White Bedding: Refresh Your Home with Luxury Bed Linens
In this post: One of the easiest ways to refresh your home is with new bed linen. Here are some of my favorite sources for white bedding and other luxury bedding options.⇒
White bedding is the LBD of the home decor world.
And like the ‘little black dress’, white bedding is classic, elegant and everyone should own some. There are certain things that exude nobility in pure white.
Among them towels, dishes and bed linen.
Think about it. When you go to a posh hotel, the sheets and towels are always all white. Likewise the dishes in a refined restaurant (fine china excluded).
Yet white linens don’t have to be boring. There are countless textures and embellishments that can add distinction and style.
White Bedding
One of the fastest ways to refresh a bedroom is by updating the linens. So, today I’m sharing ways to refresh your home with white and neutral bedding.
But first, a word about price. January is a great time to buy linens because white sales are everywhere, but most stores have sales all year long. That said, the purpose of this post is to share ideas and sources for some of the more special pieces of bedding I own. So please don’t be surprised that some of these items are not exactly budget conscious.
Some things to note:
First, if you’re going to splurge, January is a good time, when pricey items can be purchased on sale. But if you want to buy now, do check for sales.
Second, just because I’m showing an entire ensemble, doesn’t mean you need to buy every piece to get the look. If money is tight, just spring for the decorative throw pillow and pair it with the classic white sheet set you already own.
And finally, I do tend to collect pieces over time and that’s kind of the point. You can do that when mixing whites, so pick up the coverlet this month and the shams in the spring and so on.
Ok, that was my disclaimer… 😉 Now let’s look at gorgeous white bedding!
A Touch of Shimmer
It’s amazing how varied a look you can achieve within the same all white color palette. The bedding below has a luxe and regal feeling, and includes tonal appliqués in a scroll motif on the refined cotton duvet cover and pillow shams. The coverlet and a set of shams bear a medallion quilted pattern with ornate stitching that emphasizes the sheen of the fabric. Punctuating the entire presentation is a mix of decorative pillows with beaded flourishes that mirror the scroll and medallion motifs.
These pieces all come from the same collection, but when mixing white linens, that’s not essential. In fact, more typically, I mix lots of different lines together, and you can see the unique results that concept yields in the other rooms below.
Delicate Embellishments
Our blue and white guest room has a more relaxed attitude, in the past leaning toward a cottage feel. I’m working on an upgrade with a bit more sophistication, but it will still embody a country French theme. While there’ll be changes to the room in the upcoming months, I’ve already started with updating the bedding. My direction is focused on pretty and feminine, with lots of embroidered detailing on the dry-handed fabrics. It’s all cotton and linen with soft laundered finishes – this is not the place you’ll find shimmery accents.
I decided to stick with the blue toile comforter, but everything else is a sumptuous feast of whites. From the diamond quilt coverlet to the pillows and shams, each piece was selected for the flourish it is graced with and for how these varied elements would play off each other. Not one piece is left unadorned and that’s exactly how I like it for the spirit of this room.
Quality Fabrics
In stark contrast to the complex mix of patterns, above, the bedding in our master bedroom takes a completely different spin on white bed linen. As the room we use every day, the emphasis here was on luxury bedding and the exquisite comfort it provides, so I went more for simplicity in design, but luxury in fabric.
The duvet cover, sheets and shams are a fine cotton sateen, chosen as much for how it feels as for the simple elegance it conveys. The sheen is very subtle, yet evident enough to evoke a graceful polish. The euro shams, instead, are in white washed linen, equally understated but adding just a touch of romantic flair. A Mongolian lamb toss pillow is the icing on the cake, imparting an inviting softness for when we retire at the end of the day.
When I want a hint of texture I do change it up a bit. I just love the white on white embroidered look and the subtle pattern on the super soft organic cotton duvet set below adds just enough interest, while maintaining that crisp white look. Even with all white bedding you can alternate your looks.
Contrasting Textures
Of the bedrooms I’m updating, the one that’s most near completion is a bedroom that used to be very dark. When done, this room will be a complete transformation, and I’ll explain all of the changes when I do the room reveal. But for our purposes today, I’ll just focus on the bedding.
(ETA: You can now see the completed transformation HERE.)
This bed takes advantage of textural interest, with a crochet lumbar throw pillow as the crowning touch in front, then pucker quilted shams layered behind it and crisp cotton pique euro shams peeking out from the back against the headboard. Mixed into the melange are washed linen sheets and pillow cases, along with a duvet cover in the same laundered fabric.
Quilting and Puckering
If white is too stark for you or just not your thing, you can get the same effect with off white, beige or tan. In the guest room I revealed a few months ago, I mixed soft neutrals in Belgian linen. I’ve included that bedroom here even though it’s not white, in order to give you the sources all in one place.
