Are The Viral Sheets Worth It? And If Not, What Are?
I tried these viral sheets to see if they’re worth the hype. Plus, other white sheets worth considering.
Have you heard of the viral sheets? I observed one prominent home tastemaker talking about her love for these sheets (and reiterating it every time someone asked her opinion on sheets). Then, others started to mention them. Oh and btw they seem to always be on sale (as they always remind us). I love a good sheet (and good deal) as much as the next guy, so of course I had to give in and try these much-hyped sheets for myself. #influenced
Story behind the sheets
I started following @thisoakhouse who shares the behind the scenes of her home renovation and all of her extremely tasteful design designs and product picks. Every Friday she does a Q&A where people pepper her with questions about her paint colors, cabinet pulls, drawer organizers, you name it, and she addresses each one with a very assured confidence and recommendations that range from the extremely high-end to Amazon finds. So, you can say, she’s earned the trust of her audience.
New to this sphere of influence, I thought I’d ask a question, but since I’m not renovating a home, I asked something more quotidian: what are your favorite sheets? I was directed to a highlight where she’s addressed this question, clearly one she received often. So the story goes, she and her family rented a house in the Hamptons one summer, and after the first night, her mother, who happens to be Nancy Meyers (the creative visionary behind some of the most aesthetically pleasing, envy inducing interiors in film history), marveled at how wonderful the sheets were. Assuming they were something high end like Frette, they stripped the bed, only to find they were Land’s End!
And so these sheets come up over and over again — not just on her Instagram but with other home and lifestyle tastemakers. They divulge it like an insider tip that must be shared with the world, almost always accompanied by a discount. Land’s End sheets seem to frequently go on sale, up to 50% off (and it’s a reasonable price point to begin with).
As you could imagine, my curiosity was piqued (just like yours probably is right now). How could I pass up soft, affordable, luxurious sheets, according to Nancy Meyers!
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Did the sheets live up to the hype?
I could not have been more excited to test out the Land’s End sheets: 400 Thread Count Premium Supima Cotton No Iron Sateen Bed Sheet Set. If they worked, I planned to restock. I ordered a King Size set in white with a 50% off price (in May 2024). I evaluated them on four main criteria.
Feel
They are indeed incredibly soft, making them wonderful to sleep on. I’m not the biggest fan of sateen, a little too slick for my taste, but these don’t feel icky (or look too shiny).
Design
On the plus side, they’re no iron and look pressed straight from the dryer. In reality, they don’t look super crisp, but good enough. Otherwise, they leave something to be desired in terms of design. They’re finished with a satin-stitched embroidery which is fine but nothing special.
Durability
The Land’s End sheets, by the time of writing, have withstood maybe a dozen washes, and still look and feel as good as when I got them, and they might even be a little softer.
Material
They’re made of 100% American-grown Supima cotton. At first I thought this was a gimmick as I’ve grown pretty wary of thread count, purity promises, misleading labeling. I was happy to confirm Supima is a rare 100% long-staple cotton, which makes up 1% of cotton worldwide and only 3% of cotton grown in the U.S. resulting in Supima being smoother and softer than regular cotton.
Overall Verdict
The hype is real! I’d definitely recommend the Land’s End sheets especially for the price. Without a doubt, it’s a soft, luxurious feeling sheet that is, in fact, made of top quality cotton, and delivers great bang for the buck.
But, with the caveat that these sheets are more about function than form. On their own the sheets look a bit flat without any distinguishing detail. I just wish they offered a version of these sheets with a bit of a flourish!
To get the best of the sheets, but achieve a more polished look, I’d pair them with pretty shams and layer with a bedspread or quilt. Right now I have the Land’s End sheets on my bed and use these Boll & Branch shams with an eyelet border and this pink Welsh blanket.
But my favorite sheets that look as good as they feel are below….
What other people think
Honestly, I’ve come across few home products that inspire as much love and loyalty as the Land’s End sheets. A sampling of the praise….
