How to Look After Your Bed Linen
From the best places to store bedding to tips for making your sheets smell divine, check out this advice for taking care of your linen
Yasmin Chopin
16 February 2017
Houzz UK Contributor and experienced designer. Based in Cambridgeshire, UK.
We spend such a lot of our lives between the sheets, that it makes sense to treat them with care. Many of us have, at some point, squeezed our duvet covers and pillowcases into a cramped airing cupboard, but often it doesn’t give us the room we need. Dedicated linen cupboards are rarely included in plans for new buildings, but if space allows, they make such a satisfying addition. The next best thing, however, is to use these storage solutions and laundry tips to keep your bed linen fresh.
Contemplate an ottoman
Linen chests, or ottomans, are a long-time storage favourite, although any large box can be used to hold your bulkier linens. Traditionally made from wood with a lift-up lid, they’re ideal for larger items, such as blankets and duvets.
They can tuck into any spot, but positioned at the bottom of the bed they’re a godsend for emergency access on a cold night! The added bonus is that they can really finish the look of a room beautifully, as in this scheme.
Linen chests, or ottomans, are a long-time storage favourite, although any large box can be used to hold your bulkier linens. Traditionally made from wood with a lift-up lid, they’re ideal for larger items, such as blankets and duvets.
They can tuck into any spot, but positioned at the bottom of the bed they’re a godsend for emergency access on a cold night! The added bonus is that they can really finish the look of a room beautifully, as in this scheme.
Avoid under-bed storage
In contrast to the plus points of a blanket box at the end of the bed, underneath it is not so good. Beds are comfy and cosy and wonderful, but they do unfortunately harbour dust mites, so keep your freshly laundered linen elsewhere. Save great under-bed storage like this for items that needn’t be kept as hygienic, such as shoes.
In contrast to the plus points of a blanket box at the end of the bed, underneath it is not so good. Beds are comfy and cosy and wonderful, but they do unfortunately harbour dust mites, so keep your freshly laundered linen elsewhere. Save great under-bed storage like this for items that needn’t be kept as hygienic, such as shoes.
Air the room
Dust mites also thrive in warm, humid environments, so it makes good sense to change your sheets and other bedding frequently and wash at a high temperature. Throwing open the windows and taking your bedding outside for a good airing is also a good habit to get into when the weather allows.
Dust mites also thrive in warm, humid environments, so it makes good sense to change your sheets and other bedding frequently and wash at a high temperature. Throwing open the windows and taking your bedding outside for a good airing is also a good habit to get into when the weather allows.
Build bespoke shelving
If you love an orderly home, made-to-measure shelving is a boon. Try shallow shelves for napkins, flannels, tea towels and pillowcases and deeper ones for sheets, duvet covers and bath towels. Make sure there are some generously spaced shelves at the top and bottom of your cupboard or storage area for bulkier items, such as spare duvets, pillows and blankets.
If you love an orderly home, made-to-measure shelving is a boon. Try shallow shelves for napkins, flannels, tea towels and pillowcases and deeper ones for sheets, duvet covers and bath towels. Make sure there are some generously spaced shelves at the top and bottom of your cupboard or storage area for bulkier items, such as spare duvets, pillows and blankets.
Have it all handy
Open shelving is fine for towels and linens that will be used quickly, but store other items – such as linen sets for the guest room – in closed drawers or cupboards to keep them dust free and dry.
Set your cupboard up somewhere you’ll have easy access, in the most convenient position between bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry room – or in one of those rooms themselves.
Open shelving is fine for towels and linens that will be used quickly, but store other items – such as linen sets for the guest room – in closed drawers or cupboards to keep them dust free and dry.
Set your cupboard up somewhere you’ll have easy access, in the most convenient position between bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry room – or in one of those rooms themselves.
Make sure linens are warm and dry
Pull-down racks like this one help ensure linens are completely dry before they’re folded and put away. A low-level source of heating is ideal to maintain a dry atmosphere and this is why hot-water tank cupboards have long been used to store linens. You can get the same effect with a very small radiator or a plug-in tubular heater.