There are as many variations of white bedding as there are options available of LBD’s. It’s something you simply can’t go wrong with and if one piece wears out, you can mix in something new. It can be accented with any color or you can enjoy the beauty of all white.
And truth be told, white linen looks just as good draped with a single strand of pearls as that little black dress.
Resource Guide
To get the look, click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. If an item is out of stock but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
Please be sure to visit all of the other posts below!
French Country Cottage | A Simple 20 Minute Floral Arrangement
On Sutton Place | Winter Shelf Decor
Shabbyfufu | Quick Coffee Table Styling Tips
StoneGable | Easy & Beautiful Orchid Arrangement & Care
Thistlewood Farm | How to Declutter a Room in 20 Minutes
Have you visited the Designthusiasm shop? Click below to shop my favorites, my Instagram and my Amazon shop. Enjoy!!
Stay Connected!
subscribe to our newsletter and RECEIVE OUR FREE GUIDE “20 WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME”
Are you following Designthusiasm on social media? Please join us at the links below:
Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
As always, a great job with texture and such an upscale inviting appeal. I especially love those pillows with the beading and off to check your source! xo
Aww thank you my friend!! And I’m off to read the other posts… 🙂
Good morning! Last year I switched all the sheets in three bedrooms to white. It makes life easier! Only 1 room is white; the other two have lots of color. White sheets are practical and neutral. They look great on the beds with our colorful quilts and pure white comforter. I highly recommend white sheets. Ours are Fieldcrest from Target. (not an affiliate; just love our sheets!) I made the trade over time and waited for sales.
I’m so with you and I feel the same way about towels, too! 🙂
You have such a talent for making a bed look like it’s fit for a Queen! I love the textures and everything from beads to bumps! Pillows are so easy to make and can add a tremendous statement to a bed.
You’re so sweet! Thank you!!
Those accent pillows…..stunning! I love white bedding too! Layered quilts in the summer feel crisp and cool. A thick comforter covered by a pretty white duvet cover feels like a bit of snowy bliss in the winter.
Beautifully put! And of course I agree… 🙂
Only you could make all white so inviting and beautiful! All the fabrics and textures are lovely!
Ha! Thanks for the vote of confidence!! 🙂
My favorite color…white!! Nothing beats a clean crisp white bed in the summer! Great ideas Lory! I keep trying to hit sales this time of year for bedding, especially white linens.
Lori I have to say you have the most gorgeous bed I have the privilege to see, but your right the more textures you put together the more appealing it is. But you know blue and white bedroom to me is more me I could visualize so much to add to, me I love dry sink pitcher & bowl white with gold inlay. When redecorating a room u could go on &on as u go shopping u might see something that will go beautiful in that room
But I have to say the mirror over your hand board is gorgeous thanks again for sharing. You have a great 4th of July
Love the white bedding!
I love the many ideas about white linens. So pretty!
Beautiful. I love white.
Lovely! But my hubs would not go for it. He’s a fan of quilts & color but he does let me have pillows!
Every one of the beds you have look so inviting. They call to you to come and lay down and take a rest, BEAUTIFUL!!
Beautiful linens
Beautiful bed
Beautiful linens.
Your linens are always lovely! I love Lands End Supima cotton sheets and duvet covers! They are so cool to the touch and last forever!
I have always liked using using white or off white as a base. Your ideas are wonderful to incorporate all the textures! Adds so much interest to bedding couches etc. , thank you!
I use white bedding throughout my home, love the look of it.
Love white linens! This is a fabulous post. Thanks for sharing!
I’m slowly replacing each bedroom with higher quality white bed linens. It makes so much difference in the feel of the room. Just beautiful!
Beautiful!!!!! Thank you for the inspirations.
I love white linens and the dreamy backdrop they make for a bedroom. Your bedroom invites calm and serenity. Beautiful
Love your beautiful white linens! I try to bring touches of white to bedding when I can…
My soft spot is linens. However downsizing has caused me to scale back to less buying because of less spaces to display these beautiful fabrics and designs. It has been fun scaling back to my absolute favorites though. Your posting about white towels etc took me back to the memory of staying with my husband’s aunt when we were first married. Back in those days (the mid 70s) most bathrooms were decorated with jewel tone towels and linens. She was the first person that I had ever encountered that used ONLY white bath towels and linens. Her reason was purely practical as they could be bleached and more easily cleaned. However, they were THICK and FLUFFY and I thought that she was very clever! Your post was full of great info and BEAUTIFUL PICTURES to inspire and encourage us. Thanks so much!
