Fresh bedlinen and chic accessories set the scene for rest and relaxation. With our eyes open for the very latest trends in bedlinen and our style teams’ hands on the latest, most inspiring designer homewares, we know which are the easiest bedlinens to work with, style beautifully and use together with a host of other products in a room setting.
Read on to get the lowdown on the who, what, where and how of the best bedlinen in stores right now.
How to tie in your bedlinen to other decor elements
Bedrooms are the perfect spaces to play with tactile materials. Elements such as grasscloth wallpaper help to anchor a decorating scheme that can then be layered with furnishings that may change over time – right now it’s a bouclé bedhead, smooth cotton bedlinen and a velvet bolster cushion as seen above. The chic marble vase and ceramic lamp add yet another dimension.
Above: Wall covered in Porter’s Grasscloth wallpaper in Maple, $529/10m roll, Porter’s Paints. Arlo wall-mounted bedhead, $1320, Beds Ahead. On bed, from rear: Home Beautiful ‘Haven’ European pillowcase, $69.99, MyHouse. ‘Openook’ pillowcase and fitted sheet (part of sheet set), $85/queen size, Big W. ‘Luxury Velvet’ bolster in Merlot, $79, Aura Home. ‘Flocca’ linen flat sheet in Rosa (used as throw), $429/queen size, Hale Mercantile Co. Habitat ‘Lavelle’ throw in Pecan, $69.95, Pillow Talk. Accessories: ‘Wilma’ marble vase, $179, McMullin & Co. ‘Lorne Ball’ table lamp, $345, and ‘Elsie’ bedside table, $2555, both GlobeWest. ‘The Green Door’ vintage artwork, $850, Vintage Art Emporium.
Above, from left: Wall in Annie Sloan wall paint in Pointe Silk, $120/2.5L, Gaudy & Prim. ‘Berlin’ marble and brass table lamp, $1395, Coco Republic. For similar marble cone ornament, try Marble Basics ‘Quintessential Shape Set’, $159.95/5-piece set, Ranson House. For similar mug, try ‘Crest’ mug, $9.95, Freedom. ‘Alpine’ travertine side table, $1495, Coco Republic. ‘Maxwell’ vegan-leather bed, $2825/queen size, Heatherly Design.
On bed, from rear: Scalloped edge pillowcases in White, $390/part of king quilt cover set, Her Shed. ‘Maine Natural Stripe’ cushion with feather insert, $79.99, Adairs. ‘Crinkle’ bed cover in Feather, $239, Aura Home. Scalloped edge duvet cover in White, $390/part of king quilt cover set, Her Shed.
How much should you pay for bedlinen?
Quality bedlinen pays dividends in the long run. Investing in the best you can afford upfront ensures long-lasting style and comfort for years to come. Mix and match new or trending pieces with your favourite basics to create the warmth and ambience you’re looking for in your bedroom.
How can I upstyle my older bedlinen with newer buys?
“I’m a big one for mixing and matching your bedding,” says Shannon Fricke, co-owner of Newrybar Merchants retail collective in Byron Bay. “The old with the new and a mix of colour and pattern keeps the bed looking fresh and completely unique. I’m a big one for double layering quilt covers to add warmth and a sense of majesty to the bed.”
Above, from left: Wall painted with Dulux Aquanamel paint in Natural White, $106.90/4L. ‘Stella’ bedhead in Florence Broadhurst Japanese Panels fabric, $1475/queen size, Heatherly Design. On bed, from rear: ‘Palm Embroidered’ cushion cover, $18.96, Pottery Barn. Linen pillowcase in Blue Stripe (part of quilt cover set), $199/queen size, Salt Living. ‘St Lucia’ pillowcase (part of quilt cover set), $189.95/queen size, Pillow Talk. ‘Mina’ cushion in Natural, $69.99, Adairs. Linen quilt cover in Blue Stripe (part of set), $199/queen size, Salt Living. Home Beautiful ‘Hatch’ lumbar cushion, $119.99, MyHouse. ‘St Lucia’ pillowcase (part of quilt cover set), $189.95/queen size, Pillow Talk.
Accessories: ‘Aretha’ pendant shade, $189, McMullin & Co. ‘The Track’ limited-edition print, $575 (framed), Vynka Hallam. ‘Artisan’ beaded rope, $229, Pottery Barn. ‘Amara’ bedside table in Coffee Bean, $1079, Wisteria. For similar cup, try Lopsided mug, $22.50, Verde. For similar bowl, try White Bianco Marble tray, $69.95, Temple & Webster. ‘Botanical’ book by Marc Jeanson, $105, Bookshop by Uro.
Must-have item when styling your bed?
“You can never have enough pillowcases and enough pillows,” says Shannon. “Mix and match different colours and styles and ensure your pillow inserts range in weights from firm to super soft and cosy.” To mix and match patterns successfully, play with scale, combining large patterns with tiny prints in the bedlinen and bedhead. To add visual balance, accent with textiles in stripes or solid hues and use a cohesive palette to tie the look together.
