How to Choose the Best Bed Linen for You
Our bed linen collection offers something for everyone - whether you sleep hot or cold, and if you prefer a touch of whimsy or a more classic style. From scalloping to hemstitching, traditional cording to piping, there is a style to surely suit all interior styles. If not, our almost limitless Atelier offering of finest Italian bespoke bed linen allows you to amend all the details as you wish - from flange length to fabric, dimensions to colour.
A little introduction to our bed linen: we intentionally don't prioritise thread counts alone, rather putting emphasis on heritage woven, long-staple cotton to support softer, longer lasting sheets that have additional benefits such as less wrinkling and pilling, being more breathable, and staying whiter for longer. We spend a third of our lives in bed so it’s worth getting sleep “right”. What’s more, better quality bed linens far outweigh their poorer quality counterparts, offering better ‘cost per sleep’.
What makes us different? Rebecca worked in a bed and bath buying department before establishing the brand, and has spent years building relationships and engaging with prestigious European mills and tailors to get their view. The consensus is that single-ply, long- or extra-long-staple cotton fibres woven by (often European) skilled weavers and finishers results in the finest bed linen that is heavenly to sleep in.
Thread count, simply, is the number of threads in a square inch. Arguably, it’s a marketing ploy, as it’s not always in the interest of better quality linens - there’s far more to exceptional textiles than this. The number of threads doesn’t take account the quality of the fibres themselves. For a comparison, we wouldn’t accept a standard woollen jumper as better than an A-grade cashmere jumper because it was heavier.
We have different collections for varying levels of investment, but we always balance thread count, the length of the cotton fibres, the expertise of the weaver and finisher, and the tailoring for the best balance. Optimising and balancing these is somewhat an art, and in ways, similar to considering the four C’s of diamonds or other purchases - one factor in isolation isn’t all that helpful. To us, the design is also important to bring joy to our bedrooms.
Alongside our focus on the best quality cotton fibres, we are fastidious on all the details. For example, our Egyptian cotton is Gold Seal certified to ensure true provenance - marketing rules allow that if 51% of yarns in cotton fabric is Egyptian cotton, it can be marketed as such. To complicate further, not all Egyptian cotton is of a high quality - long- or extra-long-staple. All Rebecca Udall textiles are Oeko-tex 100 certified to be assured they are totally free of harmful chemicals and processes. We utilise the expertise of renowned, heritage textile-producing regions of Italy and Portugal.
Ultimately, we are committed to offering a range of excellent textiles that balance all quality points. You can read more about the cotton we use and how to choose your bed linen in our Bed Linen Buying Guide.
Below, you will find all the important details of each of our bed linen collections, including pointers to help you choose which is the best bed linen for you.
Annabelle Bed Linen
Our Annabelle bed linen offers a pretty, whimsical touch to your bedroom with its traditional jovial scalloped trim in a range of contemporary (dusty pink and asparagus) and effortless (white) colourways. Crafted in Portugal by a heritage, family-owned manufacturer, Annabelle is made from crisp and cool 200-thread-count percale cotton. Pure cotton sheets are best for hot summer nights, or for those who sleep warmer. Natural fibres are naturally breathable, helping to regulate temperatures, but the weave of percale cotton gives it its characteristic crisp and cool touch - a little like a crisp white shirt.
Details:
200 thread count percale cotton for a crisp and cool finish.
Long-staple cotton makes for soft, long-lasting sheets.
Gold Seal, long-staple Egyptian cotton.
Oeko-tex 100 certified.
Very breathable.
Dries quickly in the machine or when line dried - percale is always best to finish drying outside of the machine wherever possible.
For the best finish, we recommend it is ironed as it has an embroidered hem.
Percale is characteristically slightly more hardwearing than sateen cotton, yet has a tendency to crease more easily, with a matte finish.
Crisp and cool to the touch - best for those who sleep hotter or for summer nights.
Our manufacturer is part of the Better Cotton Initiative.
Made in Portugal.
Best for: those who like bed linens cool to the touch and love a slight whimsical twist to their decor.
