I Switched from Polyester Bedding to Linen and It Totally Changed My Sleep

As a home editor, I’ve been wanting to swap out my polyester sheets for something a bit more luxurious. Linen bedding is popular right now, but I wasn’t totally sold on it: some said it felt crunchy or rough on their skin, while others raved about its benefits. Eventually, I decided to give it a try.

Picking out the sheets was the fun part: I couldn’t wait to add a rustic touch of cottagecore and laidback comfort to my bedroom, particularly with a pretty color and pattern. But the real test would be how I slept on them—would they going to be crunchy and rough after all? Read on to find out why I’ll only ever purchase linen bedding from now on, and why I think you should do the same.

Why I Love Linen Bedding

I’ve owned various polyester bedding sets for years. They’re affordable, easy to find at many stores, and always available in countless patterns and colors. But once I got married and became a homeowner, I decided it was time to have high-quality bedding that would last for years to come.

After some research, I decided on linen bedding from the brand Piglet in Bed. After eyeing it for a few months, I received a full set for Christmas. I swapped my old sheets for a berry-colored gingham duvet cover, a sandy-colored gingham set of sheets, and mauve pillowcases—all made of linen. I loved the way it looked in my bedroom, adding a sense of whimsy and casualness that I was looking for with its naturally rustled look. The next test was sleeping on them.

After hearing that linen bedding was known for being crunchy, I was pleasantly surprised to find that wasn’t the case with mine. They kept me cool all night long, were actually very soft, and made me feel like I was sleeping in a fancy hotel bed. After two weeks, I washed them and they turned out ot be even softer (and dried quicker!) than my previous bedding.

The Benefits of Choosing Linen Bedding

Jessica Hanley, founder of Piglet in Bed, says that linen bedding has numerous benefits that many are unaware of. “Linen is a beautiful, natural fabric that gets softer with every wash, making it a dream to sleep in. I fell in love with linen because of its relaxed, lived-in feel—there’s something effortlessly inviting about it,” she says. “It’s breathable, moisture-wicking, and naturally temperature-regulating, which means it keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.”

Hanley says that consumers love it not just for its comfort but also for its durability and sustainability. The flax plant from which linen is made is grown with natural rainwater, no GMOs, and very few pesticides.

“It’s ideal if you’re someone who suffers from the dreaded night sweats, or if you’re going through hormonal changes such as those experienced during menopause. It’s also perfectly weighted which helps to ease you into a wonderful deep sleep,” Hanley says.

A More Affordable Option: Linen Blends

Hanley says that their linen bedding is made from high-quality, sustainably sourced flax after it is woven into a fabric and washed for its signature softness. She also notes that there has been a shift in their material blends to offer a more affordable option for consumers. “While our 100% linen collection remains at the heart of Piglet in Bed, we recently introduced a linen/cotton blend as we began to recognize the rising cost of flax, the primary material used to make linen, and wanted to ensure our products remain accessible without compromising on quality,” she says.

She states that their new signature linen blend offers the benefits and aesthetic of linen, at a more attainable price point when compared to 100% linen bedding. The linen blend is soft from the start and has a slightly smoother finish, while 100% linen gets softer with each wash and has a more rustic, crinkled finish. 

Linen Color and Pattern Options

Out of the many linen bedding brands that are out there, Piglet in Bed stuck out to me because of their color and pattern options. Their site also has a tool that allowed me to build my own “bundle” (sheets, pillowcases, and duvets) while visually seeing all the pieces together at once, changing each time I picked a different color or pattern.

“What makes Piglet in Bed special is that we don’t follow fleeting trends or chase perfection. We believe that creating a home should be a fun, personal process—one that reflects who you are and how you live,” Hanley says. “That’s why we don’t believe in telling people how their homes should look. Instead, we provide the tools—like our Bundle Builders—as well as a variety of colors and patterns with roots in English heritage styles. We allow our customers to mix and match to discover what feels right for them. After all, the most special homes are the ones that are uniquely yours.”