Best bedding set for your sleep sanctuary

Cath Kidston's Story Tree is a brilliantly quirky design – think adorable sloths with petal headdresses. Have sweet whimsical dreams with the hand-painted design, reproduced in a high-quality surface pattern print. The clarity of the fine brush strokes and the paint-work enlivens the bedding. In addition, this 100 per cent cotton fabric is hardwearing and forgiving and won't need rigorous ironing. The duvet cover and pillowcases feature a double-sided design with a simple flower motif on the reverse. The duvet cover has an elegant button fastening that is easy to close. This is an OEKO Tex-certified MADE IN GREEN product with complete traceability and environmentally friendly production.

Care instructions: Advise to wash dark colours separately, warm wash and do not bleach.

Our review: "The Story Tree bedding set features fantastical animals with butterfly wings, bounding rabbits leaping from flower blooms, and vivid purple and pink hues. A fantastical fever dream of guinea pigs, chinchillas, sloths, toads and white bunny heads. If that sounds as bonkers as a nest of frogs, rest assured that Cath Kidston has pulled this design together beautifully. It's joyful to spot the details in what superficially looks like a cute flora and fauna surface pattern. I particularly admire the spot-on print quality and detailed brush strokes, textures that make it look painterly. It's contemporary and has more sophistication in the illustrations that transcends twee and cute.

"Aside from posing lemurs with luxuriously long tails, the double duvet cover (200 x 200cm) and two pillowcase set (50 x 75cm) that I received were packaged together in a full cardboard box with an aperture to show the design. The outer bag contained 100 per cent recycled content. I spotted the OEKO Tex symbol on the box and a QR code that led me to a MADE IN GREEN traceability report. What sets Cath Kidston bedding sets apart is the outstanding quality of the original surface pattern design on durable and comfortable fabric that's been ethically produced."

For an affordable non-iron option that has a stylish and luxury look – go for the Nimsay Home Jasmine Seersucker Bedding Set. The crimped fabric feels fresh as the fabric offers breathability for better temperature regulation and wicking. If you're suffering with hot flushes this is an effective bedding set for getting some relief. The cotton polyester blend makes it soft and durable, as well as easy to care for. In addition, this is an OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 product that certifies no harmful chemicals were used in its production and that natural resources have been used responsibly.

Customer review: "Bedding is very comfortable and a great value for money. Feels a lot more expensive than it is."

Sleep soundly at night with great value bedding from John Lewis, that's 100 per cent cotton for breathable and temperature-regulating duvet covers and pillowcases. John Lewis ANYDAY Pure Cotton is 180 thread count with a button fastening. The fabric is robust and can be tumble-dried and ironed. Other colours available: Nettle, Mimosa, Navy, Steel, White, Slate Blue and Blush Pink.

Customer review: "Bought this for the guest bedroom and the Natural colour goes perfectly with the decor. Washed it immediately and was delighted to find it kept its shape, fabric tension and colour brilliantly. Yes, I had to iron it, (double duvet takes about 10 mins with a dampish fabric) but it folded up really easily."

Combine the aesthetic appeal of a vibrant surface pattern with the softness of sateen and you get Sara Miller Smokey Birds Bedding. With rich and lustrous tones, the tropical birds on metallic branches will add sophistication to any bedroom and set the ambience. The button fastening duvet comes with matching standard-size pillowcases. Sleep comfortably through the night on 220 thread count pure cotton sateen... and wake up feeling a million dollars.

Customer review: "So beautiful and stylish, glad I bought this to create a stylish bedroom."

Imagine relaxing into pristine white sheets, it's no wonder Dusk's best-selling range is the Marseille Collection. The duvet cover is a sumptuous 600 thread count sateen Egyptian cotton with elegant pin tuck detailing and inconspicuous button fastening. Make this a complete bedding set by adding a pair of Marseille Pillowcases. Sateen is a special type of weave that exposes more yarn to the surface, resulting in a lustre when the fabric catches the light. Treat yourself to 5-star luxury.

Care instructions: Wash before use. Wash with similar colours. Use colour-safe detergent for anything with colour and do not soak. Do not bleach. Remove promptly from washing machine and tumble dryer. Tumble dry on medium, reshape and medium iron on fabric. May be dry cleaned. Save energy, wash at 40°C.

Our review: "The luxurious Dusk Marseille Collection is 100 per cent Egyptian cotton with a 600 thread count. A double duvet cover measuring 200cm x 200cm and a pair of Oxford pillowcases – standard 50 x 75cm – came in separate packets. The packaging is minimal: a plastic sleeve and one quarter card footer with a soft pink accent colour this allows the pure white and sumptuous fabric to be the star of the show.

