Who knew a piece of cloth could be so divisive? Some people love linen, others have every reason in the book about why it’s overrated. Everyone has their opinions, and now I have mine too. I made the decision to invest in linen bedding for the first time 4 years ago, and I’ve never bought any other bedding since. Here are 4 reasons why you should do the same:
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1. “It’s So Expensive” They Say
True. Linen ain’t cheap. But the price is fully justified when you think about what you’re really buying. When you invest in high-quality linen, you’re getting bedding that:
- …will last longer (so it pays itself off over time)
- …is comfortable all year round (it’s cooling and moisture-wicking in the summer, yet warming and insulating in the winter)
- …has healing properties (it’s a real thing — hospitals used to exclusively use linen sheets, gowns, and bandages because of its healing / anti-microbial properties and breathability.)
You spend one third of your life in your bed — what sounds better than spending that 33% of your existence enveloped in a cloud-like, soft yet durable, cooling yet warming, literally *physically* healing set of linens? (Last I checked…polyester couldn’t do that…)
2. “It’s Scratchy” They Say
My linen bedding was soft and cloud-like straight out of the box and I attribute that to 2 things. First, I bought high quality, 100% linen from Socco Living. Made in Portugal. No blends. No shortcuts. Second, it is stone washed linen. This is what makes it so soft right out of the box, and is a non-negotiable for any skeptics when it comes to linen bedding. No breaking-in required at all.
*Bonus: Not only was it super soft straight out of the box, but it has softened more and more with every sleep and every wash. It’s magical. (My husband – who is a total morning person – has SO much trouble getting out of bed in the mornings when this is on the bed.)
3. “It’s Wrinkly” They Say
You may have been brought up with the notion that crisp, Egyptian cotton sheets were elite. But here’s my issue with cotton: you sleep one night in that perfectly crisp, cold, ironed bedding…and it’s creased and wrinkled in the morning anyways. And wrinkles don’t look cute on cotton, imo. On the other hand, linen sheets look better and more inviting after each night you sleep in them. Those cozy, gauzy crinkles are like little snapshots of your sleep the night before. Cozy, lived-in, casual yet chic.
Who wants to iron their bedding anyways?
*Tip: If you have a particularly deep crease in your linen because it was folded up in a closet prior to making your bed, fill a spray bottle with distilled water and mist lightly along the crease. Walk away, let it air-dry, and the deep crease will disappear.
4. “It’s Too High Maintenance” They Say
As someone who has cared for linen bedding for 4 years, don’t find it to be “high maintenance” at all. In fact, as a natural fibre, it releases stains much more easily than synthetics, and dries unbelievably quickly. Perhaps it doesn’t respond well to boiling hot water or your extra hot tumble dry setting — but what natural fibre material does? (I’m looking at you, wool sweaters…) But the care itself is insanely simple:
- Wash in cold water
- Use a mild, natural detergent
- Hang to dry (just not in direct sunlight)
*If you’re looking for more in-depth care instructions, I found this article very helpful when I was first learning how to care for linen.
Linen will always be the elite bedding, in my books. Collapsing into it after a long day is literally what dreams are made of. If you’ve been on the fence about trying it, or have felt discouraged by peoples’ critiques of it, I encourage you to try it out. I didn’t listen to the haters, and I’m glad I didn’t. Linen love 4ever.
If you’ve tried linen bedding, what are your thoughts? Comment below!
