Choosing your bedding: The ultimate guide to bed linen

When it comes to creating a comfortable and inviting bedroom, choosing the right bedding is essential. Your bed linen and bedding not only influence the aesthetics of your space but also play a significant role in getting a good night's sleep. With so many types of bed linen available, finding the perfect combination can easily become a daunting task. 

This guide is designed to help you navigate through the various options, from bed sheets and duvet covers to pillowcases and bedspreads. Whether you're looking for luxurious materials, the right sizes, or simply getting the best value for your budget, this ultimate guide will provide you with everything you need to know about bed linen and bedding.

If you're looking for inspiration, check out our blog post covering our Buyer's favourite bed linen with selected highlights that can freshen up your bedroom. You can also take a look at the NELL bed linen collection, a classic and long-time favourite.

1. What is bed linen and what is bedding? 

Bed linen and bedding are essential elements of your sleep environment, often referred to as the "clothes" your bed wears. These terms cover a range of items that make your sleeping setup both comfortable, easy to maintain and keep clean, and aesthetically pleasing. The basics of bed linen include bed sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases, which are considered must-haves for any bed. These items not only add style to your bedroom but also protect your mattress, duvets, and pillows.

• Bed sheets
  Bed sheets cover and protect your mattress. They provide a soft, comfortable surface to sleep on and are easy to swap out and wash, keeping your bed clean and fresh for longer. 
• Duvet covers
  Duvet covers protect your duvet from dirt and wear, extending its lifespan, while adding a touch of style to your bed. They are available in a variety of fabrics and weaves, allowing you to adjust and customise your duvet to suit your preferences. 
• Pillowcases
  Pillowcases protect your pillow from daily wear, including dirt and natural oils from your skin and hair. They help keep your pillow clean for longer by acting as a barrier against moisture and general dirt.
• Bedspreads
  A bedspread is generally considered an optional but popular choice for adding an extra layer of warmth and decorative appeal to your bed. 

For those looking to extend the life of their bedding further, mattress protectors and pillow protectors are invaluable. These protective layers create a barrier against daily wear and tear, shielding your mattress, mattress topper, and pillows from moisture, allergens, and dust mites. By using these protectors, it will be easier for you to maintain a cleaner, healthier sleeping environment.

2. Bed sheets

Bed sheets are an essential part of any bedding setup, serving both practical and aesthetic purposes. They cover your mattress, providing a soft, comfortable surface to sleep on while protecting the mattress from dirt, sweat, and wear. Available in a variety of materials and colours, bed sheets also play a key role in setting the overall tone and feel of your bedroom decor. You can learn more about the different types of bed sheets in the overview below. 

For a complete overview of your options, check out our full bed sheet assortment or learn more about choosing the right sheets for your bedroom in our comprehensive guide to bed sheets. 

3. Duvet covers

Duvet covers are a key component of any bedding setup. Made specifically to cover your duvet, they keep it protected and are easily changed and washed so your duvet stays fresh and clean. Beyond their protective role, duvet covers come in an array of fabrics, colours, and patterns, allowing you to easily update your bedroom’s look and feel. In JYSK, you'll find a large assortment of duvet cover sets that include a duvet cover and a matching pillowcase, or a duvet cover and two matching pillowcases for double size or larger. 

By choosing the right duvet cover, you can enhance both the comfort and visual charm of your sleep space. If you're looking for inspiration, check out our blog post about how duvet covers can revamp your bedroom and make it feel completely new.

4. Pillowcases

Pillowcases are important for protecting your pillows, and thus an essential part of any bedding. Specifically designed to encase your pillows, they protect them from dirt, oils, and wear, while also adding a layer of comfort to your sleep experience. Like duvet covers, pillowcases are easily removable and washable, making it easier for you to protect your pillows and help keep them fresh and clean.

In addition to their protective function, pillowcases come in various fabrics, colours, and designs, allowing you to coordinate them with your duvet covers and other bedding elements to create a cohesive and inviting bedroom. In JYSK, you'll find a wide range of pillowcases available individually or as part of our duvet cover sets, where duvet cover and pillowcases match one another.

If you're looking for more heavy-duty protection for your pillow, a pillow protector may be the ideal choice for you. 

5. Bedspreads

Designed to cover the entire bed, bedspreads are a versatile addition to your bedding that offers both style and function. Their primary purpose is adding an extra layer to your bed that is both decorative and provides increased protection for your duvet in particular. During colder months, a bedspread can also be used on top of your duvet while sleeping, providing extra warmth and comfort. 

In JYSK, you'll find a large selection of bedspreads that ranges from lightweight options perfect for summer to heavier, more insulating choices for cooler months.

6. Choosing the correct size bedding

When it comes to selecting bed linen in the correct size, getting the right fit is crucial for both comfort and practicality in the long term. Bedding that is too small or too large can easily lead to a restless night's sleep and an untidy appearance.