Five colours available: asparagus green, white, dusty pink, powder blue and taupe.
Available in UK & US sizes plus two sizes of top sheets and Single to Superking bed sizes.
Shop Annabelle bed linen
Alexandra Bed Linen
Our Alexandra bed linen is crafted from warm and silky sateen cotton for a super-soft and smooth feel. Made in Italy, Alexandra is another scalloped design but in sateen rather than percale, with a higher thread count and a more contemporary wavy design. Whereas Annabelle’s design detail is its scalloped edge with an embroidered trim, Alexandra features a wavy design with a hand-applied cotton bias trim for a more modern aesthetic. Colourways are more subdued, in plaster pink, sage and white.
Details:
400 thread count sateen cotton for a super soft and smooth feel plus luxurious weight.
Dries quickly in the machine.
Long-staple cotton makes for soft, long-lasting sheets.
Breathable.
Sateen cotton is characteristically slightly less hardwearing than percale cotton, yet has a tendency to wrinkle less than percale weaves and has a slightly lustrous finish.
Warm and silky to the touch - best for those who sleep colder in bed or for winter nights.
Hand-applied cotton bias for a more refined finish compared with machine embroidery.
Slightly lustrous finish.
Made in Italy.
Best for: those who like a slight whimsical design touch and prefer soft, silky and warm bed linen.
Three colours available: sage green, white and plaster pink.
Available in UK & US sizes plus four sizes of top sheets and Single to Emperor bed sizes.
Shop Alexandra bed linen
Evora Bed Linen
Crafted in a heritage, family-owned mill in Portugal, our Evora bed linen is made from a special percale which makes it super soft but also crisp and cool. The two-cord design detail aligns with our Sophie table linens, featuring two cords of different widths for a more elegant and refined touch.
Details:
400 thread count percale cotton for a crisp and cool finish and a luxurious feel.
The finishing techniques utilised result in a super soft percale finish - not overly crisp.
Very breathable.
Long-staple cotton makes for soft, long-lasting sheets.
Gold Seal Egyptian cotton.
Oeko-tex 100 certified.
Dries well in the machine or line dried - percale is always best to finish drying outside of the machine wherever possible.
Percale is characteristically slightly more hardwearing than sateen cotton, yet has a tendency to crease more easily, with a matte finish.
Crisp and cool to the touch - best for those who sleep hotter or for summer nights.
Our manufacturer is part of the Better Cotton Initiative.
Made in Portugal.
Best for: those who like elegant and refined designs and prefer crisp and cool, breathable bed linen.
One colour available: buttermilk.
Available in UK & US sizes plus three sizes of top sheets and Single to Emperor bed sizes.
Shop Evora bed linen
Frame Bed Linen
Our Frame bed linen is a contemporary and elegant rendition of a traditional two-corded design, crafted from exceptionally soft and smooth long-staple sateen cotton. Seamless with contemporary decor, its design also adds an eclectic contemporary touch to more whimsical or traditional interior settings.
Details:
400 thread count sateen cotton for a super soft and smooth feel and a luxurious feel.
Breathable.
Long-staple cotton makes for soft, long-lasting sheets.
Gold Seal Egyptian cotton.
Oeko-tex 100 certified.
Dries well in the machine or line dried.
Sateen cotton is characteristically slightly less hardwearing than percale cotton, yet it has a tendency to crease less than percale weaves and has a slightly lustrous finish.
Warm and silky to the touch - best for those who sleep colder in bed or winter nights.
Our manufacturer is part of the Better Cotton Initiative.
Made in Portugal.
Best for: those who prefer supremely soft, smooth and breathable sheets with a contemporary design.
Two colours available: bronzed umber and steel blue.
Available in UK & US sizes plus one size of top sheets and Single to Superking bed sizes.
Shop Frame bed linen
Georgiana Bed Linen
Our Georgiana bed linen features an intricate ladder stitch for a more contemporary rendition of traditional hand-embroidery. Similar in design to our Porto bed linen, Georgiana is crafted from the very finest, 600-thread count, Italian-woven, long-staple percale cotton for a crisp and cool feel. Choose from two subtle colours (dusky blue and nougat).
