Bedding can be the best indulgence. There’s nothing quite like sinking into a fresh, plush bed at the end of a long day. But quality bedding isn’t cheap, and can fall pretty low on your list of priorities. Luckily, you don’t have to settle for subpar sleep; finding quality bedding on a budget is tricky, but absolutely doable and well worth it when it comes to your precious beauty sleep. Keep reading to find out seven tips for finding the bedding of your dreams without overspending.
- Check Thread Count
Thread count isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. After all, manufacturers have tricks they can use to make the thread count seem higher. A good rule of thumb is that the higher the thread count, the better, but anything over 400-500 is likely not worth the markup. Check the quality of the sheets before you buy by holding them up to the light (well-made sheets will be opaque), and scratch your fingernail along them to make sure they don’t immediately pill or fuzz.
- Search for Sales
Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to scoring the best deals. Bedding reliably goes on sale year-round, so it’s only a matter of time before it inevitably drops in price. Outlet stores are great options to find designer bedding on the cheap, but you can find truly beautiful and affordable options online at retailers like IN BED that you wouldn’t necessarily find in stores.
- Do Less Laundry
You could be washing your bedding too often, which wears down the fabric and shortens its lifespan. Rotate your bedding no more than once every 7-14 days using a gentle detergent to help keep your bedding in tip-top shape as long as possible.
- Invest in Quality
It might seem counterintuitive, but investing in quality bedding from the get-go can save you a surprising amount of money over the years. Buying set after set of subpar sheets, pillows, and covers that you inevitably need to replace every year or two can add up. Invest in quality to get the most longevity and wear out of your bedding, and have a second set of sheets that you can rotate in every couple of weeks to extend the life of your sheets even longer.
- Ditch the Flat Sheet
Go Euro-style by getting rid of your flat sheets. If you have a duvet cover, you simply don’t need one. Rest easy without getting tangled up in a useless top sheet, while saving upwards of $20 per bedding set.
- DIY Duvet
Consider diving into the DIY craze with homemade duvet covers and decorative pillows – both seriously costly items. A DIY duvet cover is surprisingly simple: just sew together two flat sheets and leave one side open with buttons (or a zipper if you’re feeling particularly ambitious!). Decorative pillows are a little more challenging, but you can make them out of leftover clothing, blankets, and even drapes to save money and be green. Find a great tutorial here.
- Buy Neutral
The number one tip for getting the most bang for your buck? Buy solid colours and neutrals. They’ll outlast the trendier options so that you don’t get sick of your bedding after a few months, plus they’ll go with way more so that you can re-decorate cheaply and easily.