No matter which size you’re shopping for, understanding the dimensions is essential to ensure you choose the perfect size. In this section, we'll guide you through the various bedding sizes, helping you get an overview of the most common bedding sizes for your sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers.

For more in-depth information, delve deeper into the topic in our dedicated blog post about choosing the right size bedding. 

7. Bed linen materials and fabrics

When choosing bed linen, knowing more about the material and fabric it is made from will help you make a more informed choice. The type of material used, whether it’s cotton, linen, or a blend, influences different properties such as softness and breathability. Likewise, the fabric construction, such as percale or sateen, impacts the texture, the feel against your skin, and thus your tactile experience of the bedding.

In this section, you’ll learn more about some of the most common bedding materials and fabrics, helping you understand the benefits and characteristics of each so you can make an informed choice that suits your personal preferences and sleeping needs.

Common bedding materials

• Cotton
  Cotton is a ubiquitously popular choice for bed linen due to its softness, breathability, and durability. It’s a natural fibre that absorbs moisture well, helping you maintain your comfort throughout the night.  
• Linen
  Linen is a high-end natural material known for its breathability and moisture-absorbing properties, making it especially ideal for summer months and warmer climates. Linen bedding has a distinctive, textured feel, durable fibres, and becomes softer with each wash.
• Polyester
  Polyester is a durable and affordable material commonly used in bedding. Often used in blends with natural fibres like cotton, it is known for its wrinkle resistance, ease of care, and quick-drying properties, making it a practical choice for everyday bed linen.
• Lyocell
  Lyocell is a soft, breathable natural material made from cellulose fibres derived from wood pulp. It offers excellent moisture-wicking properties and a silky-smooth feel, making it a luxurious and exceptionally comfortable choice for bed linen. Lyocell is often considered a good alternative to cotton, as the production process behind lyocell generally requires fewer chemicals and less water.
• Viscose
  Commonly derived from bamboo, viscose is a natural, soft, and breathable material made from regenerated cellulose, which refers to the process that transforms plant material into fibres suitable for textiles. Like lyocell, viscose offers excellent moisture-absorbing properties and is silky-smooth to the touch, making it a popular choice for those seeking comfort and luxury in their bed linen.

Common bedding fabrics

8. Certified safe bed linen in JYSK

All bed linen available in JYSK, which includes sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, and bedspreads, is STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified, ensuring it is free from harmful chemicals and safe for human health.

To obtain this certification, the bedding and each of its components undergo thorough testing according to the extensive criteria set by OEKO-TEX. These tests comply with, and often exceed, national and international regulation. By shopping for bed linen or any textile product in JYSK, you can rest assured that the products are safe for you and your family.

9. Bed linen prices and quality ranges

If you're looking for bedding in JYSK, you'll find that our assortment is divided into three quality ranges: BASIC, PLUS, and GOLD. These categories act as indicators for the general quality and price levels for the bedding:

• BASIC
  The BASIC category is our baseline for bedding. Choose BASIC bed linen for good quality, affordability, and great value for your money.
• PLUS 
  The PLUS category is our intermediate, mid-range level. Choose PLUS bed linen for great quality and an excellent balance between quality and price.
• GOLD
  The GOLD category is our premium level. Choose GOLD bed linen for the absolute best quality available in JYSK and on the market.

Each category has its benefits, and with such a wide range of options, you can be sure that you'll be able to find the perfect bed linen to suit your needs.

In the GOLD quality range, you'll find many of our customers' favourite bedding, such as the duvet cover sets BARBO and INGEBORG. These are made with high-quality cotton sateen and come in a variety of different colours and sizes. You can see BARBO, INGEBORG and other duvet cover sets below.  

10. Protecting your bedding 

To extend the life of your bedding and maintain a cleaner, healthier sleeping environment, mattress protectors and pillow protectors are great additions. Both of these protective layers act as barriers against daily wear and tear, shielding your mattress, mattress topper, and pillows from natural oils, sweat, dirt, moisture, allergens, and dust mites.

Mattress protectors and waterproof sheets

Mattress protectors and waterproof sheets are particularly beneficial if you experience bedwetting, are concerned about spills, or tend to sweat heavily at night. These protectors are water-resistant, preventing liquids, moisture, and grease from seeping into your mattress pad, mattress topper, or mattress itself. By keeping these layers dry, mattress protectors help preserve the longevity and cleanliness of your mattress, making them a worthwhile investment in the long run. 

Pillow protectors

Pillow protectors focus on safeguarding your pillows from everyday wear, liquids, moisture, natural oils from your hair. By preventing these contaminants from penetrating the pillow, you can keep it fresh for longer and extend its lifespan. Pillow protectors are also easy to remove and wash, making it simpler to maintain a clean and hygienic sleeping surface.

By incorporating both mattress protectors and pillow protectors into your bedding setup, you can significantly enhance the durability and cleanliness of your sleep environment.