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14 best winter bedding sets to snuggle up in

For added warmth, look for textures like brushed cotton (iStock/The Independent)
For added warmth, look for textures like brushed cotton (iStock/The Independent)

Our desire to hibernate in style has never been more pertinent. This winter, we’re treating ourselves to sheets that promise to keep us toasty warm while elevating our bedroom in the style stakes.

If your bed’s a veritable sanctuary, now’s the time to invest in a winter duvet set that will see you through the colder months. Look for extra snuggly textures such as brushed cotton and fleece.

These are designed specifically for winter and promise to keep you wonderfully warm.

They’re also super easy to maintain and can often go straight from the tumble dryer to the bed, skipping the ironing board ­– how’s that for relaxed luxury?

If breathability is a concern, however, consider all natural materials such as organic and Egyptian cotton. These can be just as cosy as their synthetic counterparts and they’re naturally hypoallergenic too.

We put a range of bedding to the test, as diverse in their price tags as they were in their design, all the while looking for quality of craftsmanship, easy laundering, and that all-important winter warmth.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

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Morris & Co William Morris Wilhelmina bedding in teal

If you’re going to do winter florals, go classic with a beautiful splash of William Morris in the bedroom. The Wilhelmina pattern borrows from two of the British textile designer’s iconic embroideries and features scrolling acanthus leaves, honeysuckle and foliage on a deep teal background. Sold separately, the bedding comprises duvet cover, pillowcases, bedspread and a complementary teal throw. Not only impressed with the bold botanicals, we found the cotton percale bedding, which boasts a 220 thread count, has a wonderfully silky feel. It also washes well and holds its shape.

Pillowcases start from £22.

Buy now £22.00, Bedeck

M&S fleece star print bedding set

You can’t get much cosier than this. Marks & Spencer’s fleecy winter bedding set is perfect for snuggling up in on colder nights. Made from 100 per cent polyester, the duvet cover and pillowcases boast a chic light grey hue with a pretty all-over star pattern. We loved that the bedding – available in single up to super-king-size – arrived in its own drawstring bag, ideal for keeping our PJs in but more importantly, boasting zero plastic packaging. This one washes well and dries in a jiffy. It also kept us toasty warm despite its lightweight feel.

Single bedding starts from £29.50.

Buy now £29.50, M&S

Bedfolk relaxed cotton bedding bundle, snow

Simple and elegant, this all in one bedding bundle marries the softness of cotton with the laidback look of linen – and it’s a dream to dive into. Winning our approval on the versatility front, it’s available in single up to super king size, with the option of adding a sheet. It also comes perfectly packaged in its own drawstring bag of the same material. We loved having the option of a deep fitted sheet – because there’s nothing more irritating than one that pings off in the middle of the night. Beautifully crafted, super soft and perfectly warm, this one’s all about understated luxury – and in pure white “snow” it’s perfect for winter.

Single bedding start from £79.

Buy now £79.00, Bedfolk

Tielle Love Luxury snuggle sleeper ready for bed bundle

We do love a bedding bundle and this is one of the most comprehensive on offer. From the brand that kits out top hotels – as well as our humble bedrooms – the set matches Savoy feather and down pillows and duvets which are used in lots of luxury hotels (choose the 10.5 tog for winter warmth), with crisp white 400 thread count bedding: duvet cover, fitted sheet, Oxford pillowcases and even a pair of cotton zipped pillow protectors. Perhaps a bedding set for those who seriously value their sleep, it’s far from cheap but it is the ultimate in luxury hibernation. We’re calling it self-care.

Single bedding start from £290.

Buy now £290.00, Tielle Love Luxury

Fatface sledging dogs duvet cover set

One for canine companions, this is a delightful winter bedding set depicting our favourite four-legged friends enjoying the snow while dressed in their winter woollies. With its painterly illustrations, it stays on the right side of grown up – although it suits kids and adults alike, available as it is in single up to super king. Made from 100 per cent brushed cotton, the duvet cover and pair of housewife pillowcases are really warming. And with its ditsy stars, it subtly hints at the festive season but, as in cute puppies, it’s not just for Christmas.

Single bedding start from £40.

