In my opinion, the best sheets you can sleep on are made from linen. They’ve got that lived-in, effortless feel that somehow manages to be both breathable and comforting, just like your favourite summer dress that you can't wait to get back into every year. Plus, they don’t need ironing (thank goodness), and they get softer the more you use them.
The only snag is that linen bedding can be eye-wateringly expensive. And while I’d love to kit out my whole home in the best bedding money can buy, my bank balance usually has other ideas. So, imagine my delight when I came across Dunelm’s Edited Life Linen Collection. With prices starting at just £50, it’s a seriously purse-friendly way to enjoy the linen look and feel without blowing the budget.
Even better, Dunelm’s bedding recycling scheme means you can refresh your bedroom without the guilt. Just drop off your old bed linen in store and it’ll be given a new lease of life. It’s an easy win if you’re trying to make more conscious home choices without giving up on comfort or style.
What really impressed me, though, is how Dunelm's Edited Life Linen Bedding holds up during warm nights. If you're wondering how to keep a bed cool in summer, this lightweight cotton-linen blend is a bit of a miracle. It’s soft, airy, and doesn’t cling, which is ideal for anyone who, like me, finds themselves overheating at 3 am and flinging off the duvet in a sleepy panic. Dunelm might not be the first name that springs to mind for luxe bedding, but trust me, it’s quietly brilliant.
Dunelm Edited LIfe Linen Bedding Specifications
RRP |
£72-140 |
Sizes available |
Single - Super Kingsize |
Colour options |
White, light blue, dark blue, brown, orange, dark green, yellow |
Composition |
100% linen |
Fastening type |
Button |
Care instructions |
machine washable, iron on a medium setting, tumble dry on a low heat |
Composition of the Dunelm Edited Life Linen Bedding
What I love most about this bedding (aside from how dreamy it looks) is the feel of it. It’s made from a lovely blend of high-quality European linen, which gives it that soft, slightly crumpled look that’s effortlessly chic (and means you can skip the iron).
It’s pre-washed too, so it arrives feeling buttery soft rather than stiff or scratchy. And because linen is naturally breathable and temperature regulating, it’s a great all-year-rounder, keeping you cool on hot, sticky nights and cosy when the chill sets in. Dunelm's Edited Life Linen Bedding gets bonus points for being OEKO-TEX® certified as well, so you can rest easy knowing it’s been made with high environmental and ethical standards.
The OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN label might not be the snazziest name, but it means this bedding has been made in factories that meet strict environmental, social, and chemical safety standards. It’s like a gold star for sustainability.
Plus, every part of the supply chain is traceable, which is a big deal if you're trying to shop more mindfully. It’s nice to know that something you spend so much time snuggled up in has been produced with a bit of care and consideration, both for people and the planet.
Who would the Dunelm Edited Life Linen Bedding suit?
Linen is packed with natural benefits, which makes it such a clever choice for bedding. As a natural fibre, it’s brilliant at wicking away moisture, so you’re less likely to wake up feeling hot and clammy. It also allows your skin to breathe and helps regulate your temperature through the night, making it a dream for hot sleepers or anyone who tends to overheat.
I’ve already let the cat out of the bag when it comes to what makes these sheets special: the price. If you’ve been on the hunt for lightweight, breathable bedding that doesn’t cost the earth, Dunelm’s Edited Life Linen is a bit of a hidden gem. It gives you that relaxed, luxurious feel without the usual price tag.
Style-wise, it’s just as appealing. Dunelm’s muted, earthy tones are timeless and easy to mix into any bedroom scheme. I love that you can leave linen looking a little rumpled and it still feels effortlessly chic. There's no need to fuss over perfectly smoothed corners or crease-free duvet covers. It’s low-maintenance and lovely.
What is the Dunelm Edited Life Linen Bedding like to sleep on?
The Dunelm Edited Life Linen Sheets are a great fit. Dunelm doesn't sell a pure linen base sheet, so I used my Soak & Sleep base sheet. It's one of the best value for money options out there, so makes a perfect match for Dunelm. The pillows and duvet were a great, easy fit so there wasn’t any need to sweat over the sheets.