Underfloor heating is wonderful in a utility room, but you’re likely to turn it off in the summer, so consider an independent source of heat, too.
Pull-down racks like this one help ensure linens are completely dry before they’re folded and put away. A low-level source of heating is ideal to maintain a dry atmosphere and this is why hot-water tank cupboards have long been used to store linens. You can get the same effect with a very small radiator or a plug-in tubular heater.
Underfloor heating is wonderful in a utility room, but you’re likely to turn it off in the summer, so consider an independent source of heat, too.
Keep moths at bay
Be aware that moths generally lay their larvae in natural fibres (wool is a favourite). Cedar wood is often used for linen shelving or as a lining for a linen chest, because it has special properties: its aroma repels moths. This type of wood may stain, however, so lay a paper lining over it before popping your best white linen on top.
The stronger the smell, the more it deters, so refresh the aroma with an occasional light sanding when you turn your cupboards out for a spring clean. Other moth-repelling scents include lavender, cloves and cinnamon. Use these in the form of essential oils to ensure sufficient pungency.
Be aware that moths generally lay their larvae in natural fibres (wool is a favourite). Cedar wood is often used for linen shelving or as a lining for a linen chest, because it has special properties: its aroma repels moths. This type of wood may stain, however, so lay a paper lining over it before popping your best white linen on top.
The stronger the smell, the more it deters, so refresh the aroma with an occasional light sanding when you turn your cupboards out for a spring clean. Other moth-repelling scents include lavender, cloves and cinnamon. Use these in the form of essential oils to ensure sufficient pungency.
Repurpose a wardrobe
Alternatives to built-in cupboards or bedding boxes include freestanding linen presses, which are similar in appearance to wardrobes, except they have shelves instead of hanging rails. You can adapt a redundant sturdy wardrobe very easily; old-style designs are often not deep enough for today’s clothing, but ideal for linen if fitted out with shelves.
Smart Storage Solutions for All Spaces
Alternatives to built-in cupboards or bedding boxes include freestanding linen presses, which are similar in appearance to wardrobes, except they have shelves instead of hanging rails. You can adapt a redundant sturdy wardrobe very easily; old-style designs are often not deep enough for today’s clothing, but ideal for linen if fitted out with shelves.
Smart Storage Solutions for All Spaces
Scent linens with lavender
Heady lavender flower stems aren’t used in bathing products and to stuff pillows for nothing! The scent is soothing and, placed in your cupboards and drawers, will perfume articles nearby. Lavender has many benefits besides aiding sleep; it’s also believed to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Gather lavender in the summer, just after the flowers open and before the blooms are over, and dry them in a warm, dark place – that airing cupboard is ideal! Make little bags from scraps of fabric and place them among your linens.
Read more:
7 Tricks to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh
Clever Ways to Make Your Home Look More Spacious
Tell us:
Do you have any handy bed linen care tips to share with fellow Houzzers? Let us know in the Comments below.
Heady lavender flower stems aren’t used in bathing products and to stuff pillows for nothing! The scent is soothing and, placed in your cupboards and drawers, will perfume articles nearby. Lavender has many benefits besides aiding sleep; it’s also believed to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Gather lavender in the summer, just after the flowers open and before the blooms are over, and dry them in a warm, dark place – that airing cupboard is ideal! Make little bags from scraps of fabric and place them among your linens.
Read more:
7 Tricks to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh
Clever Ways to Make Your Home Look More Spacious
Tell us:
Do you have any handy bed linen care tips to share with fellow Houzzers? Let us know in the Comments below.
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Hi @abbeedwards, I've asked the question of the interior design concerned. Hopefully you will get a response soon. I know a few people who could make up a bed to the same, or similar, specification if you are really keen to have something like this and can't find it in the shops. Let me know if you'd like some names.
Having three children, all with bedrooms and therefore bed linen in different designs and colours, I find keeping the duvet cover and sheet folded inside a matching pillowcase makes it very easy to find the whole set in the linen cupboard when changing beds.