A few years ago I decided it was time to change up my bedding. I bought a white diamond-quilted quilt with matching shams and a white bed skirt. At the time, my bedroom was painted a creamy light tan. I’ve since painted the walls a soothing blue and the throw and two small lumbar pillows are a similar shade. They add the only color to my bedding. I just bought new bedding for my guest room and after trying several options, I choose a white cotton quilt for that room too. In this case, the bed skirt that came with the set was a very light polyester that wasn’t a good match for the heavier cotton of the quilt and shams. Last weekend, I bought a heavy cotton drapery panel in a blue floral print and used the flimsy bed skirt as the platform to make a bed skirt that “works” with the other bedding. Thanks for the inspiration!
Your posts! What can be said? They bring so much inspiration. Most importantly, the beauty of your photos and your talent….. also bring a sense of calm; a sense of peace which we can try to bring into our ownhomes.
I love linens! White is my all time favourite so thanks for the post. I often used vintage cotton or linen hand towels to make cushion covers. They usually have an embossed letter or motif and require very little sewing. Last year I also bought a while towel to make a large texture cushion. So reasonable and pretty.
Loving these neutral and soft colors — makes all these rooms so dreamy, reminded me of the time when I stay in this B&B couple years ago. Thank you for sharing!
I like to use white linens in our bedroom and you gave me some more ideas! Your blue and white guestroom pillows are lovely and look vintage-y!
Loved the mixture of textures in materials and muted colors, It makes for a beautiful bedroom retreat. Thank you for the product links.
I love the white linens. So clean and inviting. Your attention to detail is amazing. I love the old suitcase at the foot of the bed. Brings back old memories. Thank you!
You converted me years ago to all white bedding. It has been quite the project converting the sheets and bedding but it is done! I love it. Thank you
So luxurious!
So gorgeous Lori! I love white linens; they look so crisp and fresh. You have exquisite taste; everything is always so beautiful.
Texture, pattern and color are my mantra!
You’ve convinced me; I’m in heaven with your photos of white bedding!
So glad you like them!
My mom taught me to use all white bed linens years ago in my 20’s when I got my first place of my own and I still continue to use all white bed linens as the foundation— sheets, shams, quilt and duvet- and then sometimes add in a pop of color for the corresponding season, like a beautiful red/green velvet plaid throw pillow during Christmas season, or pretty needlepoint accent pillow in soft muted pinks/greens in spring time. Using white linens as the foundation allows for so much versatility in accent pieces, and always feels luxurious and peaceful! Also love white towels and dishes!
Exactly! And I am the same with towels and dishes, too… 🙂 Your Christmas pillow sounds lovely!
Your version of white linens is definitely not boring…love it!
Thank you!
I love, love, love, all of the white bedding it looks so crisp and clean. The textured pillows really speak to me.
May GOD Bless You,
Sherri
Thanks for all your sources. I love white linens.
Always look forward to your daily post. So many interesting ideas and helpful hints.
I love the combinations of texture and patterns
Such beautiful linens!
I love your posts…always so pretty and lots of good tips.
I love white linens and the ones in your blog are gorgeous!!!
Love this idea thank you for sharing
Beautiful bedroom I always use white bedding in the summer it’s always so crisp and fresh.
These are beautiful sheets! I usually just think of white towels for luxury.
I find your section on textures and photos of bedding really inspire me to consider the impact this could have on my decor. Thanks!
In spring I change to summer rooms always light and cheerful. I love white in summer.
I have always loved white linens on my bed. They make my heart happy.
I just love white bedding. It is so calming and beautiful.
I have always loved white sheet set, but putting together a bed with white linen is total cherry on top. LOVE, LOVE LOVE it
Thank you for the sample designs
Hi,
I’m not sure if my comment will post on your white linens blog, but I loved all the different textures and fabrics! For over 10 years I have used a variety of white duvets, sheets, shams, and even an all white quilt. I have several ideas for new additions now! Thanks!
I love that you can have a home that is fairly gender neutral and use beautiful linens for that feminine touch. One of My favorite things is to slide into crisp cotton sheets. Thread count definitely matters. And lacy beautiful pillows add the perfect touch!
When I was first married our bedroom was all white. I quickly realized that that was not such a great idea with a husband who was more construction than chic. Now my spare bedroom is on the lighter side, not all white little yellow thrown in looks really pretty.
I love white linens, and all the texture you have introduced !
I love white!!! It works with any decorating style
White is so beautiful! I love how you can dress it up or make it more relaxed. Love all the headboards you are showing. Curious do you remember where you purchased the beautiful metal bed frame in your blue and white guest room?
Thank you so much! Interestingly, that’s the one piece of furniture that the previous owners left for us… 🙂