We've all been there: sleeping through the alarm, waking with a start, and running out the door before there's time to make the bed. When you come home at the end of a long day, the last thing you want to see is crumpled sheets or squashed shams.
When you invest in a set of effortless bedding, you can make the bed in a matter of moments and come home to a calmer, cleaner bedroom. There are anti-wrinkle sheets for a creaseless canvas and reversible quilts to switch up your style in seconds, as well as adjustable pillows to suit every sleeper in a single insert.
As H&G's resident sleep writer, I've sampled some of the world's best bedding. I've snuggled under the best bed sheets and laid my head upon the best pillow. When I test bedding, I consider the feel of the fabric, the quality of the craftsmanship, the value for money, and how much maintenance is required to keep it in top condition.
Expert tips and bedding buys to make making the bed effortless
I've scoured the sites of specialist sleep stores to bring you effortlessly elegant bedding. I've filtered out the fuss to bring you low-maintenance sheets and shams that wash well, dry quickly, and lie beautifully on the bed.
1. Control the creases
Some bed sheet types are more prone to wrinkling than others. As a general rule, natural fibers are more susceptible to creases than synthetic stuff.
If you can't stand the sight of wrinkles, but you can't find time to iron your bedding, your best bet is polyester: not the stiff, scratchy stuff you find in budget bed sheets, but a more elevated microfiber. Stick to the specialist sleep stores to stay on the safe side and look for materials that are double-brushed for durability.
If you'd rather sleep with natural fibers, consider bamboo and linen blends. These threads are strong, supple, and far less likely to wrinkle than linen alone. You should be able to throw these sheets straight into the washing machine, then shake them out to avoid wrinkles, though it won't hurt to run over them again with a hot iron.
If that sounds like too much work, then it might be time to embrace the wrinkle and invest in a set of the best linen sheets. Creases and crinkles are unavoidable in natural fibers, but they're part of linen's charm, lending an air of rustic romance to your bedspread.
These microfiber sheets are pretty, yet practical. They're designed to resist wrinkles, release stains, and get softer with each wash. The Comphy SoftSpa Sheet Set comes in every size, from Twin to California King, in a range of cool neutrals.
If you're ready to embrace wrinkles, do it in style with a linen sheet set. These sheets are made from 100% European flax for breathability and durability. They're a great option for hot sleepers and sustainable shoppers.
Made from a unique blend of linen and bamboo, these sheets bring the best of both worlds. The bamboo fibers are strong and supple enough to resist wrinkling, while the linen works to add a touchable texture to your bedspread.
2. Find sheets that stay on the bed
If you know me, you know that I'm a restless sleeper. I tend to toss and turn before I drift off, only to keep on kicking overnight. I often wake up to find my flat sheet falling onto the floor and my fitted sheet coming up at the corners.
If you've ever asked yourself, 'why aren't my sheets staying on the bed?', the answer might be as simple as this: they're insufficiently stretchy. You need a fitted sheet with plenty of flex to grab hold of your mattress. Look out for deep-pocket sheets to accommodate thicker mattresses and consider enhanced elastic to eliminate slip.
Your average flat sheet is tucked beneath the bottom of the mattress. The more you move in the night, the more likely it is that you'll dislodge your flat sheet. That is, unless you're sleeping with the Peri Lauren Interiors Bamboo Cotton Sheet Set. This top sheet is flat at the top, but fitted at the bottom, to grab hold of your mattress and not let go.
These moisture-wicking sheets are designed with a Powerband, an enhanced elastic that runs all the way down the side of the fitted sheet and grabs hold of your mattress for a snug, secure fit. The pillowcases come with Powerbands, too, to keep your insert from slipping out of the case.
I just finished testing these sheets, and I couldn't believe that no one else had dreamt up this design. Peri Lauren Interiors created a game-changing top sheet, which is fitted at the bottom and flat at the top, so that you can make your bed in moments.
This cotton sateen sheet set is one of Brooklinen's bestsellers, and it's not hard to see why. Their fitted sheets are strong and supple, finished with 'long' and 'short' side tags for no-sweat bed-making.
