I'm Low-Key Obsessed With My Linen Sheets (Yes, Even During Winter)

I blame my latest shopping obsession on my social distancing pod. A few months ago, my boyfriend and I were having dinner with two friends when the conversation turned to bedding, one of my favorite topics. Most of the time, home décor talk is saved for interviewing designers or playing armchair expert for my family and friends. However, I was pleasantly surprised by one of our friends’ genuine enthusiasm for bedding. For five minutes, he waxed poetic about his favorite brand, offering his opinion on each weave. Then he asked if I had tried linen sheets, with eyes wide with excitement.

I answered him honestly: I hadn’t. Up until about a month ago, I had never tried linen sheets. Though I write about all things home décor for a living, I was still skeptical that a fabric would be as big of a game-changer as everyone says. If I’m being totally honest, I always thought linen sheets would feel scratchy or rough against the skin. But after getting a pair for myself, I not only understand the hype, but virtually refuse to put anything else on my bed.

In case you didn’t get the memo, linen is one of the most in-demand bedding materials around—and for good reason. For starters, it’s incredibly lightweight and breathable. Since it boasts heat conducting properties and high air permeability, it’s a sound choice year-round. It’s also eco-friendly, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic, making this an option your allergies and Mother Nature will adore. Linen might be known for its wrinkled, worn-in look, but it’s actually twice as durable as cotton and gets softer with each wash. 

Sure, there are a lot of reasons to love linen, but I was drawn to its lightweight, breathable construction. You see, I run hot when I sleep, and not in a cute, “need to wear a T-shirt to bed” way. At the risk of TMI, I often wake up to my hair drenched in sweat. It's not cute. Winter is a uniquely challenging time to be a hot sleeper. Since it’s often chilly when I go to sleep—and putting the heater on full-blast is out of the question—I like to wrap myself in a top sheet and duvet. But, by the time I wake up, I look like I just ran a 5K. It’s a catch 22 I don’t want to deal with. 

Curious to see what all the hype is about—and to hopefully get a handle on my sweaty slumbers—I snagged a pair of Cultiver’s linen sheets. And, trust me, they are a game-changer. The Australian brand almost exclusively sells linen décor—towels, loungewear, and, yes, bedding—so you can trust they know what to do with this covetable material. Woven from European flax, Cultiver pre-washes its sheets to give them a soft, smooth, and luxurious feel. (A far cry from the rough, stiff texture I often associated with linen.) Plus, the slightly wrinkled look gives our bedroom an easy, breezy California edge.

Cultiver Linen Sheet Set With Pillowcases in Smoke Gray $385.00

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That said, linen sheets don't just feel good, they’re a godsend for any hot sleeper. When combined with a heavier comforter, the lightweight linen lets me feel warm and toasty as I fall asleep without waking up in a puddle of sweat. Sure, I might be a little clammy when I wake up, but it’s a serious upgrade.

Of course, I’m not the only one who’s obsessed with these linen sheets, my boyfriend hopped on the linen bandwagon too. Not only did he audibly gasp when he first felt them, he insists we keep rewashing our Cultiver sheets instead of swapping them out for a different, non-linen set too. (His exact words: “If they’re not linen, I’m not interested.”)

Truthfully, I can’t blame him. We finally found sheets that are stylish, soft, and keep sweat at bay—why would we sleep with anything else?