“[swear by them.] Been using lands end for years”
“THE BEST! Honestly Ive considered taking them on vacation with me.”
“These sheet feel like silk against your skin. It's my second set and I really can't say enough about the quality and feel. Heavenly.”
“These are by far the best sheets ever and rival the most expensive imported bed linens.”
“These are the best sheets I’ve ever slept on…Never going back.”
My bed made with Land’s End sheets and Boll & Branch shams
The beauty with sheets is that you can be loyal to one or change them up depending on the season or mood. I’m always noting sheets that I want to try out, so I’m going to share them all here.
Comparison at a glance
Boll & Branch Signature Embellished Sheet Set | Starting at $249 Buy now
Land’s End 400 Thread Count Premium Supima Cotton No Iron Sateen Bed Sheet Set | Starting at $179.95 Buy now
Garnet Hill Embroidered Wrinkle-Resistant Sateen Sheets | Starting at $99* Buy now
Sferra Diamante Collection | Starting at $480 Buy now
Bellino Fine Finens Greenwich Percale | Starting at $293 Buy now
Matouk Classic Chain Flat Sheet | Starting at $239** Buy now
*for flat sheet; fitted sheet and pillowcases sold separately. **for flat sheet; fitted sheet, pillowcases, and shams sold separately.
White sheets worth considering
Boll & Branch
These are my favorite sheets! I’ve purchased several sets over the years (look out for the 20% off sale in the summer and holidays and first-time customers always get 20% off) and even gifted them. You can feel the quality of these sheets, and the embellished detail puts them over the edge.
How did I hear about them:
If you’re an avid podcast listener, you’ve heard of Boll & Branch.
Why they caught my eye:
There’s so much cheap material being passed off as cotton these days, so it really appealed to me that Boll & Branch has a pretty established reputation for quality.
It seems customers are very loyal toward Boll & Branch, and the reviews are outstanding.
I also like that they offer a variety of styles, each with a little special detail to set them apart.
Product info:
Name: Signature Embellished Sheet Set
Price: Starting at $249
Rating: 4.6 stars (816 reviews)
Thread count: They don’t rely on thread count to determine quality. They say they formulate the highest quality threads in 4-over-1-under weave that leads to new levels of softness with each wash.
Material: 100% organic long-staple cotton with a soft finish
Features: Fair Trade Certified, eyelet edging (in various colors)
Land’s End
How did I hear about them:
@thisoakhouse and other home and lifestyle tastemakers
Why they caught my eye:
So many people rave about how soft and luxurious they feel.
Product info:
Name: 400 Thread Count Premium Supima Cotton No Iron Sateen Bed Sheet Set
Price: Starting at $179.95
Rating: 4.4 stars (2030)
Thread count: 400-count
Material: 100% supima®, sateen finish
Features: No iron
Garnet Hill
How did I hear about them:
Interior designer @chelseahandegan
Why they caught my eye:
They seem like the best of both worlds, functional (wrinkle resistant) and beautiful (intricate detail).
Product info:
Name: Embroidered Wrinkle-Resistant Sateen Sheets
Price: Starting at $99 (for flat sheet); pillow cases at $59; fitted at $89
Rating: 4.6/5 (172 reviews)
Thread count: 400 thread count
Material: 100% combed pima cotton, sateen finish
Features: No iron, ladder-stitch detailing (in various colors)
Sferra
How did I hear about them:
None other than @thisoakhouse; these are the linens she had on her bed when she first moved into her renovated home (she says she rotates between these and the Land’s End linens).
Why they caught my eye:
The delicate finish on these sheets makes for a beautifully refined and elegant bed.
This is like the high-end version of the Boll & Branch Embellished Sheets (above)
Product info:
Name: Diamante
Price: Starting at $480 (for flat sheet); fitted sheet at $365; pillowcases at $315; shams at $303
Rating: NA
Thread count: NA
Material: 100% long-staple cotton, sateen finish
Features: Macramé lace inset threaded with a satin ribbon and stitched with hemstitching; Made in Italy
Bellino Fine Linens
How did I hear about them:
I came across this random post with someone talking the linens at the Greenwich Hotel with a border that get changed every day with a different color and how she had tracked down the source that supplies to luxury hotels, the Bowery Hotel amongst them, and that you can buy from yourself.