3. Experiment with reversible bedding
Making your bed is more than a practical matter: there are also aesthetic elements to consider. If you're keen to learn how to dress a bed, but you're tight on time, then it might be worth investing in some reversible bedding to switch up your style in seconds.
Adding a reversible quilt or throw is a quick and easy way to spice up your bedspread. Keep it cool with subtle color contrasts and similar prints. That way, you can create tonal highs and lows while maintaining a cohesive look.
If you'd like to experiment with bolder prints and patterns, you'll likely find a wider range of colorways elsewhere. I'm a big fan of the Sunset Check Merino Wool Throw from Terrain at Anthropologie. You get the same premium fabric as you would find in a specialist sleep store, but bolder, brighter dyes.
This reversible quilt is printed in white and blue, with thick stripes on one side and narrow little strips on the other. I recommend folding it over as you turn down your bed to add depth and dimension to your bedspread.
This cashmere throw would look just as good spread over the end of your bed as it would draped across a sofa seat. There's a subtle color contrast between the shades of light gray and charcoal: enough to add interest to a room without overwhelming the space.
Made from organic cotton, woven into buttery-soft sateen, and filled with recycled polyester, The Woven Icon would make a sumptuous addition to any bedspread. Treat it as a quilt in the colder weather or as a bed runner in the summer months.
4. Invest in an adjustable pillow
Effortless bedding is all about ease: not only yours but the ease and comfort of your houseguests. If you like to play host to your friends and family, then you'll know that one style of bedding won't suit all sleepers. The same pillow that helps you sleep comfortably could give your guest a crick in the neck.
Investing in an adjustable pillow is a great way to make a guest room feel more homey. That way, your guest can alter the thickness and firmness of the pillow until it feels just like their pillow at home.
Adjustable pillows come in all shapes and styles to support front, back, and side sleepers alike. All you need to do is select the design that suits you.
I just handed in my review for the Marlow Pillow, but I haven't stopped sleeping with it: not now that I've molded it to my exact sleep specifications. To squish it flat, I simply open the zippers: to plump it up, I'd pull them closed again.
Sleep Number understands that there's no such thing as one perfect pillow to suit every sleeper. That's why they made the PlushComfort Pillow in three different styles: Classic for stomach sleepers, Curved for back sleepers, and Ultimate Curved for those who sleep on their sides.
It couldn't be easier to adjust the fill and feel of the Classic Wool Pillow. All you need to do is unzip the case and reach down inside the pillow: you'll feel the fluff at your fingertips. Just remove and replace handfuls of wool until you reach your ideal pillow height.
Effortless bedding FAQs
What makes bedding effortless?
Effortless bedding is carefully designed to look good and keep clean without much maintenance. For sheets, that might mean anti-wrinkle fabrics to minimize mess or enhanced elastic to get a good grip on your mattress. For pillows, adjustability lends versatility, so that you can keep one pillow to meet every guest's sleep needs. In terms of style, you're looking for neutral hues to complement any color scheme and reversible prints to make quick changes.
Where can I buy effortless bedding?
It depends exactly what you want. If you're shopping for enhanced elastic and high-tech designs, I recommend shopping at BEDGEAR. I've been testing their Dri-Tec Sheet Set for weeks now and it hasn't budged, no matter how much I toss and turn.
Brooklinen has the best range of effortless bedding. Between their sheet sets, duvet covers, and cozy throws, you could dress your whole bed at their one-stop shop. Their simple, no-frills designs would fit right into a minimalist bedroom.
Final thoughts
Once you've bought a set of the best bedding, it's important to take good care of it. Make sure to avoid these bedding laundry mistakes for a clean night's sleep.
If you're shopping for brand new bedding, and you'd like to save a little time and money, then you're in luck: I've rounded up the best bedding sales and put them all in one place. You'll find deep discounts from specialist sleep stores, such as Brooklinen, Sijo, and Cozy Earth.
