better homes & gardens egyptian cotton blanket

Dusk

For soft, breathable bedding, cotton is the go-to choice for most. But did you know that thread count isn't the only factor when it comes to gauging quality? In fact, the thread itself is also important — and Egyptian cotton is widely regarded as some of the best. "Cotton grown in Egypt often produces longer, finer yarns vs regular cotton," says Farah Arshad, head of design at bedding company Dusk: "Generally speaking, the longer the threads, the better the softness and the drape of the material when woven into bed linen."

As well as maintaining the soft and breathable qualities that cotton is well-loved for, this additional length also makes the yarn more durable than other fibres, so long-staple bedding should make a good investment that'll look chic for years to come. As it's still often picked by hand, rather than with machines, there are usually less breakages during production, helping to keep quality at a higher standard. Then there are the aesthetic benefits: this material gives you that crisp, clean look that you often see in hotels, creating an opulent, boutique look.

So, while we might reach for our linen sheets during those busy weeks where we don't want to iron, during this tough time, we're looking to create more luxury at home — and that calls for something a little more crisp and smooth. Here's our round-up of our favourite Egyptian cotton bedding sets to recreate that hotel-chic look in your own house.

Performance Bed Linen

The Simba simbasleep.com

£80.00

Sleep tech brand Simba does more than just luxury mattresses and super-soft toppers – you can finish off your bed to perfection with some of its pure white Egyptian cotton bedding too. Classic.

Thread count:400

Best colour selection

Marks & Spencer

marksandspencer.com

£49.50

Marks & Spencer has an impressive range of colours on offer for its Egyptian cotton bedding sets so, whatever your bedroom's scheme, you should find something to suit. The use of the brand's "Stay New" technology means your new bed linen should remain looking fresher and brighter for longer, as well.

Thread count:230

The White Company

thewhitecompany.com

US$65.00

With a silky sateen weave and smart Oxford corners, these White Company sheets are seriously sophisticated. They're currently on sale with 20% off, too.

Thread count: 300

Highest thread-count Egyptian cotton bedding

Dusk

For something really chic, have a look at the sets at Dusk — when we dressed our bed, we really loved how the piping on this set pulled the look together (and the sateen finish adds some extra glam). If you're looking for something really luxurious, though, then go for this snow-white 800 thread count option instead — you can't really get much smoother.

Thread count:400

Hampton & Astley

hamptonandastley.com

£109.99

So, this isn't technically Egyptian cotton, but it's still made with long-staple threads, so you still get all the same quality benefits. For something really delicate and feminine, we love this soft pink sateen set (and there's matching deep fitted sheets available, too). You also get 50% off with your first order if you sign up for the brand's newsletter, bringing the price for a double set down to just £55 — which is really great value.

Thread count:300

Best hotel-style Egyptian cotton bedding

Soak & Sleep

I have this bedding set and I can confirm that opting for a higher thread count really does make a difference to how it feels. This set is smooth and crisp without compromising on softness, with a good weight to it. You can save 25% off the individual price tags by buying a bundle, too.

Thread count:600

Best striped Egyptian cotton bedding

Dunelm

The subtle striped design adds some interest to this Egyptian cotton bedding and, at just £30 for a double duvet cover, it's really great value as well.

Thread count: 280

Best 1000tc Egyptian cotton bedding

John Lewis & Partners

When only the best of the best will do, call in the heavyweights: this 1000tc bedding makes for the most sumptuous of sleeping arrangements and it's available in a selection of regal colours to match. We like this sapphire blue the best. There are Oxford and kingsize pillowcases, too, which is helpful for creating a more tailored scheme.

Thread count:1000

John Lewis & Partners

And here's JL's standard Egyptian cotton bedding which, with a 400 thread count, is still nothing to turn your nose up at. It comes in nine gorgeous shades – our picks are the warm, inviting Soft Latte option and this rosey pink hue.

Thread count:400

House Of Fraser

House Of Fraser houseoffraser.com

£40.00

There's also a sale on at House of Fraser — these high-quality 500-thread count sheets are also 30% off. There's no sateen shine with these, so they're good if you prefer something a little more understated.

Thread count:500

Best budget Egyptian cotton bedding

Homescapes

Homescapes homescapesonline.com

£39.99

This is the best-value Egyptian cotton bedding we've found, at just under £40 for a king-size set, including two pillowcases. There's a great range of colours as well — we counted 14.

Thread count:200

Best patterned Egyptian cotton bedding

Secret Linen Store

Secret Linen Store secretlinenstore.com

£45.00

While this set is 100% cotton, it's only 50% Egyptian cotton. We've included it anyway, though, as if you want to bring some colour and charm into your room, the patterned sets at Secret Linen Store are well worth considering. There's a very large range of sizes, too.

Thread count:260

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