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Bed Linen Buying Guide
a woman sleeping in a bed with white sheets and pillows

BED LINEN BUYING GUIDE

It’s all about: the feeling

You know the one. That instant ‘ahhh’ of pulling back the covers and getting into a freshly made bed. There’s nothing quite like it.

Recreating that feeling night after night, has been a mission of ours ever since we started. For the last 30 years, we’ve been sourcing the softest fabrics, perfecting hand-finished embroidery and paying attention to every little detail in between. It’s why, when it comes to bedding, we’re experts.

So, if you're confused by thread counts, or don’t know your cotton sateen from your cotton percale, we’re here to help you choose the right collection for you.

Three things to consider

when choosing bed linen

1.

Feel

What it's like to touch

2.

Fabric

What it's made from

3.

Detail

What it looks like

Different weaves and treatments can create silky, breathable, cosy or durable fabrics.

We seek out the best yarns around the world to make our fabrics.

Often finished by hand, our decorative touches and embroidery set our bed linens apart.

Explore a few of our bestselling collections…

Savoy

Feel: Crisp & smooth percale
Fabric: Pure Egyptian cotton
Detail: Fine cording

Essentials Egyptian cotton

Feel: Crisp & smooth percale
Fabric: Pure Egyptian cotton 
Finish: Classic edge

Symons

Feel: Smooth & soft sateen
Fabric: Pure Egyptian cotton

Detail: Double row of fine cording

Pimlico

Feel: Crisp & smooth percale
Fabric: Pure Egyptian cotton
Detail: Fine hem-stitch

Audley

Feel: Silky & soft sateen 
Fabric: Pure Mulberry silk 
Detail: Bordered edge

Maris stripe

Feel: Soft & relaxed sateen
Fabric: Pure cotton
Detail: Woven stripe

Amara

Feel: Soft & relaxed
Fabric: Linen-cotton blend
Detail: Hand-worked 'jour' ladder stitch

In conversation with…

Marianne Jones and Dr. Sophie Bostock discuss the secrets of a better night's sleep

18 MIN WATCH

The science of sleep

Health writer Brigid Moss investigates how to sleep better

14 MIN READ

We make the beautiful practical. We only work with the world’s best artisans – European crafters renowned for fabrics, Vietnamese needleworkers for hand-stitched details – but we design with real life in mind, meaning we won’t compromise if it affects the feel or drape, or makes washing or ironing more difficult.

The Thread

How to make a bed the right way

Sheet selection, hospital corners and more, explained

5 MIN READ

Our bedding terms decoded

Oxford pillowcase

A standard-size seamed pillowcase with a decorative fabric border, usually around 7cm.

Classic pillowcase

A standard-size pillowcase with a sewn edge, for 50 x 75cm pillows.

Super king pillowcase

The extra large, 50 x 90cm, size we invented for longer pillows on extra big beds. Available in both classic and Oxford styles.

Square pillowcase

Also known as a continental, this pillowcase fits 
65 x 65 cm pillows and is ideal for decorative pillows.

Flat sheet

A traditional bedding staple that lies underneath your duvet, or can be used on the mattress, instead of a fitted sheet.

Fitted sheet

A bed sheet with elasticated corners used to hug the edges of the mattress.

Deep fitted sheet

Designed for deeper mattresses, or if you use additional toppers or protectors, 34 cms.

Duvet cover

Goes over your duvet. Ours come in a  variety of designs, with either a classic or Oxford edge, and close with a button placket featuring The White Company embossed buttons.

Our care recommendations

Treat your sheets with a little love and, in return, they’ll look great wash after wash. We show you how…

Find the right fit

Single, double, king or even bigger – our size charts will make sure your sheets measure up.

We use only the very best fabrics and set the highest standards of quality checking to make sure that every single collection feels velvet-soft to the touch.