Details:
600-thread count percale cotton for a crisp and cool finish
The finest long-staple, Italian-woven Supima cotton makes for soft, long-lasting sheets.
Intricate coloured ladder stitch for a contemporary rendition of traditional hand-embroidery.
Breathable.
We recommend washing in a cotton bag (we send this with your order) to protect the delicate embroidery.
Dries quickly in the machine or when line-dried. Percale cotton is always best dried in fresh air wherever possible.
For the best finish, we recommend ironing.
Percale is characteristically slightly more hardwearing than sateen cotton, yet has a tendency to crease more easily, with a matte finish.
Crisp and cool to the touch - best for those who sleep hotter or for summer nights.
Expertly hand-stitched by master embroiderers who are SEDEX-certified.
Best for: those who are looking for the finest quality bed linen with a contemporary design, and who like bed linens that are cool to the touch.
Two colours available: dusky blue and nougat.
Available in UK sizes and Single to Emperor bed sizes.
Shop Georgiana bed linen
Porto Bed Linen
Our Porto bed linen features an elegant hemstitch trim for a delicate design touch that will complement any style of decor. Crafted from long staple sateen cotton, Porto offers breathable bed linen with a silky smooth finish.
Details:
400 thread count sateen cotton for a super soft and smooth feel and a luxurious feel.
Breathable.
Long-staple cotton makes for soft, long lasting sheets.
Gold Seal Egyptian cotton.
Oeko-tex 100 certified.
Sateen cotton is characteristically slightly less hardwearing than percale cotton, yet it has a tendency to crease less than percale weaves and has a slightly lustrous finish.
Warm and silky to the touch - best for those who sleep colder in bed or winter nights.
Dries well in the machine or line dried.
Our manufacturer is part of the Better Cotton Initiative.
Made in Portugal.
Best for: those who love super soft and lustrous bed linen with a classic design that seamlessly sits within their decor.
Two colours available: frost green and straw.
Available in UK & US sizes plus one size of top sheets and Single to Superking bed sizes.
Shop Porto bed linen
Thea Bed Linen
Our Thea bed linen is crafted from the finest, 600-thread count, Italian-woven, long-staple percale cotton for a crisp and cool feel. Thea’s hand-embroidered scalloped trim is more delicate and refined than our Alexandra and Annabelle bed linen. Choose from two bold colours (fern green and denim blue) which stand out against the white linen.
Details:
600-thread count percale cotton for a crisp and cool finish
The finest long-staple, Italian-woven Supima cotton makes for soft, long-lasting sheets.
Breathable.
We recommend washing in a cotton bag (we send this with your order) to protect the delicate embroidery.
Dries quickly in the machine or when line-dried. Percale cotton is always best dried in fresh air wherever possible.
For the best finish, we recommend ironing.
Percale is characteristically slightly more hardwearing than sateen cotton, yet has a tendency to crease more easily, with a matte finish.
Crisp and cool to the touch - best for those who sleep hotter or for summer nights.
Expertly hand-stitched by master embroiderers who are SEDEX-certified.
Best for: those who are looking for the finest quality bed linen with a whimsical design, and who like bed linens that are cool to the touch.
Five colours available: fern and denim.
Available in UK sizes and Single to Emperor bed sizes.
Shop Thea bed linen
Atelier Bed Linen
If you’re looking for bespoke bed linen where you can customise everything including fabric and trim colours, sizes, fabric weights and weaves, and duvet enclosures, our Atelier bed linen is the right choice for you. Each set is tailored specifically for your needs, and we can even assist with matching fabrics, paints or trims to cord or applique colours. All of our Atelier bed linen is crafted in Italy, using fabrics from the most prestigious Italian mills. We offer very best Giza 87 cotton, with thread counts starting at 200 up to 700.
Best for: those who want bespoke bed linen that is the perfect match for their bedroom decor.
Shop Atelier bed linen
