I’m seeing this nostalgic bedding *everywhere* – trend experts say it’s the key to nailing cosy season style

by Furnishly | Oct 21, 2025 | Design Inspiration

The leaves are turning, days are getting shorter, and the nights are drawing in. It’s official, cosy season is upon us, and if you’re currently overhauling your bedding ready to create a winter cocoon for hibernation, there’s one trend you’ll most definitely want on your radar.

What is it? The patchwork quilt. I’m seeing this nostalgic bedding trend *everywhere* on the high street this autumn, and this isn’t all about granny-chic; if you’re pondering where to buy bedding, there are plenty of contemporary patchwork quilts popping up at the likes of John Lewis, Oliver Bonas, and more.

So why are patchwork quilts suddenly having a moment? I asked the trend experts, and as it turns out, not only are quilts suddenly bang on trend, they could even help us sleep better this winter.

‘This is the time of year when we all crave that feeling of comfort – the kind that wraps around you like a big hug,’ says Dayna Isom Johnson, trend expert at Etsy. ‘What better way to bring that vibe into your home than with a timeless quilt.’

‘These staples of the interior world evoke the feeling of a warm cup of tea at your grandma’s house, in the very best way,’ says Dayna.

Yep, this nostalgic bedding certainly offers a hit of serotonin for me – instantly making me feel safe, cosy, and content. And guess what, when we feel safe, we’re more likely to relax and feel sleepy – a definite win in the bedroom.

Plus, ‘beyond the changing of the season, quilts are part of a wider movement toward slower, more intentional ways of living,’ shares Dayna. ‘The best part is quilts aren’t just décor, they’re also a joyful project. More and more, we’re seeing people lean into the simple joys of quiet crafts.’

However, whereas your grandma no doubt pieced her patchwork quilt together by hand, there are currently plenty of ways to embrace this slow-living trend on the high street if you don’t have the sewing skills to embark on your own quilting project. I’ve rounded up six of my favourite designs below.

Shop patchwork quilts

‘No matter how you bring one into your home, quilts will always be a go-to for cosiness, creativity, and a whole lot of heart,’ says Dayna.

And, of course, a quilt won’t just make your bedroom *look* cosy. Even the best duvet can need an added layer of warmth on a cold winter night, and investing in a decorative quilt is the perfect way to layer up your bed for the cold season.

‘Patchwork quilts have made a welcome return,’ agrees Lucy Uren, creative director at interiors brand Rowen & Wren. ‘In the bedroom, a quilt adds texture, colour, and a quiet warmth, making the space feel inviting and personal.’

Perhaps it’s a backlash against bedrooms that look too ‘store-bought’ and impersonal, but to my mind, this bedding trend certainly adds personality and individuality to a home.

‘For me, a quilt is an investment in both comfort and character, a piece that will enrich the room for years to come,’ says Lucy.

I have to admit, this season’s patchwork quilt trend has definitely won me over. How about you?

Scientist reveals your pillowcase could be dirtier than a toilet seat – this is how to make sure your bedding is germ-free

by Furnishly | Oct 12, 2025 | Design Inspiration

You probably don’t need me to tell you that it’s a good idea to wash your bedding regularly, but a recent announcement by a science expert might well make laundry day seem a little more urgent.

Yep, according to a biomedical science expert, studies have shown that after just a week on the bed, a pillowcase can have more bacteria on it than your average toilet seat. Urgh, indeed.

When it comes to how often we should wash our bedding, surveys have revealed that many of us launder our sheets, duvet cover, and pillowcases every two weeks.

However, according to Dr Gareth Nye, Lecturer in Biomedical Science at the University of Salford, we might want to consider doing it a lot more frequently than that.

‘Most individuals are losing around 500-700ml of sweat every night, which ends up on bedclothes and bedding,’ explains Dr Nye. ‘This can be significantly higher, though, as most people will have variable sweating rates through the night, with men normally sweating less and women going through menopause sweating the most.’

‘Humans will also shed around 500 million skin cells a day, with the majority occurring in our sleep. We are also producing other body secretions, such as drool or saliva. All of these secretions are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, as well as some other nasty bugs.’

‘Some studies have shown that there were 17,000 more bacteria colonies on a pillowcase after a week compared to a toilet seat,’ says Dr Nye, ‘meaning where your head is lying each night could have more bacteria on it than the toilet!’.

