One of the redeeming features of chilly weather is that it allows you to snuggle up in warm, cosy bedding, and I’ve just found the cutest set at Next. Their White Christmas Robin Fleece Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set (£50) is easily the most adorable set I’ve seen all winter, and it will keep you warm well into 2026.
If you’ve been wondering where to buy bedding this winter, I’d recommend keeping Next on your radar as the brand has dropped a huge range of stunning wintery designs. Plus, with many made from warm, fluffy fleece material, it feels like perfect timing since the temperatures have plummeted.
But the design I’m most taken with is easily the robins. A homage to the UK’s favourite bird (according to the RSPB), this bedding set is the perfect gift for yourself this winter.
Next
White Christmas Robin Fleece Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set
This bedding set looks like robins hopping through the snow, and I’m sure you’ll agree it is an adorable image. This is soft and cosy, perfect for chilly winter nights.
Robins, also affectionately known as the gardener’s friend, are a welcome and delightful sight on a dreary winter’s day. It’s easy to see why so many of us want to know how to attract robins to our gardens, but I say: why stop there?
Next’s White Christmas Fleece Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set introduces this cheerful bird to your bedroom ideas in the most charming way. The bedding set could easily pass as a canvas, as it depicts little embroidered robins making footprints in the snowy white fleece material. This gives the bedding set a 3D element that makes it a standout in my opinion.
I’m also very intrigued by the fleece material used to make the bedding set. I’m no stranger to using brushed cotton bedding or fluffy bedding – Dunelm’s cult Teddy Duvet Cover and Pillow Case Set in Cream (£22) is currently on my bed- to keep warm during the winter. And I have to say, I believe fleece bedding will do the job just as effectively. After all, it’s always a trusty fleece I reach for when bracing the cold.
Next describes the soft, fluffy fleece material they use as feeling like being ‘wrapped in a warm hug on a chilly evening.’ Although the set currently only has one review, it is a five-star rating.
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(Image credit: Next)
‘I bought this new xmas bedding and it’s the best. It is the warmest and most snuggly teddy duvet and pillow case. It also looks so Christmasy,’ it says.
To save you the hassle, I’ve reviewed the reviews of Next’s other fleece bedding sets, and one thing seems to ring true – it’s soft, snuggly and warm.
Amongst the beautiful styles, the robins are without doubt my favourite. However, the rest of the collection is too good to miss, so I’ve rounded up a few more styles to shop.
Next
White Fleece Rosie the Rabbit Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set
They have bunnies, too! This beautiful design nails the winter bedding look without appearing too festive – meaning you can use it well into the new year.
Next
Red Check Fleece Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set
Tartan is having a real moment this winter. The heritage print is perfect for the season, while it’s cosy fleece material will keep you nice and toasty at night.
Next
Natural Bertie and Moose Christmas Fleece Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set
If you love Christmas bedding, it doesn’t get much for festive than this. Featuring Bertie Bear and his moose friend, it’s a stylish bedding set for the whole family.
Investing in some decent fleece bedding will not only keep you warm this winter, but put a smile on your face, too, every time you look at the gaggle of robins hopping over your bedspread.
When it comes to upgrading your sleep setup or impressing guests this festive hosting season, it pays to take tips from the experts. As such, I’ve uncovered the bedding that iconic luxury hotel Claridge’s uses in its 5-star hotel rooms.
And, although this hotel-quality bedding does come with a fairly hefty price tag, I’ve also found a way to recreate the luxury hotel experience at home for far less. All thanks to good old M&S.
Yep, although the duvet Claridges uses on its beds will set you back upwards of £165, thanks to Marks & Spencer’s Duck Feather & Down Duvet, there’s a way to recreate a luxury hotel experience at home from just £55.
M&S
Duck Feather & Down Duvet
Prices for the M&S Duck Feather & Down Duvet start from £55 for a double.
In the past century, Claridge’s hotel has become a national landmark, with a reputation for being *the* place to indulge in a luxurious night away from home. Regularly frequented by the rich and famous, a one-night stay at Claridge’s hotel costs from around £800 to £3,500 per night for a room.
Naturally, a luxury hotel room equals luxury bedding, with Claridge’s choosing to use the Tiele Savoy Feather and Down Duvet on its beds.
As Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, I’ve tested a whole host of the best duvets on the market, including multiple feather and down options, and I can attest to the fact that this duvet fill is the ideal choice if you’re after a touch of luxury.
(Image credit: Claridge’s)
A feather and down duvet is light, fluffy, and airy, and a good quality option really does feel like curling up under a cloud when bedtime rolls around.
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This type of duvet filling is also super insulating, so it’s a great option for cold sleepers. Because it’s so squishy and malleable, feathers and down are also perfect for tucking in around your body to keep out any cool draughts, so it’s a great choice for winter.
The main downside of a feather and down duvet is its price. The Tiele duvet Claridge’s uses starts at £165 for a double, and £195 for a king-size. However, thankfully, good old M&S has a way to achieve this luxury hotel feel for a lot less.
(Image credit: Claridge’s)
The Tiele Savoy Feather and Down Duvet is a mix of 70% duck feather and 30% duck down, and comes in either a 10.5 tog or 4.5 tog warmth level.
In contrast, the Marks & Spencer Duck Feather & Down Duvet offers a 85% duck feather and 15% duck down mix. That means it’s not quite as light, and not quite as squishy, but I think it still does a great job of adding a touch of luxury to the bed, and prices start at just £55 for a double.
You also get more warmth options, with this M&S feather and down duvet available in a 7.5, 10.5, and 13.5 tog, plus an all-seasons option.
And, with over 2000 5-star reviews across all tog options, Marks & Spencer’s shoppers certainly seem to be convinced this budget-friendly feather and down duvet is a winner.
Shop luxury bedding
M&S
Duck Feather & Down Duvet
It may not have the endorsement of Claridges, but this M&S duck feather and down duvet starts from £55 for a double, and over 2000 happy owners have rated it 5-stars on the Marks & Spencer website.
Tielle
Savoy Feather and Down Duvet
In comparison, the Tiele duck feather and down duvet, as favoured by Claridge’s hotel, will set you back at least £165 for a double.
As one 5-star reviewer of the M&S Duck Feather & Down Duvet says, ‘this duvet is brilliant, it is so comfortable; light but warm’. ‘Keeps you nice and warm without being too heavy,’ agrees another happy owner.
‘Once you’ve had a feather duvet, you can’t go back,’ shares a third Marks & Spencer reviewer, ‘I love it’.
If you’re looking to recreate a 5-star hotel sleep experience at home, I’m all for taking tips from Claridge’s. However, if you’re on a budget, I think this affordable M&S feather and down duvet is definitely the way to do it.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
I am a linen fangirl. Ever since I discovered the magic of linen bedding 2.5 years ago, I haven’t gone back, and the obsession passion has extended to my clothing and decor, too. (I am writing this while wearing a linen dress.) The thing I love most about linen is that it actually does get better with time, rewarding those who lovingly put in the hours to use and take care of it. Really good linen can feel rough at first, and heavier than you might expect, but that just means it’ll last for a long time, getting softer and lighter as it’s used.
Of course, that also means it’s not for everyone. Some people don’t love how it feels, even after several washes, while others aren’t sold on the wrinkled appearance. But if you fall into that category, I am confident that I have found the solution: Kassatex’s Linen-Bamboo Sheets. While I usually stay away from linen blends (yes, I’m a big ol’ linen snob), I was immediately intrigued by the idea of a linen-bamboo blend. Both materials are eco-friendly and known for their cooling benefits, and bamboo has a super soft feel that could interact very nicely with the texture of linen.
The verdict? These sheets are kind of… perfect. They’re even softer than I imagined and feel a bit more substantial than other 100 percent linen sheets I’ve tried. (Alas, this is the problem with many popular linen sheets today: They’re lightweight and soft right out of the box, which means they might not be built to last long and could potentially be prone to tearing.) Kassatex’s sheets manage to be soft and substantial, combining all the best benefits of both linen and bamboo. They have a smoother texture than 100 percent linen bedding (so they aren’t as wrinkly, either), and although they’re slightly heavier, they’re still exceptionally airy and comfy.
These sheets are excellent if you’re one of those people who sleeps hot. Bamboo and linen are both breathable, moisture-repelling materials, and the lightweight feel means you’ll easily be comfortable all night. Not only that, but bamboo is also hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin. (And, um, technically you wouldn’t have to feel so bad about not washing your sheets every week.) Another bonus? Unlike other materials, bamboo is a fast-growing plant that can easily be cultivated using sustainable methods, making it a fantastic eco-friendly alternative to cotton. Similarly, the flax plant that linen comes from doesn’t require much water to harvest.
