Depending on your lifespan, sleep accounts for as much as one third of your life. I don’t know about you, but that means the way things have been tracking, I will spend one third of my life lying on scratchy Costco sheets under an itchy wool blanket with my head on a flat-ish pillow from Target.  

They say, “You made your bed; now lie in it.” But I don’t, because my bed is not cozy. It’s not a spot for lounging, luxuriating, or retreat. It’s solely utilitarian…that is, until I had the chance to try Brooklinen’s Luxe Sateen bedding, Canadian Down Comforter, and Marlow pillows.

Brooklinen (based in Brooklyn, NY) was founded in 2012 by Rich and Vicki Fulop after a trip to Vegas where they laid down in their hotel bed and thought, “Why can’t my bed at home feel like this?” Inspired, they checked out the brand, discovered the $800 price tag, and realized when it came to bedding, there were only two options: high-end and pricey, or low-quality and affordable. They decided to change that by making luxury bedding at an accessible price point. 

“Affordable luxury might seem like an oxymoron, but Brooklinen makes it happen.”

Affordable luxury might seem like an oxymoron, but Brooklinen makes it happen. The brand discovered that the high price of bedding had much to do with supply chain length; if they cut out the middlemen, employed small-scale entrepreneurs for production, and sold direct to consumers online, they could keep the bedding more affordable. Their transparent supply chain adheres to strict labor standards while reducing textile waste and carbon emissions. They also cover shipping, allow a full refund within one year of purchase, and donate all returns to Good360, a nonprofit that keeps usable goods out of landfills. They also partner with Animal Haven, giving them sheets to make beds for animals in their shelters.

You can learn more about Brooklinen’s origin story on NPR’s “How I Built This.” 

Let’s talk sheet: What materials does Brooklinen use?

Brooklinen’s Luxe Sateen Collection, known as “the Internet’s favorite sheets,” are made from cotton sourced and manufactured in India in factories that guarantee fair pay and good working conditions, according to the brand. Although not organic, (Brooklinen does offer a line of organic bedding) the collection is certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, a guarantee of protection from over 1,000 harmful substances.

Brooklinen’s Luxe Sateen Collection comes in six neutral colors and six limited edition prints and shades, and uses a 480 thread count. You might be like, “480? That’s nothin!”  But don’t be fooled—high thread count can be misleading and does not automatically equate with luxury. In fact, a super high thread count can indicate a multi-ply construction where more threads are woven in to strengthen short-fiber cotton (less than a half inch in length), meaning all you get is a low-quality sheet made out of lots of weak and tiny threads. By using single ply, 100% long-staple cotton, Brooklinen constructs their sheets with 60 and 80 yarn count threads, the finest available for cotton bedding.

“By using single ply, 100% long-staple cotton, Brooklinen constructs their sheets with 60 and 80 yarn count threads, the finest available for cotton bedding.”

Brooklinen’s All-Season Down Comforter is a year-round delight at a 700-fill power; the higher insulating power provides both a warmer and lighter experience since fluffier down traps more air and requires less down to fill the same space. Baffle box construction evenly distributes the down, saving you from clumping and the uncomfortable experience of your bottom half freezing while your top half roasts. Brooklinen uses only ethically-sourced Canadian Hutterite White Duck Down certified by Downmark and Feather Industries. Both of these certifications guarantee ethical harvesting practices and genuine down and feather materials that exceed all Canadian and International cleanliness standards. The comforter is also treated with Ultra-Fresh Antimicrobial Additives to keep things hypoallergenic and odor-free. Jury’s out on these additives: while on the one hand they can cut down on allergens and unwanted bacterial growth, they may also have a long-term harmful effect on health.

Their Marlow pillow is US EPA registered, BPR compliant, and OEKO-TEX certified. Made with cooling-infused chopped memory foam with breathable mesh, the Marlow is 100% vegan and allergy friendly with a 100% cotton, 120 GSM sateen fabric shell. The coolest part? The Marlow comes with two zippers for adjustable firmness. For firm, keep it zipped up; unzip one side for medium firmness, and unzip both sides for a plushy, pillowy sleep. I like a firm pillow which makes me a one zipper woman. But I could change, and if I do, I like that my pillow can change with me.

How Comfortable Is Brooklinen?

Brooklinen says their Luxe sheet gets softer with every wash, so the first thing I do after unboxing is machine wash the sheets and duvet cover in cold water, throw them on tumble low in the dryer, and take them out about ten minutes before the cycle ends to prevent wrinkles. They come out piping hot and smelling fresh so I grab the whole bunch—fitted sheet, flat sheet, 2 pillowcases, duvet cover, and press them into my face, inhaling like they are the skin of my long lost lover. I clutch them even tighter and sway like I can hear Etta James confirm, “At last…my sheets have come along.”

The sheets slip right over the edges of my queen mattress, and the little ties at each corner of my duvet cover means I can make ends meet without crawling inside my bedding to get the corners to line up.

You know that thing when you starfish in the bed and make snow angels so you can feel your clean skin against buttery soft sheets? Yeah, me neither.

BUT THAT’S ALL CHANGING, because everything about this new bedding situation feels luxury hotel-worthy. My sheets feel like satin and shimmer like a velvety night sky. They are also surprisingly lightweight and simultaneously warm enough that I do not get cold or overheated. I’ve washed them a few times now and true to their word, my Luxe Sateen sheets keep getting better.

If you’re a very hot sleeper, you might want something crispier and even more breathable like their Percale sheet set, but if you’re Goldlilocks and you’re looking for something not too hot, not too cold, and just right—look no further, your luxury bedding experience awaits. 

Key Takeaways:

  • Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Sheets are made with high-quality 100% long-staple cotton with a 450 thread count. They are both luxuriously soft and breathable. The Luxe Sateen Core Set (one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and 2 pillowcases) starts at $159 with a savings of up to 25% when you shop the bundles.
  • The All-Season Down Comforter is made with eco-friendly Canadian Duck Down and high quality 100% long-staple cotton, with loops on every corner to keep your duvet cover attached. Priced at $340.
  • The Marlow Pillow is the “best pillow for the most people” with 2 zippers for adjustable firmness. Priced at $65.
  • I’ve slept sandwiched between my new Brooklinen Luxe Sateen sheets and my All-Season Down Comforter for over a month now and I can say I still love the temperature and the feel: The sheets keep getting softer; the comforter keeps staying fluffy and full; the pillow keeps its firmness; I am cozy and warm, but not too warm. 
  • I wish there was a way to ensure completely organic bedding across the board with Brooklinen, but in terms of the competition, I respect their company’s ethos and the efforts they’ve put forth to make affordable luxury bedding. Even more importantly, I recommend everyone research their bedding before purchasing. If you spend one third of your life in it, it’s worth springing for better quality.

Trinity Wilbourn is a Denver-based freelance writer, mind/body coach and intuitive guide. As an educational consultant, she works at the intersection of Social Emotional Learning, Mindfulness, and the science of nervous system regulation. In her free time, she can be found hanging with her four kids, spooning her Bernedoodle, singing opera, and dancing in the kitchen. Learn more and explore her offerings at www.trinitywilbourn.com or follow her on Instagram.