping in a cloud. Monogrammed pillows stacked three high, down mattress topper, comforter, crisp sheets and a blanket. My preferences are at home are similar. I have three pillows, one down, one sheep’s wool (it’s cooler) and one large square one for propping up and reading, mattress topper and a sheep wool mattress, sheets and pillowcases are nearly always linen with a ladder stitch detail as I love the feel of it. Pillows need to be sized to the bed, regular pillows never work on a large bed so buy extra long king size ones.
High count cotton is ok but don’t pick too high a thread count. I made the mistake of thinking that a set with corded edges and a thousand count would be the ultimate in luxury but unfortunately high thread count equals shiny and you end up slipping out of bed, it’s like sleeping in an ice rink.
I do love a top sheet below a duvet, it looks smarter when the sheet is folded over at the top and allows you on warm nights to throw the duvet off and sleep under a sheet. I always needs to be cocooned in something. Pillowcases should be the Oxford type, either with a corded detail or ladder stitch. I am not a fan of fancy details and contrasting colours, although C&C Milano used to do a version with a coloured blanket stitch I liked and Tomasz Starzewski is working with Moroccan embroiders producing the most sublime cross stitch patterns. Smaller pillows can be monogrammed, I quite like that, although if doing the main pillows put the monogram in a corner otherwise its embossed on your face in the morning! Decorative pillows are a must. I like to bring the room’s colours back with a few well-chosen examples. Not so sure on counterpanes, the jury is out. I love American beds without, probably because everything on show is newly pressed, whereas at home a light bed cover normally hides the crumpled linen.
Nina Campbell
I like to sleep on a relatively hard mattress, with a silk filled mattress topper from Gingerlily on top. It feels like you’re sleeping on a cloud, and you sink into it but are still held. I know you don’t see it, but it is the comfort that counts.
I used to really dislike duvets and was the eiderdown and blankets sort. But they are now light as a feather. So many people don’t know about hospital corners, and fitted sheets are a good, safe option. They keep everything in place. There is nothing nicer than pure high thread count cotton. I like white linen, but it can be nice to have a little coloured embroidery, which ties in with the palette of the room. I love the ‘Spring’ range from the Monogrammed Linen Shop.
I like to put a lavender bag on top of the pillows when guests stay. It encourages sleep and is soothing.
Emma Burns
When it comes to mattresses, buy the best you can possibly afford. A firm mattress, with a feather bed topper works well.
I’m a sheets and blankets person. I really hate duvets and think you should only use them on bunkbeds when you cannot possibly make the bed up with sheets and blankets. A nice cashmere blanket is lovely; Simon Playle sells blankets by French manufacturer Brun de Vian-Tiran, which are super luxurious.
For sheets, I like white linen, but colourful linen can work well. For crisp organic cotton percale sheets, I like Gayle Warwick. I also love Volga Linen. Merci in Paris do some beautiful soft rose linen sheets, which are ravishing.
link