Above, from left: Wall in Porter’s Paints Eggshell Acrylic paint in Hamptons Blue, $144.40/1L. ‘Ottoman’ lampshade in Green, $400, and ‘Classic Urn’ lamp base in Light Blue Speckle, $899, both Bragg&Co. ‘Tava’ rattan serving tray, $89, Pottery Barn. ‘River Yachts’ artwork by Evelyn Duggan, $395 (framed), Vintage Art Emporium. Vintage calendar, for similar try Forage Furniture Fashion Objet D’Art. ‘Ketut’ vessel, $99, McMullin & Co. ‘Malden’ chest of drawers, $1200, Pepperwhites by Tara Dennis. ‘Amara’ bedhead in Coffee Bean, $1899, Wisteria.
On bed: Linen flat sheet in Blue Stripe, $310/part of queen set, Salt Living. ‘Flocca’ pillowcases in Fog and in Roy, $79/each, Hale Mercantile Co. ‘Crinkle’ cotton bed cover in Feather, $239, Aura Home. ‘Blue Frame’ cushion, $79.99, Adairs. ‘Flocca’ quilt covers in Roy and Fog, $529 each/queen size, Hale Mercantile Co.
Above, from left: ‘Beige-Coloured Cracked Wall’ wallpaper mural, from $43/sqm, Photowall. On bed, from rear: ‘Stockholm’ bedhead slipcover in Tobacco, $299.99/queen size, Adairs. ‘Flocca’ pillowcase in Rosa, $79, Hale Mercantile Co. Cotton House ‘Preston’ pillowcase in Rust, $59.95/pair, David Jones. Muse ‘Valencia’ velvet cushion in Caramel, $69.95, Pillow Talk. ‘Chamomile Pink’ quilted throw (235x135cm), $429, Bonnie and Neil. Habitat ‘Lavelle’ throw in Pecan (127x152cm), $69.95, Pillow Talk.
Accessories: Maxwell & Williams ‘Sherbet’ mug, $4, Harris Scarfe. For similar sugar bowl, try Tonfisk Design ‘Newton’ sugar bowl, $73.80, Finnish Design Shop. ‘Triangle’ metal table lamp in Ochre, $349, House of Orange. Sarah Ellison ‘Pepe’ side table, $829, Life Interiors.
How to give your bedroom a quick makeover
To give your bedroom a whole new look without too much fuss, buy a slipcover for your bedhead, or have one made. This one shows how easily you can change the look of your bed in an instant. Consider it a seasonal style update for your slumber zone.
Above, from left: Morris & Co ‘Golden Lily’ wallpaper in Green/Red, $330/10m roll, Silk Interiors. ‘Canopy’ pitcher, $59.95, Freedom. Penhaligon’s ‘Highgrove Bouquet’ eau de parfum, $245/100ml, Selfridges. ‘Leo’ table lamp, $279, McMullin & Co. Warwick Fabrics ‘Calverton Ticking’ fabric (used as tablecloth), $88/m, Fabric Studio. Kennedy ‘Tufted’ bedhead, $2415/queen size, GlobeWest.
On bed, from rear: Cotton House ‘Preston’ pillowcase in Rust, $59.95/pair, David Jones. ‘Flocca’ pillowcase in Russo, $79, Hale Mercantile Co. ‘Priya’ tufted cushion, $69.99, and ‘Vintage Washed’ linen quilt cover in Eucalyptus, $319.99/queen size, both Adairs. ‘Mini Pastel Floral Green’ quilted throw (235cm x 135cm), $429, Bonnie and Neil.
How to look after your linen sheets
As much as your new linen sheets become your favourite set, take care to rotate them in your linen cupboard and opt for gentle washing methods on your fitted sheets. “Use a liquid detergent on a gentle cycle,” says Lauren Roe, Creative Director at I Love Linen. “While you can tumble-dry the fabric, line drying in the shade is best as it is less heat-intensive to the fibres.”
“Linen doesn’t need to be ironed. It looks beautiful with a rumpled effect, creating a unique look that other fabrics can’t achieve.”
Lauren Roe, Creative Director, I Love Linen
How to choose a bed
When it comes to choosing a bed, the most important element for a good night’s sleep is the mattress, but you should consider form as well as function. Head into a showroom like Harvey Norman to try out as many mattresses as you can and take measurements of how thick they are as this will impact the height of your bed.
Above, from left: Wall painted in Porter’s Paints Eggshell Acrylic paint in Biscotti, $144.40/4L. For similar bedhead, try ‘Maxim Parquetry’ bedhead in Black, $749/queen size, Living by Design. On bed, from rear: ‘Palais’ 1200 thread-count European pillowcase, $129.99, and tailored standard pillowcase, $129.99, Sheridan. ‘Basix’ linen fitted sheet in Carmel, $419/queen size, Hale Mercantile Co. ‘Alpine’ cushion in Black, $69.95, Aura Home. ‘Belgian Vintage Washed Linen’ lumbar cushion in Charcoal, $79.99, Adairs. ‘Palais’ 1200 thread-count quilt cover, $699.99, Sheridan.
Accessories: Tortoisehell tray, $29.95, Alfresco Emporium. Byredo ‘Gypsy Water’ eau de parfum, $239/50ml, Mecca. ‘Wilma’ marble check catchall, $169, McMullin & Co. Kelly Wearstler ‘Senso’ table lamp, $1890, Bloomingdales Lighting. ‘Isabella’ side table, $1495, Coco Republic. Antique ‘Crashing Waves’ artwork, $750 (framed), Vintage Art Emporium.
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