Bedroom Archive

Bedroom

Which bedding is the best? Comparing materials

Choosing the right bedding material determines your sleep climate, the feel against your skin and longevity. Every natural fibre has its own strengths. It comes down to four key properties: temperature regulation, moisture absorption, hand feel and care requirements. Here is an overview of the materials in our collection:

Property	Linen (Flax)	Cotton	Silk	Hemp
Temperature regulation	★★★★★	★★★	★★★★	★★★★
Moisture absorption	up to 35%	up to 25%	up to 30%	up to 30%
Skin friendliness	very high	high	very high	high
Durability	15–20+ years	5–10 years	5–10 years	15–20+ years
Care	easy	easy	hand wash rec.	easy
Wrinkling	characteristic	smooth	smooth	slight

Linen excels in durability and sleep climate. Cotton offers a more affordable entry point with a familiar hand feel. For those seeking luxury, silk is the choice. And hemp bedding combines the robustness of linen with an ecological advantage.

Linen and cotton – the difference that matters

The most important difference between linen and cotton lies in the fibre structure: flax fibre is hollow, cotton fibre is solid. This has tangible consequences for sleep.

Linen absorbs moisture quickly and releases it just as fast. On warm nights, linen feels cool; in winter, it retains body heat – an effect textile scientists refer to as moisture regulation. Cotton, by contrast, retains moisture longer and can feel damp in warm climates.

The hand feel differs considerably. High thread-count cotton bedding – such as the percale qualities from Peter Reed or the sateen bedding from Seidenweber – feels smooth and soft from day one. Linen bedding, on the other hand, grows softer with every wash and develops a hand feel over the years that no other material can match.

Durability clearly favours linen: flax is considered the most hard-wearing natural fibre of all. A well-cared-for linen bedding set lasts 15 to 20 years – three times as long as most cotton sets.

For those who want the best of both worlds, half-linen bedding offers the answer: Leitner Leinen and the Hoffmann Leinenweberei weave blended fabrics that combine the cool touch of linen with the smoothness of cotton.

Genuine Craftsmanship

Crafted by people who have learned their trade over generations.

Sustainability

Material, production, people – genuine sustainability. Fabrics traceable to the Atlantic coast.

Durable

Linen bedding can be washed at low temperatures and becomes softer with each wash.

Breathable

Linen bedding keeps you pleasantly cool in summer and cozy warm in winter. Bedding for all seasons.

Silk, hemp and organic linen – for discerning tastes

Beyond the classic linen-versus-cotton comparison, we offer materials for specific needs.

Silk bedding from Seidenweber is the choice for sensitive skin: silk contains sericin, a protein that binds moisture and is gentle on the skin. However, silk requires more care and is more susceptible to friction.

Hemp bedding from Vieböck combines the advantages of linen with an even smaller ecological footprint. Hemp grows faster than flax, requires neither irrigation nor pesticides, and yields a fibre that is similarly temperature-regulating and robust as linen.

For those who value certified organic cultivation, our organic linen bedding collection features GOTS-certified fabrics – including from Vieböck and Libeco.

Sleeping sustainably – European manufactories instead of mass production

All materials in our collection come from European production. This is not a marketing buzzword but a mark of quality reflected in thread density, colour fastness and durability.

Libeco has been weaving in Belgium since 1858 – a fifth-generation family business that controls the entire value chain from flax field to finished fabric. Vieböck in Upper Austria works exclusively with organic linen and organic hemp.

On the cotton side, Peter Reed in Lancashire sets the standard: the company has supplied the British Royal Household for generations and weaves Egyptian cotton at thread counts that mass-produced bedding cannot match.

What these manufactories share is full traceability of raw materials, Oeko-Tex certification and short transport routes. Learn more about the origin and processing of our fabrics in our knowledge base.

Weaveries

Manufactories

Linen as a design element in the bedroom

Linen has a texture that no other fabric can imitate. The natural grain of the flax fibre creates a lively surface that stands apart from the smooth appearance of mass-produced cotton bedding. The slightly rumpled look – valued in interior design as the “lived-in look” – gives the bedroom character without appearing untidy.

The colour spectrum ranges from natural sand tones and white linen bedding to yarn-dyed stripes and checks. Geniksa offers Scandinavian minimalist palettes, while Libeco’s collections such as the SS2026 line feature indigo and earth tones.

Paired with a bedspread and matching pillowcases, the result is a cohesive ensemble that works in both minimalist and classic bedrooms.

Care by material – how to keep your bedding beautiful for longer

Every material has its own care rules. Here are the essentials:

Linen: Coloured linen bedding can be washed at up to 60 °C, white at 95 °C. Fabric softener is unnecessary – linen softens naturally over time. Dry linen in the open air or on a low tumble dryer setting. Ironing is not required; for a smoother finish, iron slightly damp on the reverse side.

Cotton: Percale and sateen from Peter Reed are best washed at 40–60 °C. High thread counts do not tolerate tumble drying on a high setting.

Silk: Hand wash or delicate cycle at a maximum of 30 °C. Do not spin, dry flat. Silk must not go in the tumble dryer.

Hemp: Just as easy to care for as linen. Machine wash at 60 °C, no special treatment needed.

Detailed care tips can be found on our Care & Durability page.

Dare to dream - Our linen bedding

As seen in

“A great old manufactory – brought to market in new ways. A fascinating idea that, in our opinion, only knows winners.”

“We can all truly wish for a return of this genuine craftsmanship.”

“Bed linen of a kind that actually no longer exists.”