"What stands out is the sheen on this ice white bedding set. The silky threads catch the light. It's cool and silky soft to touch – ideal for hot sleepers. It's crisp yet soft, and a highly breathable fabric. As someone who suffers with a dust allergy, I found this bedding lessened my symptoms.

"Be aware this perfect white hotel-quality duvet cover and pillowcases will show creases as it is simply white. It's advised to iron the fabric while it's still damp. The Marseille Collection is a superb choice if you have allergies or feel hot in bed. It may take a little more effort to maintain the pristine white, but this high-quality sateen weave cotton durable and is machine washable at 30°C–40°C and can be tumble dried."

Christy Turin Brushed Cotton Grey is a calming and comforting flannelette duvet cover and pillowcase set. Cotton flannelette, or flannel, is a soft and warm fabric made from brushed cotton fibres. It has a napped surface that creates a cosy and insulating feel – ideal for winter bedding. This striped design is a neutral hue that will complement any bedroom décor, but we think it would be ideal in a coastal retreat for your winter hols.

Care instructions: Gentle machine wash 40°C and tumble dry on low.

Cath Kidston excels in delightful, illustrative and whimsical surface patterns and Paper Birds is a wonderful contemporary design inspired by nature. The quality of the print is excellent, with distinct differences in hues on the flower petals and detailed brush strokes. Pair Cath Kidston Paper Birds bedding set with pretty patterned cushions and coordinate your bedroom décor with vintage storybooks, scented candles and lush leafy plants. A winner for decorative patterns and high-quality print. Also, the percale weave 100% cotton fabric has a 200 thread count, making it durable enough to withstand machine washing and tumble drying.

The bedding set includes a duvet cover (with button fastening) and two standard pillowcases that can be washed as per Story Tree above and tumbled dried on low. For best results, iron while damp with a warm iron and do not dry clean.

Our review: "I have both the Paper Birds and Story Tree bedding sets. For simple pleasures, opt for Paper Birds, which is a more literal design of beautiful tropical birds in a repeated pattern of stems, branches and leaves. It combines a graphical surface pattern with print and illustration. It's evokes artistic techniques such as screen printing and linocuts. You can spot layering in the shapes, just like a screen print and distinct brush strokes on the birds' wings and tails give them definition. As an artist, illustrator and former graphic designer of twelve years, I particularly admire the way the design captures the texture of a stamped, handmade effect, that softens the surface pattern. Vibrant orange, indigo, lime, baby blue on the palest pink balance beautifully. Also, there's a charming cherry blossom repeat pattern on the reverse.

"Just to say, don't expect the softness of sateen or an Egyptian cotton fabric with a high thread count. I suspect the slightly stiffer feel of Cath Kidston bedding is to do with the ink it absorbs from printing. It's a tacit difference that shouldn't detract from a quality bedding set."

A classic from Soak and Sleep, this Lavender French Linen Double Duvet Cover is described as "slubby" which sounds just lovely to us! French linen comes from high-quality flax plants that are grown in the northern regions of France. The climate and soil conditions produce flax with long and fine fibres, which can result in softer and more durable linen. Sink into rumpled bedding that is charming and informal. In addition, benefit from the temperature-regulating properties of all-natural linen. Pair with the matching pillowcases.

Care instructions:  Wash this bed linen at 40°C and it can be washed at 30°C to save energy. For best results, air dry.

Customer review: "Love the French linen. Cool in the summer, warm in the winter. Lovely."

Spun by silk worms fed on Mulberry leaves, this Ivory Pure Mulberry Silk Double Duvet sounds like the stuff of a Midsummer Night's Dream. But the legendary qualities of silk are fact. This naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic fabric draws heat away from your skin, so it's temperature regulating too. The sumptuous and lustrous satin weave looks and feels luxurious. This is a double duvet cover from Soak and Sleep (with matching pillowcases available). A zip closure keeps the extremely smooth duvet cover and pillowcases in place.

Care instructions: Either wash by hand or on a delicate cycle in your washing machine – maximum temperature 30°C. Air dry for best results. Make sure this bedding is completely dry before ironing and iron on the coolest setting.

Customer review: "Bought these in the summer sale and have been very impressed with the quality. They seem more sturdy than one I had purchased somewhere else. I have dust mite allergies and find this is a great way to keep from waking up with a stuffy head."

Forget the faff of ironing with Piglet in Bed Check Stripe Linen Bed Bundle. This low-maintenance set includes a linen duvet cover, a pair of linen pillowcases and a white fitted sheet. The benefit of linen is that it's 30 per cent stronger than cotton and becomes more supple with wear and washing. It's an all-natural fabric that's breathable, cool in the summer and cosy in the winter. Relax into this luxurious and long-lasting linen bedding in a timeless check stripe.

Care instructions: Gentle cycle at 40°C. Do not bleach. Tumble dry on low temperature.