And it can get worse. A pillowcase is designed to protect your pillow, but if we don’t wash it frequently enough, then sweat, saliva, and even dust mites can penetrate your pillowcase and reach the pillow itself.

‘A typical pillow can have as many as 16 different species of fungus and millions of fungal spores, which can impact those with allergies or asthma,’ shares Dr Nye.

Not ideal, I’m sure you’ll agree. However, thankfully, experts say we don’t necessarily need to strip the entire bed every week to combat bedtime bacteria. There are workarounds.

As Phoebe Street, textile and sleepwear specialist at Pretty You London, explains, ‘most people wash their sheets every week or two, which is usually enough.’ But if you’re worried about the buildup of bacteria on your pillowcase and don’t have time to strip the whole bed, ‘just throw the sheet and pillowcases into the wash instead.’

‘They collect the most sweat, dirt, and bacteria because they’re in constant contact with your face and hair,’ advises Phoebe.

I’d also recommend making sure you have enough sets of bedding for each bed in your home. It can be hard to wash bed linen frequently if you know you need to get it washed, dried, and back on the bed on the same day.

And when you do wash your bedding, ‘always avoid overloading your washing machine,’ says Phoebe. ‘Bedding needs enough space to be rinsed thoroughly, ensuring all trapped sweat and dirt are washed away properly.’

Drying matters too. Phoebe suggests drying bedding outside where possible. ‘The UV in sunlight can help to kill bacteria,’ she says.

Dr Nye has one last piece of advice. ‘Don’t rush to make your bed every morning,’ he says. ‘Instead, allow it to air out first to prevent bacterial growth.’

After all, if you’ve invested in the best pillow for your sleep style – whether that’s the best memory foam pillow or the best pillow for a side sleeper – you definitely don’t want fungi to start making a home inside it!

I’d add one last top tip to help prevent your pillowcase and pillow from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. And that’s to consider investing in a pillow protector.

This is an extra layer of protection that goes between your pillowcase and your pillow to offer more defence against saliva, sweat, and dust mites. Adding one to your sleep setup means less googling of how to wash a pillow or how to get rid of yellow stains from your pillow. I’ve listed three of my top recommendations below.

Add a pillow protector

I didn’t realise this one thing about electric blankets until I started testing them for a living – it convinced me to buy my own

by Furnishly | Oct 3, 2025 | Design Inspiration

As the weather has turned colder this month, there’s one thing that’s been helping me to keep the chill at bay during the evenings.

That’s having an electric blanket secured to my bed and ready to turn on if and when overnight temperatures drop. Plus, a heated throw folded up on the sofa, ready to curl up under, so I don’t have to turn the central heating on yet.

However, before I began testing out the best electric blankets for Ideal Home, I hadn’t owned one since I was a kid, and it turns out, there’s one thing I hadn’t realised about electric blankets.

Namely, that you can wash an electric blanket. Which, to my mind at least, makes them a far better investment than I thought.

I’d always considered a heated blanket to be a bit of an expensive luxury. After all, if you’re anything like me, the sofa is for snacking, and snacking naturally means the odd crumb and occasional sticky fingers.

I didn’t much like the sound of a blanket that I couldn’t put through the washing machine to get properly clean every once in a while.

Similarly, I know an electric blanket goes under your bottom sheet, so it’s protected from close contact with your body. But still, since becoming Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, I’ve learnt a *lot* about how easily sweat, grime, and dead skin cells can penetrate through the covers to stain bedding below.

I didn’t particularly like the idea of adding a layer to my bed that I couldn’t wash. Read our guides on how to get rid of yellow stains on a pillow or how to clean a mattress if you want to get grossed out over bodily fluids in your sleeping environment!

But, as it turns out, I didn’t need to worry, because every electric blanket and heated blanket I’ve tested over the past four years has been washable, and machine washable at that. There’s no need to bend over a bathtub to rinse out an electric blanket by hand.

But how is that possible? After all, we all know water and electricity definitely don’t mix safely.

‘Most of our throws and blankets are designed to be machine-washable,’ explains Maria Bullen of heated wellness brand, Dreamland. ‘Simply unplug and detach the control unit before placing your throw in the machine.’

Yep, it isn’t a blanket rule (no pun intended), but if your electric blanket has a detachable power cord – which every electric blanket I’ve tested has – there’s every chance it can be machine-washed.

