Summer vs Winter Bedding Ideas

Changing up your bedding seasonally doesn’t just keep your bedroom looking stylish. Choosing the right materials and types of bedding throughout the year can really help out with getting a good night’s sleep!

While it might seem simpler to use the same bedding all year round, it’s difficult to find a setup that makes sure you’re not too hot in summer but also keeps you cosy when the temperature drops. Cycling between summer and winter bedding means that you’ll find it easier to fall asleep no matter the weather - and you may also find that your bed linen ends up lasting longer! We’ll take you through everything you need to look for when you’re shopping for seasonal bedding.

Stay Cool & Comfy With Summer Bedding

Choose A Lightweight Duvet

Before you even start thinking about duvet cover sets, you need to decide on a summer duvet. You can look at a duvet’s tog rating to figure out whether it’s suitable for hotter temperatures or not, as this measures how good its thermal insulation or resistance is. The lower the tog, the cooler you’ll feel under the duvet.

For summer bedding, you should generally look for a duvet between 2.5 and 4.5 tog. However, you should always consider your personal preferences first. If you like the feel of a slightly heavier duvet, or struggle to warm up under the covers even in summer, go for a slightly higher tog.

Go For Breathable Bedding Materials

While it is important to keep style in mind when you’re browsing through bedding options, another key thing to consider is material. Duvet cover sets made from cotton percale in particular tend to be quite breathable, as the percale weave keeps the material light and airy. It’s perfect for a soft touch that won’t lead to you being too warm and uncomfortable in the middle of the night!

Pick Light & Bright Shades

To get your bedroom ready for summer, make sure your bedding is light and fun. A soft blue, striped pattern like the Birdie Duvet Cover Set is perfect for welcoming the warmer weather and sunny days. Floral patterns are another classic summer design, especially in colours like blue and green. Consider picking a bed sheet in a light colour that complements your main bedding.

Consider A Flat Sheet

If even a lightweight summer duvet seems like too much material on hot summer nights, then another setup you might want to try is replacing the duvet with a flat sheet. It’ll still give you the light pressure of having bedding over you while you sleep, but it can be more breathable than a full duvet. 

Go for a cotton option, like this Sateen 400TC Flat Sheet, for a high-quality, silky feel that you’ll love stretching out under, even in the summer heat!

Use Cooling Elements To Stay Comfy

If you want to take your summer bedding setup to the next level, then you could add in some specific cooling items, like a Restore Copper Pillow. Copper infused bedding can help to keep you at a comfortable temperature throughout the night, but it’s not your only cooling option.

If you don’t want to replace your entire pillow for summer, you could just slip in a pillow pad that uses gel compartments to cool you down throughout the night. This approach lets you keep and upgrade your favourite pillow, so you can have that familiar comfort along with some extra cooling power.

Warm & Cosy Ideas For Winter Bedding

Choose A Heavier Duvet

Naturally, just like duvets with lower tog ratings are better for summer, you’ll want a duvet with a much higher tog rating for winter. Look at the 10.5+ tog range for duvets that will keep you toasty warm when it’s cold outside. Choose one at around 10.5 to 13 tog if you don’t need too much extra warmth, but you can go up to 15 or even 18 tog for an incredibly snug night’s sleep.

Look For Warm Bedding Materials

Brushed cotton is one of the best materials for your winter bedding, as it’s soft, cosy and excellent at keeping you warm even when it’s freezing outside. It’s pure cotton that has been ‘brushed’ by a machine to give it a fuzzy feel from the raised fibres. This process makes it feel even more luxurious than normal cotton, and warmer to sleep under too.

If you need to step up your winter bedding game even further, then you might want to look into a fleece duvet cover. Fleece generally keeps in even more heat than cotton, and teddy fleece in particular has a plush, cosy feel. Combined with a high tog duvet, it’s a surefire way to make sure you won’t be cold in your bed when winter arrives!

Pick Warm & Earthy Tones

Your winter bedding is where you can embrace all of the earthy tones: browns, reds, oranges and greys. Going for something like the Braemar Check Duvet Cover Set is the perfect, gentle vibe for cosy winter nights in. For a slightly different approach, try out some bedding in a deep, navy blue shade for a bold look that still feels wintry.

Make Your Sheets Cosy Too

You might assume that there’s not really much you can do with your sheets to get ready for winter, other than perhaps matching the colour to your duvet cover set. However, a fleece fitted sheet is a luxurious upgrade that not only feels incredibly soft but also helps to keep you cosy at night.

Brushed cotton sheets have a similar effect while not being quite as warm as fleece sheets, making them a good alternative if you want just a little more cosiness.

Layer Up With Throws

As well as your duvet, you should consider layering up with some extra bedding when it starts getting colder outside. A cosy, faux fur blanket like the Empress Throw can give your bed an extra cosy look, as well as being another layer of warmth for when you go to sleep.

You don’t even have to settle for just a throw. Depending on how cold it gets and how warm you like to be when you sleep, you could add in some extra cushions and a bedspread too.

Add Extra Warmth With Heated Blankets

When fabric alone isn’t enough, it might be time to really invest in your winter bedding and grab yourself a heated throw. Having adjustable heat settings, like with the Cable Sherpa Heated Throw, can be a game-changer if you’re never quite getting the balance right with your winter duvet cover and blankets. 

Keep Your Bed Comfy All Year Round

Of course, you should ultimately pick the summer and winter bedding that works best to give you a good night’s sleep. We’ve got everything you need, from bedspreads for a stylish extra layer in winter to colourful duvet covers that are perfect for summer. For even more style options, check out our guide to choosing your autumn bedding, or our top picks for cosy winter bed throws.