The only downside is the high price, which is pretty standard for linen bedding. Linen isn’t the easiest material to produce, thanks to the small geographic area where flax can grow and the difficulty of harvesting it to make linen. But, a splurge like this is worth it when you know they’ll last for year. And if you’re not quite ready to splurge on a whole new sheet set, take note that there’s also a cloud-like linen-bamboo duvet cover that’ll keep you comfy all year round.
A new sleep phenomenon is sweeping TikTok, and social media users are claiming that this viral sleep hack has given them the ‘best sleep ever’.
What is the latest craze? The ‘potato bed’. Yep, it’s a bedding setup that resembles the humble jacket potato.
And whilst the ‘potato bed’ might sound like just another outlandish TikTok sensation, sleep experts are saying there is wisdom behind its crazy concept.
As Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, I’m all in favour of finding new ways to sleep better, so here’s everything you need to know about the latest TikTok trend.
What is the viral TikTok ‘potato bed’ trend?
First up, what exactly is a ‘potato bed’? Tutorials for how to make a potato bed are now flooding social media, with one potato bed hack from TikTok account @secretlifeeee123 amassing over 15 million likes since it was first posted.
Essentially, this phenomenon involves taking a fitted sheet and turning it upside down so that the elasticated section is at the top. Then you take pillows and blankets and place them on the inside edges of the fitted sheet to create ‘walls’. I gave it a go below.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Future / Amy Lockwood)
(Image credit: Future / Amy Lockwood)
(Image credit: Future / Amy Lockwood)
The next step is placing a duvet or blanket on the base of your potato bed and then layering another duvet or blanket on top. You then climb inside as if you were the cheese and beans being scooped into a jacket potato!
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As TikTok creator @alicekateea demonstrates below, the result is a comfy squishy ‘nest’ you can crawl inside, a little like the blanket fort you might have built as a kid. ‘I had the best night’s sleep ever’, @alicekateea said after hunkering down in the potato bed.
And sleep experts agree this TikTok hack can have sleep benefits. ‘If you love the cocooning feel of being wrapped up and staying nice and warm, then you will probably find yourself relaxing and falling asleep that little bit easier in a potato bed’, explains Hannah Shore, head of sleep science at Mattress Online.
‘Plus, the cushions can create a cocooning feel that may provide the same feeling as someone giving you a cuddle. That additional pressure releases feel-good hormones, which can leave you feeling relaxed, happy, and secure, the perfect combination to fall asleep,’ says Hannah.
TikTokker @renihamikus certainly looks plenty cosy in the potato bed below, but sleep expert Hannah does warn there are some potential downsides to the viral sleep hack. There is the possibility that a potato bed could be just *too* cosy.
‘When we sleep at night, our core body temperature needs to drop a couple of degrees in order to help us get the good quality sleep we need,’ shares Hannah.
‘The addition of extra pillows and blankets may decrease airflow, trapping extra warm air.’ And that can mean your body temperature can’t drop enough for a restful sleep.
‘Support may also be an issue,’ says Hannah. ‘Your mattress and pillows are designed to be used in a specific way to provide you with the optimum support throughout the night. By piling extra cushions, duvets, and blankets around your body, you may find there’s a lack of support, leading to increased morning aches and pains the following morning.’
So it’s worth noting that a potato bed is no replacement for investing in the best mattress and best pillows for your sleep setup.
It looks like TikTokker @jessicacassy_(above) might have the best idea. The TikTokker set up a potato bed and then used it to snuggle up and get cosy in whilst watching a film on a dark and stormy day.
‘These types of beds are normally great for lounging in, but may not be the best option for a full night’s sleep,’ agrees Hannah. Plus, as Hannah points out, there could be an easier way to achieve the same sleep benefits that the potato bed provides.
‘To mimic the feeling of added pressure and warmth without potentially impacting your body’s support or reducing airflow, try a weighted blanket instead,’ says Hannah. ‘These are filled with beads or sand and apply pressure all over your body. It should feel like someone is cuddling you, much like a potato bed.’
This fleecy weighted blanket comes in a 4, 6, or 8kg weight and is especially cosy to snuggle up under.