Just make sure you *always* check the care label to make sure this is 100% the case before you bring your blanket anywhere near water, and definitely don’t get liquids anywhere near your blanket whilst it’s plugged into an electrical socket.

‘Never assume that an electric blanket is safe to machine wash if there isn’t a care label or manual included,’ confirms Rebecca Swain, mattress expert at Winstons Beds. ‘You’ll also want to check for any exposed or damaged wiring before washing,’ says Rebecca.

‘Before first use each season, check the fabric, wires, and controller for any wear or damage,’ agrees Maria.

But, as long as your electric blanket is in good nick (and if it isn’t, you shouldn’t be using it anyway) and its care label gives you the green light, you can then proceed to putting it in the washing machine and giving it a thorough clean.

‘Wash on a gentle cycle at 30-40°C, then either air dry or use a low tumble setting to keep the fabric soft and the heating elements protected,’ explains Maria. Our guide to how to clean an electric blanket has the full breakdown.

Just make sure to ‘keep drinks and liquids away when the electric blanket is in use,’ warns Maria, ‘they don’t mix with electric textiles’.

So you can eat your favourite snack whilst toasting on the sofa under your heated blanket or when hurkle-durkling in bed on a lazy morning, but avoid sipping a hot chocolate whilst using an electric blanket.

Personally, that’s a compromise I’m very happy to make. After all, the marshmallows are the best bit of an autumn hot chocolate anyway!

Machine-washable electric blankets

I’ve rounded up three of my top recommendations for machine-washable electric underblankets and heated throws above.

As the weather continues to get colder, they’re definitely my go-to for staying cosy on cold winter nights. And, now that I know they’re machine-washable, that means they’ll be able to keep me warm for many winters to come, too.

M&S’ £19.50 brushed cotton bedding has 100s of 5-star reviews and is selling out fast – ‘I struggle to get out of bed due to how cosy it is’

by Furnishly | Sep 25, 2025 | Design Inspiration

The weather has definitely turned, and with a cold front rolling in and temperatures plummeting, it’s little wonder that there’s one bedding set in particular that’s flying off the shelves in M&S.

Yep, the brands’ soft and snuggly Pure Brushed Cotton Bedding Set is selling like hot cakes, and with prices starting from just £19.50 for a duvet and pillowcase set, it’s easy to see why.

This bedding set has over 600 5-star reviews on the Marks and Spencer website, and M&S customers are unanimous in their appreciation of how warm and cosy it is to sleep under.

Why is this bedding set special? Because it’s made of brushed cotton. This is cotton that’s been (you guessed it…) brushed, to make the surface fibres fluffy. The effect of that fluffiness is that the fabric feels super soft and snuggly.

Most importantly, because the cotton fibres are no longer flat, they don’t have that cool chill to them on a cold night. Instead, you can climb into a bed that’s dressed in brushed cotton bedding and feel instantly warm and cosy.

As Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, brushed cotton bedding is at the top of my wishlist for the cooler months, and from October until March, it’s the only fabric I like to have on my bed.

The bonus is that if you’re a hot sleeper, like me, then because this fabric is still made of cotton, it doesn’t cause overheating in the same way that a synthetic fleece material can. So you get all the warm and cosy benefits, with no unwelcome hot and sticky nights.

Judging by the bedding sets reviews, M&S customers are also highly impressed. ‘So cosy for this time of year and quality is exactly what I love from M&S… definitely recommend,’ shares one reviewer.

‘Bought as I was fed up with cold bedding. Great choice of colours and so warm and cosy,’ says another.

‘Excellent quality. So soft and cosy. Perfect for winter nights,’ shares a third. ‘This set is toasty! I usually have an electric blanket on in winter, but did not need it with this set.’

Owners are also impressed by how easy this bedding set is to care for, with many mentioning its lack of pilling and shedding (which can be a problem with some brushed cotton bedding) and how easy it is to wash.

‘Beautiful bedding and washes really well. I struggle to get out of bed due to how soft it is!,’ shares one happy owner. ‘Washes beautifully and lovely to snuggle down to sleep on a cold night!,’ says another.

If you’re looking for ways to beat the chill and make your bedroom into a cosy autumnal retreat, I think snapping up the M&S Pure Brushed Cotton Bedding Set whilst it’s still in stock is definitely the way to do it. Your future self will thank you on the freezing nights ahead.