Why Organic Linen Bedding is the Key to Better Sleep

Discover how the natural properties of linen bedding can transform your sleep, giving you a more restful night and increased energy for the day ahead.

1. It Keeps You Cool on Summer Nights…

Linen is part of a family of fibers known as bast fibers, which includes jute and hemp. Instead of one single-celled fiber like cotton, bast fibers are made of many cells packed together. Between the cells are tiny pores, which let air and moisture pass through.

This gives linen a unique property: thermoregulation. Thermoregulating materials keep you cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cool. On hot summer nights, the heat from your body escapes through linen’s pores rather than clinging to you like a damp sheet. Speaking of damp sheets, you won’t find them here: our organic linen sheets have the same pores that wick away sweat, meaning that you’ll stay dry all night. Even on particularly clammy evenings, organic linen bedding can absorb up to 20 percent of its weight in water before it starts to feel damp.

2. …But Also Keeps You Warm in Winter

Linen has been stereotyped as a summer fabric—but did you know it’s perfect for winter too? Thanks to its thermoregulating properties, the same pores that allow air to escape will trap air when the ambient temperature is cool, creating an insulating layer around your body. When the temperature rises, it allows the heat to escape again, meaning that you won’t have that on-off dance with your duvet throughout the night.

3. It’s Soft

Think linen bedding is scratchy? Think again! During linen production, short and long fibers are separated through a process known as scutching. The short, coarse fibers go into industrial composites such as sacking and car upholstery—and this is what gives linen its “scratchy” reputation.

Bedding and other linen homeware, however, are made from the longest, finest linen strands extracted during scutching. This linen can be a little stiff to begin with, due to leftover pectin—a substance that is naturally present in the fiber. But since pectin is water-soluble, the linen bedding gets softer as soon as its washed. More and more pectin dissolves with each wash, resulting in even softer sheets over time—and a great night’s sleep for you. To kickstart this process, we garment-wash our organic linen bedding at the end of the production process, so it’s super soft straight out of the box. Order a set of our organic linen fabric swatches and feel it for yourself.

4. It Won’t Pill

Remember how bast fibers are made from tightly packed cells? Well, it turns out that those cells make linen incredibly durable, especially when compared to cotton. Cotton bedding manufacturers might twist threads together to create the illusion of a thicker fiber (and to falsify a higher thread count…) but this isn’t the same as a fiber that’s inherently strong. Over time, cotton sheets develop a characteristic pill that looks unsightly and is uncomfortable and scratchy to sleep on. Our Scandinavian-style bedding, on the other hand, is far less prone to pilling as it’s made from durable, organic European linen—you’ll sleep softly (and soundly) all night.

5. It’s Chemical-Free

Among the things keeping us awake at night include a concern about the chemicals in our food and homewares—but with our organic linen bedding, you’ve got one less thing to worry about. It’s certified free from harmful chemicals, preventing long-term health issues that might arise from chemicals in bedding.

Plenty of brands use greenwashing terms such as “natural” and “eco”—but if they’re not backed up by independent certification, they’re not worth the paper they’re written on. The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is one such certification, an independent testing system that places more stringent restrictions on chemical use than even international regulators. OEKO-TEX tests for harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, Azo dyes, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers. It also ensures a skin-friendly pH and colors that don’t transfer—so you can buy that white nightdress you’ve had your eye on! Our organic linen duvet covers are certified Class 1, which is the only class deemed suitable for babies.

We’re proud to say that we also carry the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Many companies’ claims of “organic” products are fake; but there’s no getting around GOTS, as it’s the gold standard. It doesn’t just account for farming practices: it certifies the entire production chain from seeds to sheets. As well as prohibiting toxic fertilizers and pesticides, GOTS stipulates the use of oxygen bleach (instead of chlorine), bans harmful discharge printing methods, and requires the use of PVC-free and recycled paper packaging.

6. It’s Good for Sensitive Skin

As well as being chemical-free, did you know that organic linen bedding is hypoallergenic? Thanks to its breathability and tight weave, it resists mold and dust mites: the two main causes of allergies. This makes it easier to sleep if you suffer from asthma, eczema, or sensitive skin.

7. It Supports the Scandinavian Sleep Method

The Scandinavian sleep method—using two twin duvets on one double bed—is becoming more popular around the world. It benefits your sleep in numerous ways: you won’t have to fight for the covers, you can customize your duvet to your temperature and fill preferences, and you can wash your duvet cover according to your own schedule.

Our organic linen bedding range now includes a Euro-Single size for European duvets. These are smaller than US twin duvets, making it easier to have two on one bed without worrying whether they’ll both fit. Plus, we have a range of different yet complementary Scandinavian-inspired designs, so you and your partner can pick the one you prefer. Buy your European-sized single duvets from our friends at The Down Comforter Store: they’re made in Denmark and are OEKO-TEX certified.

What are your top tips for getting a good night’s sleep? Did any of our organic linen bedding facts surprise you? Let us know on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter!