west elm Bedding Review Guide After Spending a Day in the Store

Getting a good night’s sleep is imperative to your health, and the set of bedding you choose can make or break that experience. But, like mattresses and beds, it’s hard to choose which bedding is the best for you without actually touching and feeling it against your skin. While you can shop online for virtually anything today, how will you choose bedding that actually feels nice to crawl into at the end of the day without touching it first?

In order to come up with the very specific design ideas, we create most designs with the assistance of state-of-the-art AI interior design software.

That’s where I come in.

I went to the Jacksonville, Florida west elm and spent hours reviewing every bedding option they have in store. I pulled each one out off its shelf and touched it, felt it against my face, and looked at how durable the seams and construction are. I also thought about the weather conditions that might not work with a certain material and would cause you to be too hot or too cold during the night. I went through all this just so I could give you an accurate, honest, and unbiased assessment of each bedding type that west elm has to offer.

Related: All west elm Furniture Reviews Here | West Elm Rugs Review  

Methodology

Before we get to the reviews, I should let you know about my personal preferences when it comes to bedding. You may have different ones, so I want to make sure that I’m as transparent as possible. Even if I didn’t like the feel of a specific material, I tried to be descriptive about what it feels like to touch it, and provide an unbias opinion on quality and durability. I want you to have the information you need to make your own decisions on the best bedding for you!

Personally, I love soft, smooth sheets. I tend to lean towards cotton sheets more because I typically run hotter overnight and need something with less bulk that is breathable. More importantly, for me, when choosing bedding is the fact that I have a 40-lb husky-corgi, who is spoiled and doesn’t have boundaries and sleeps in bed with us. Therefore, our bedding needs to be durable enough to withstand constant washing and wear and tear of both human and beast!

Now that I’ve aired my personal preferences, here is our ultimate review of all the bedding options at west elm!

west elm Bedding Reviews

Belgian Flax Linen

Products available: 

• Duvet Cover & Shams
  • Duvet Sizes: Full/Queen & King; Sham Sizes: Standard, Euro, King
  • Colors available: 15
  • Materials: 100% Belgian flax
• Quilt & Shams:
  • Sizes: Full/Queen & King/California King; Sham Sizes: Standard, Euro, King
  • Colors Available: 8
  • Materials: Front – 100% Belgian flax; Back – 100% cotton; Fill – 100% Repreve polyester
• Sheet Sets
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Colors Available: 9
  • Materials: 100% Belgian flax
• Starter Bedding Set
  • Sizes: Full, Queen, King
  • Colors Available: 6
  • Includes: Duvet cover, 2 shams, 1 sheet set

Additional Details

• Belgian flax is a premium material that is naturally hypoallergenic
• Softens as you wash over time
• Keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter
• Fair Trade certified facility

Overall Impression: The quilt is a little thicker and not as soft as I would’ve expected. I did like the muted colors that they had available, and the sheets looked comfortable. However, I was very disappointed when I touched them. They were incredibly rough and felt more like a table cloth than a sheet. Apparently, they’re supposed to soften as you wash them, but I don’t know if I could survive on them long enough until they softened enough that I could sleep on them. They seem to be quality bedding, though, and I think they’d hold up well against the dog. But I can’t get over the fact that they just didn’t feel like bedsheets! Generally speaking, linen is supposed to be good for the summertime and keeping you cool, but the roughness against my skin is a total turn-off. I would possibly be interested in getting a duvet in the Belgian flax linen, but I would also probably remove it from the bed before getting into it because it’s really not comfortable to put my bare skin on.

Washed Cotton Percale

Products available: 

• Duvet Cover & Shams
  • Duvet Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen & King; Sham Sizes: Standard, Euro, King
  • Colors available: 15
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Quilt & Shams:
  • Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen & King; Sham Sizes: Standard, Euro, King
  • Colors Available: 7
  • Materials: Front – 100% organic cotton; Back – 100% cotton; Fill – 100% Repreve polyester
• Sheet Sets
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Colors Available: 7
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Starter Bedding Set
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Colors Available: 3
  • Includes: Duvet cover, 2 shams, 1 sheet set

Additional Details

• Materials are GOTS certified organic
• Sleeps cool, and has been garment washed for extra softness
• Feels like a well-worn shirt, but more durable

Overall Impression: The sheets have a very lived-in feel right out of the package, which I like. I didn’t like how they were naturally wrinkled, though. If you don’t like having wrinkle sheets, these are definitely not the ones for you! My wife is a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to certain things, and making the bed is one of them. Unfortunately, I can see these sheets becoming an issue for her, and the wrinkles actually creating creases in your skin while you sleep. They’re well made and high quality, though. The stitching is really well done, and I feel like they would hold up to multiple washings. Overall, not my favorite set of bedding, but a solid choice if you see the wrinkles as a positive for a lived-in aesthetic!