I was really pleased with the colour and feel of the linen, as I was worried that it might be a little thin to keep costs down. However, the Dunelm sheets were great. My duvet fitted inside the generous duvet cover, and all the buttons kept everything neatly tucked up inside. Given the quality of the linen, I felt the buttons were a little cheap, but you could easily hide these away or have them changed.
The fold lines that you can see in the picture above shook right out, and I could feel the buttery softness of the linen straight away. Dunelm pre-washes the sheets so that the linen isn't as crisp as it would be fresh and I am reliably informed that these sheets only get softer.
The real test comes in the sleeping. Whilst these aren’t the coolest linen sheets I’ve tested, they’re still a lot cooler than alternatives. If you’re transitioning from cotton to linen, this is a great step in the middle. It feels a little like cotton still — there’s definitely some rigidity — but I would say that it is most similar to linen in both look and feel.
I’ve found it really comfortable to sleep in, the sheets have felt soft against my skin, and they’ve worked well. I even got fake tan on them, and it washed right out, to my relief.
On the cooling front, my skin has felt fresh in the mornings and I haven’t been overly hot, but I still have felt warm at night. In other words, these aren’t the sheets that will stop your night sweats, but they'll do a lot of work towards helping.
How to clean the Dunelm Edited Life Linen Bedding
Keeping these clean is really simple. Dunelm pre-washes them so you don't need to worry too much about colour running. They're machine washable, safe to iron on a medium heat and to tumble dry on a low setting.
I'd recommend keeping things as cool as possible, because you want to be gentle on these sheets. It'll go a long way towards keeping linen looking and feeling good.
Now, I've only been sleeping on these for a couple of weeks, so I turned to other reviewers for a long-term look at what these are like to clear. One reviewer said, "I have had these sheets for three years and the colour is still good. We now have them for every room in the house." And they're not alone. The website boasts many five-star reviews with long-term sleepers raving about how these sheets only get softer.
How does the Dunelm Edited Life Linen Bedding compare?
I love Dunelm's linen bedding for an earthy, simple, breathable set to sleep in. One of the USPs of the Edited Life is the low price point for linen, so I wanted to find something similar to compare these to for you. In my mind, you have two options.
The first is going for Dunelm's Cotton Linen blend, which is half the price again and pretty convincing as pure linen. It's a little smarter and stiffer, but still cool and nice to sleep in. Your second option is Soak & Sleep's French Linen is probably the best contender for the same place in my heart as Dunelm's sheets.
They're a great price too (just a touch more expensive than Dunelm), they feel almost impossibly soft, and they are lovely to sleep in. I especially love the tie fastenings at the bottom of the duvet, which make for a more elegant finish than Dunelm's buttons. The bonus of Soak & Sleep's bedding is that it comes with a base sheet, and you have some more colour options. So, if you've got some room in the budget, they're worth looking at.
That being said, if you like Dunelm's colour options, you can't go wrong with these. I'd struggle to find you something cheaper, and I don't think you'd feel any difference without doubling your budget and taking a look at the Piglet In Bed sheets, for example.
Should you buy the Dunelm Edited Life Linen Bedding?
If you want to enjoy the luxuriously breathable feel of linen, these sheets are perfect. Whilst your colour options are a little limited, if you find you like one of the earthy tones, you'll get to enjoy the breathable, gentle benefits of European linen without breaking the bank.
How we test
At woman&home, we take our bedding seriously, because a good night’s sleep can make all the difference. Each set we review is tested in real homes over several nights, paying close attention to comfort, breathability, softness, and how well it regulates temperature.
We also look at how easy it is to care for (because no one wants high-maintenance sheets), and whether it holds up after washing. Our testers consider design, fit, and value for money too, so you can feel confident you’re investing in bedding that’s as practical as it is beautiful.
If you want to find out more, you can visit our dedicated page for how we test bedding.