Silentnight
Wellbeing Weighted Blanket
Alternatively, Silentnight offers the Wellbeing Weighted Blanket in 3, 6.8, or 9kg weights – and that 9kg option is one of the heaviest on the market.
Emma
Hug Weighted Blanket
Emma’s 7kg weighted blanket might be the most expensive, but the option to add a silky bamboo cover makes washing your weighted blanket far easier.
Having recently tested out several weighted blankets for Ideal Home’s best weighted blanket guide, I can testify to this being true. I found the gentle pressure of a weighted blanket to be a great way to sleep better.
I’ve rounded up three of my top weighted blanket recommendations above. And personally, as fun as it may look, I found using a weighted blanket is a lot less faff than rearranging my bed into a potato for the night!
Are you going to spend this weekend getting cosy ‘jacket potato’ style?
Aldi is launching an Emma pillow in store today, and at just £14.99, I think it’s a brilliant buy.
Not only is the Aldi Emma Essentials Pillow the cheapest Emma pillow on the market – this pillow is £40 cheaper than the most affordable Emma pillow on the brand’s own website – but it’s also the best value adjustable pillow I’ve come across.
As Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, I’ve spent the past four years putting the best pillows on the market to the test – from the best pillows for side sleepers to the best memory foam pillows – and the one thing I’ve discovered is that when it comes to pillows, one size doesn’t fit all.
That’s why I think the fact that you can unzip this pillow and add or remove its fluffy microfibre filling is such a genius idea. This means you can adjust the height of the pillow to suit your sleep position and create a personalized resting place for your head.
(Image credit: Aldi)
Available in Aldi’s Specialbuys section from Thursday, 6th November, the Emma Essentials Pillow is a part of the retailer’s ‘Luxury Homeware’ launch.
This range sees the brand reintroduce its sell-out £9.99 Cashmere Touch Blankets, and offer £12.99 Teddy Mattress Toppers and Feels Like Down Duvets, starting from just £16.99 for a double.
However, it’s the super-affordable Emma Essentials Pillow that immediately caught my eye.
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I’ve slept on most of Emma’s bestselling pillows, including the Emma Premium Cloud Pillow and the Emma Original Hybrid Pillow, and the one thing they all have in common is that they’re fairly expensive. Prices start from £55 for the brand’s most affordable pillow, and go up to £82 for the Emma Premium pillow range.
In contrast, this £14.99 Emma Essentials pillow is by far the cheapest way to get your hands on some of the brand’s bedding.
(Image credit: Aldi)
That said, Emma has just launched its Black Friday sale, and as Black Friday deals go, there are some great savings on some of the brand’s bestsellers, such as the Emma Hybrid Thermosync Mattress (in our opinion, Emma’s best mattress), which is reduced from £799 to £599.25 for a double.
The discounts also apply to Emma’s pillow collection, with up to 25% off selected designs. However, even with Black Friday deals in full effect, the prices still don’t compare to this Aldi bargain.
The Aldi Emma Essentials pillow isn’t the only adjustable pillow on the market – I’ve rounded up three of my tried-and-tested alternatives below – but at just £14.99, it’s most definitely the most affordable way to get your hands on a bespoke pillow.
Shop alternatives
Emma
Premium Cloud Pillow
After testing, this is my favourite of Emma’s standard pillow range, and it’s currently reduced from £80 to £60. However, unlike the £14.99 Emma Essentials pillow it isn’t fully customisable. Instead, it has two inserts inside which you can play around adding or removing to alter the height to your preference. This is less messy than dealing with handfuls of microfibre fluff, but means less height adjustability.
Woolroom
Deluxe Washable Wool Pillow
The downside of synthetic pillow fillings, such as the microfibre polyester in the Emma Essentials Pillow, is that this pillow filling tends to get very warm during the night. Unless you opt for recycled polyester, microfibre can also be bad news for the environment. Woolroom’s wool-filled adjustable pillow is a natural alternative that offers a cooler sleep, plus biodegradability, which is kinder to the planet.
Simba
Hybrid Pillow
Perhaps the original adjustable pillow, the popular Simba Hybrid Pillow contains small memory foam cubes that can be added or subtracted from its inner to adjust the pillow height. The use of memory foam makes for a slightly denser pillow that moulds to the head, but its price tag is certainly on the premium end of the scale.