Cotton Jersey

Products available: 

• Duvet Cover & Shams
  • Duvet Sizes: Full/Queen & King; Sham Sizes: Standard, Euro, King
  • Colors available: 6
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Blanket
  • Sizes: Full/Queen & King
  • Colors Available: 3
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton with 100% recycled polyester filling
• Sheet Sets
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Colors Available: 1
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Starter Bedding Set
  • Sizes: Full, Queen, King
  • Colors Available: 1
  • Includes: Duvet cover, 2 shams, 1 sheet set

Additional Details

• Made from ring-spun 100% organic cotton
• Yarn-dyed and combed for softness
• Double-knit to increase plushness
• Sleeps warm
• Fair Trade certified

Overall Impression: These sheets feel like a well-worn sweatshirt! They’re really soft but thick, and there’s a definite stretch to the material. They’re definitely recommended for cooler weather because there’s a bit of bulk even to the lightweight sheets that would be really good at keeping you warm at night. I personally really loved the duvet cover! It was thick and cushiony, which I didn’t expect, even without the actual quilt in it! I would definitely use the cotton jersey bedding during the colder months when visiting my family in New Hampshire! These would be like jumping into a bed of snuggly sweatshirts, and blissfully falling into a deep, satisfying sleep! They’re also very high quality – you can tell from the thickness of the sheets and the duvet. The stitching was also really well done, with no areas that had questionable durability!

Textured Cotton

Products available: 

• Duvet Cover & Shams
  • Duvet Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen & King; Sham Sizes: Standard, Euro, King
  • Colors available: 28
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Coverlet & Shams
  • Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King
  • Colors available: 4
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton, 100% recycled polyester filling
• Blanket
  • Sizes: Full/Queen & King
  • Colors Available: 9
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Sheet Sets
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Colors Available: 2
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton

Overall Impression: For an evaluation of the textured cotton options at west elm, I looked at the various coverlets they have available. I like how the textured cotton is soft and that the coverlets are all the same color, and the multiple textures kind of rise up out of them. There are a variety of different textures you can choose from. From lace textures to poofs and polka-dots, this is a fun way to bring some texture to your bedroom, while also getting a really comfortable and functional piece of bedding. This is definitely not the type of coverlet that you’d remove to go to bed. It’s really comfortable, and because it’s 100% cotton, it’s breathable enough for warmer climates. Full disclosure – I typically don’t like textures in my bedding because they tend to be rougher against my skin. Not with this west elm version! No matter which different texture I touched, there was zero roughness coming back at me. My only concern is that some of the textures may be prone to pulling, and since the dog is an issue and his nails could get stuck, I’d personally pass on this bedding.

Organic-Cotton Percale

Products available: 

• Duvet Cover & Shams
  • Duvet Sizes: Twin/XL Twin, Full/Queen & King; Sham Sizes: Standard, Euro, King
  • Colors available: 13
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Sheet Sets
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Colors Available:
    • 400-thread count: 3
    • 200-thread count: 22
    • 144-thread count: 2
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Shams
  • Sizes: Standard, Euro, King
  • Colors Available: 4
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton

Additional Details

• Made from 100% organic cotton, meets Global Organic Textile standard
• “Classic” sheets that keep you cool, and are breathable
• Fair Trade certified

Overall Impression: The sheets are really soft. As I noted before, I’m partial to the cotton sheets because they’re breathable. These are definitely perfect for warm weather and would help your body regulate its temperature. But when I put them against my face, they seemed a little bit rougher than I initially thought. I know that cotton is supposed to soften as you wash them, so these may soften up a bit more. Right out of the package, however, they don’t seem as soft as the other options that are available without the work of washing them multiple times. Interestingly enough, the 400 thread count versions didn’t feel any different than the lower count. The only difference that I found is that the 400 count was slightly thicker, and you couldn’t see through them as well as you could the lower thread counts. These would definitely hold up against my dog’s incessant digging in the bed when he wants our attention, though, which is a plus. And because they’re cotton, I know they’ll hold up for multiple washes.