I’ve stayed at the Bowery Hotel many times because I adore the design of the rooms, and a signature detail is the orange and white linens. I’ve always wondered where they came from, and now I do!
Why they caught my eye:
I love the idea of designing a bedroom around these linens. The bold strip of color makes a statement, yet because the rest of it is white, it’s not too in-your-face.
I think these linens are elegant with a modern feel.
Product info:
Name: Greenwich Percale
Price: Starting at $293 (for sheet set); shams at $63
Rating: NA
Thread count: NA
Material: Cotton percale
Features: Simple applied border in Azure, Mediterranean Green, SIlver
Matouk
How did I hear about them:
Matouk is always a quality source of bed and bath linens. I have their Milagro towels.
Why they caught my eye:
This embroidery detail is one of the more eye-catching embroidery designs out there. I also like that it comes in so many colors, from the bold to the more subtle.
Product info:
Name: Classic Chain Flat Sheet
Price: Starting at $239 (for flat sheet); pillowcases at $174; shams at $174; fitted sheet at $135
Rating: NA
Thread count: 350 thread count
Material: Long-staple cotton percale
Features: Classical Greek motif embroidered detail (in multiple colors)
The finishing touch: mini pillow
A mini pillow, or boudoir pillow as it’s also called, is not for everyone, but it can be the perfect finishing touch on a bed made with beautiful linens. If the linens are all, or mostly, white, a mini pillow can be a great opportunity to mix in a little pattern. Also, it can be customized with a monogram or even a message for a personal touch.
Tips for keeping bed linens white
Keeping linens white is a big area of focus in our household; my husband has a shaved head so more oils touch the sheets/pillow cases and can turn them yellow — gross! Luckily for me, when he gets obsessed with fixing something, he does lots of research and experimentation. So, here’s what we have found works best to keep sheets white.
Change bed linens weekly
Wash bed linens by themselves
Have more than one set of sheets and rotate amongst them
If there are any stains, like blood, pre-wash on cold with regular detergent
Then, wash with 1/2 cup of baking soda (which helps to brighten whites and remove odors) added directly to the washing machine; usual amount of regular detergent; 1 cup of white vinegar (which helps to soften fabrics and brighten whites) to the fabric softener dispenser
Dry the linens outside — my mom swears by this; apparently the sun helps to naturally bleach the white linens. I wish we had the option but sadly stringing up a clothing line is not an acceptable option in New York.
Other Bedding Recommendations
Pillow Inserts
Costco Down Pillows
There’s long been a rumor that Costco pillows are surprisingly good and affordable. A family friend who doesn’t spare expenses on quality home furnishings confirmed that they’re the real deal. If they’re good enough for her, they’re good enough for me. So, I purchased some for my guest room. I tested them out when I was sleeping in there recently (in the first weeks of bringing my baby home, I’d sneak in there to get sleep while my husband was on duty).
Hotel Grand White Down Pillow ($52.99) Buy now
Sferra
@thisoakhouse strikes again. These down alternative pillows are her pillows of choice with lightweight feeling of down and the hypoallergenic quality of modern techno fibers.
Sferra Acadia Medium Pillow ($102) Buy now
Duvet Insert
You can read about my journey to find the best fluffiest duvet insert, but I’ll save you to suspense and share the duvet I purchased and LOVE below.
Boll & Branch
I cannot speak more highly of this duvet insert — switching from synthetic to down made a huge difference. It is so cozy and warm that I cannot wait for the temperatures to drop so that I have an excuse to use it. The fill is so thick and cloud-like it is beyond comfortable.
Boll & Branch Down Duvet Insert Buy now
Boll & Branch Signature Embellished Duvet Set Buy now