Buy now £40.00, Fatface

The French Bedroom Company woodland wander bed linen set

This charmingly illustrative bedding is all about the warm and fuzzies, comprised as it is of thick brushed cotton. It features a busy pattern of wintery flora and fauna yet in crisp white on a mid-grey, it offers a calming, neutral colourway in the bedroom. We loved this one. It’s super soft and warm and it drapes beautifully thanks to the thickness of the material. Available in single up to super king, the duvet cover and pillowcase set boasts easy-care properties, too. Machine wash, tumble dry, and dive straight in, giving your ironing board a wide berth.

Single bedding start from £34.

Buy now £34.00, The French Bedroom Company

Beddable navy duvet set

This is a brand that prioritises quality slumber with its simple but luxurious offering. The core bedding set comprises a duvet cover, fitted sheet and pair of standard pillowcases. Seriously impressive is the choice of three fabrics – all 400 thread count and crafted from premium cotton. Plump for washed cotton, sateen or percale. Our deep inky blue set came in sateen, which adds a delicate sheen to the cosy bedding. The quality is tangible and the look is cool and contemporary. Perfect to snuggle up in on chilly nights.

Double bedding starts from £149.

Buy now £149.00, Beddable

Appletree silver dot garden bedding set, silver

Appletree’s set won us over for its simple, embossed polka dot design, which both added three-dimensional textural interest and reminded us of snowballs. Offering a wintery aesthetic while keeping its cool in 100 per cent cotton, the duvet cover and pair of housewife pillowcases boast a 180 thread count, proving soft and silky to the touch. This one comes in single up to super king and is also available in the reverse colourway: grey on white, as well as white on white for a pristine, modern look.

Single bedding start from £42.

Buy now £42.00, Terry’s

Scion Pedro brushed cotton duvet cover set

Scandi-influenced British brand Scion is best loved for its graphic prints and quirky animalia. In this contemporary winter bedding set, a repeat pattern of inquisitive penguins stands out against a fresh mint background while the reverse pattern complements in mint and white. The duvet cover and pillowcases are made from a super snuggly brushed cotton, which, we found, had a fluffier texture than some of the other brushed cotton sets we tested. From single to up super king, this is one cool and contemporary bedding set.

Single bedding start from £45.

Buy now £45.00, John Lewis & Partners

Christy Thurloe check flannelette bed linen set

There’s something instantly homely about a traditional check print so if you’re looking to up the winter warmth this season, Christy’s crisscrossing bedding more than does the job. But it’s not just about the aesthetic: this duvet cover and pillowcase set is made from a toasty warm flannelette (read 100 per cent brushed cotton), doubling its cosy appeal. This one comes in four sizes and a choice of three colourways but we’re sticking with red for a classic winter chalet look.

Single bedding start from £40.

Buy now £40.00, Christy

Silentnight stars brushed cotton duvet set

Offering a celestial feel in the bedroom is Silentnight’s brushed cotton duvet set, which, the brand claims, is made using loosely spun fibres to give it an extra softness. And we’ll vouch for that – it is seriously snuggly. As with all the brushed cotton sets we put to the test, this one is easy to look after and washes well. The duvet cover and pillowcase set comes in three sizes, from single to king, and proved a hit with family members big and small in our house. Modern, stylish and super warm.

Single bedding start from £25.

Buy now £25.00, Very

Soak & Sleep 400 thread count Egyptian cotton bed linen

It may be cold outside but for some, breathability trumps cosy textures when it comes to winter bedding. Egyptian cotton is known for its cooling and moisture-wicking qualities but with its extra-long fibres it also retains body heat. Sold separately, and in a comprehensive menu of duvet cover sizes, pillowcase designs and sheet styles, Soak & Sleep’s 400 thread count collection is a luxurious wintertime treat. We couldn’t wait to dive into our double set in crisp snowy white, with its classic Oxford pillowcases and chic embroidered edging. And we didn’t want to get out, either.

Pillowcases start from £18.50.

Buy now £18.50, Soak & Sleep

The verdict: Winter bedding sets

Morris & Co’s William Morris Wilhelmina bedding set proved a beautiful addition to our bedroom. It offered a timeless country cottage look, which perfectly complimented our vintage furniture pieces. Not the cheapest but worth the investment, we loved this top quality winter floral set. We were also won over by Beddable’s simple and stylish navy duvet set for its contemporary look and luxurious feel.