Cotton Sateen

Products available: 

• Duvet Cover & Shams
  • Duvet Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen & King; Sham Sizes: Standard, Euro, King
  • Colors available: 10
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Quilt & Shams
  • Sizes: Full/Queen & King
  • Colors Available: 2
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton with 100% recycled polyester filling
• Sheet Sets
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Colors Available: 4
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Bedskirt
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Colors Available: 4
  • Materials: 100% organic cotton

Additional Details

• Smooth finish with a subtle sheen
• GOTS Certifed
• The dense weave is warmer and wrinkle resistant
• Fair Trade certified

Overall Impression: I really liked the duvet covers they had available in store. The sateen gives it a really cool sheen that hit the light and made it sparkle. The coloring was also really nice and muted, and it kind of reminded me of a water painting! The material itself was very soft, with no roughness that you sometimes find in cheaper material sateen bedding. Again, really quality stitching, and I think this would survive my dog’s claws. I did think that the sheets were thick and maybe a little too warm for the summertime. I also don’t really like slipping around the bed when I get into it, and these definitely had a slick-factor that I wasn’t a fan of. However, overall I’d snuggle up with this duvet cover no problem! And because it’s 100% organic cotton, I know that I can wash these without worrying about fading or wearing them down too quickly!

TENCEL™

Products available: 

• Duvet Cover & Shams
  • Duvet Sizes: Full/Queen & King; Sham Sizes: Standard, Euro, King
  • Colors available: 8
  • Materials: 52% organic cotton, 48% TENCEL™
• Quilt & Shams
  • Sizes: Full/Queen & King
  • Colors Available: 11
  • Materials: 100% TENCEL™ Lyocell
• Sheet Sets
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Colors Available: 5
  • Materials: 100% TENCEL™
• Starter Bedding Set
  • Sizes: Full, Queen, King
  • Colors Available: 2
  • Includes: Duvet cover, 2 shams, 1 sheet set

Additional Details

• TENCEL™is made from eucalyptus fibers and is sustainably sourced
• The material is softer than silk and more absorbent than cotton
• Sleeps cooler than linen and is wrinkle-resistant
• Oeko-TEX Certified

Overall Impression: My goodness! These are softest sheets in the entire showroom! They’re really thick, too, but cool to the touch, which is great since I tend to sleep on the warmer side of the spectrum. And I also really like that they’re naturally absorbent, which helps to wick away any night sweats that happen to pop-up, and I’m not waking up in a puddle! I’ve never felt TENCEL before, but I’m definitely a convert after this! They’re not see-through at all, and could totally stand up to washing without pilling or wearing down, too! Quality stitching, which I’ve come to expect in all of the west elm’s bedding, was here too. But really, the overall victory for me was just the simple fact that I wanted to cuddle up right there in the showroom and take a nap! If these were on any of the beds that were also on display, it would have been lights out for me!

Velvet

Products available: 

• Duvet Cover & Shams
  • Duvet Sizes: Full/Queen & King; Sham Sizes: Euro
  • Colors available: 8
  • Materials: 75% viscose, 25% nylon
• Quilt & Shams
  • Sizes: Full/Queen & King
  • Colors Available: 3
  • Materials: Front – 60% cotton, 40% viscose; Back – 100% cotton; Filling – 100% recycled polyester
• Pillows & Pillow Covers

Additional Details

• Plush and lustrous with a soft sheen
• The texture provides a richness in the colors
• Sleeps warm
• Fair Trade certified

Overall Impression: I’m actually really surprised by how much I like this duvet cover and sham set. Usually, I love the look of velvet, but when it comes down to touch it, I only get that rough nylon to feel instead of the softness you’d expect. But with west elm’s velvet bedding, it’s actually just as soft as it looks! My wife has a thing with textures, and often times when we’re shopping for bedding, she’ll ask me to touch something before she will. This was definitely one of those occasions, and though she immediately thought that she was going to hate the feel, it too surprised her! I love how the materials really bring out the richness of the colors and how the light catches and changes the entire look of the blanket. I was especially struck by the vibrant Golden Oaks yellow and deep Botanical Gardens colors that they had on display. Something about velvet can really take color to a whole other level, giving it depth and substance! Seriously, this is the best velvet bedding I’ve ever seen or felt!

west elm Bedding Round-Up Winner

There really aren’t any losers when it comes to the bedding available at west elm. Everything I tested really had a remarkable quality and seemed durable enough for everyday wear and tear. However, there can only be one winner. In my humble opinion, the best bedding at west elm is the TENCEL series. Not only was it the softest right in the package, but I really fell in love with how it was naturally cooling, too. I’m also a big fan of how it’s sustainably made, using only a third of the resources that are required to grow cotton. That’s why the TENCEL was my favorite – undeniably silky soft, cooling, and absorbent, and better for the environment!

Which west elm bedding is your favorite?