Dream Wovens

Though many poets have extolled the merits of sleep (and perchance dreams) as well as the delightful things one might do in bed, few have taken up bedding itself with the gusto of the 19th-century British poet and humorist Thomas Hood. In the poem “Her Dream” from the Miss Kilmansegg and Her Precious Leg cycle, Hood rhapsodizes not about the woman’s leg but about her velvet quilt (“A fit mantle for Night-Commanders”), her pillow (“as white as snow undimm’d”), and her pillowcase (“in the finest cambric, and trimm’d / With the costliest lace of Flanders”), before finally exclaiming:  “O bed! O bed! Delicious bed / That heaven upon Earth to the weary head!”

And who hasn’t echoed Hood’s cry, casting down their fatigued bones and feeling that life affords few pleasures greater than the warm comfort of freshly laundered linens and a cozy bed? In that spirit, then, we take up the matter of bedclothes.

Choosing from among the modern morass of mercerized this and ten-million-thread-count that can be a vexing affair. But Sumru Krody, a curator at the Textile Museum in Washington, DC, suggests that “natural dyes tend to be more stable than synthetic ones and stand up better to washing, as do natural fibers like cotton and linen.” She’s also onboard the thread-count express, noting that “the more yarn you have per square inch, the more durable the textile.”

Once you’ve picked your thread count—–for cotton aim for the 300 to 500 realm; jersey, which is knit, and linen aren’t measured in those terms—–it’s largely personal taste from there on out. With regard to the healthful benefits of bedding, Dr. Clete Kushida, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, reports that “there is no evidence that one bedding is superior to another,” but notes that the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic, where he works, does make use of “premium cotton sheets.”

Our picks range from exuberant bursts of Marimekko color for the after-hours maximalist to Unison’s understated pinstripes for those who prefer their beds as bastions of soporific calm. And though the duvet cover from Third Drawer Down is soft as can be, artist Ed Templeton’s design is razor-sharp. So whether you like your bedding witty, whimsical, or whitewashed, this assortment of modern sheets and duvet covers will have you composing ballads each night as flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

• 

  Oneway Bedding

  • Made by: Area
  • Price: $40-200

  Oneway is another understated option for those who prefer to let the rest of their bedroom decor do the talking.
   

• 

  Italian Hotel Bedding

  • Made by: Restoration Hardware
  • Price: $49-249

  This design from Restoration Hardware might be the classiest of the lot. Perfect to match your leather wingback chair and mother-of-pearl letter opener.
   

• 

  Sola Bedding

  • Designed by: Maija Isola, Kristina Isola
  • Made by: Marimekko
  • Price: $24-169

  Monsters hiding under the bed might very well want to hunker down for the night in this cheery jungle-themed print.

• 

  Guldlin Blad Bedding

  • Designed by: Caroline Abild Jessen
  • Made by: Ikea
  • Price: $30-50

  Like a blueprint for sleep, the Guldin Blad bedding from Ikea will keep you cozy.
   

• 

  On One Hand Bedding

  • Designed by: Ed Templeton
  • Made by: Third Drawer Down
  • Price: $275

  For those active sleepers who annoy their bunkmates, this clever duvet keeps the fight mano a mano.
   

• 

  Porter Bedding

  • Made by: Unison
  • Price: $24-148

  The Yankees aren't the only ones who look good in pinstripes; this set of bedding from Unison is a handsome pick.
   

• 

  Heather Bedding

  • Made by: Area
  • Price: $55-245

  These are sheer simplicity in a muted tone. The heathered fabric offers a nice bit of texture in a neutral hue.
   

• 

  Plus Bedding

  • Made by: Area
  • Price: $52-138

  Swap your Zs for +s. They'll make a nice addition to any boudoir.
   

• 

  Flow Bedding

  • Made by: Area
  • Price: $35-200

  Gentle gray with pops of color carry the day in this set from Area, Inc.
   

• 

  Tatami Bedding

  • Made by: Unison
  • Price: $30.00-148.00

  Structurally sound, Tatami alludes to traditional rice straw matting used to cover floors in Japanese homes. With clean grid lines you can tidy your room just by making your bed. Sheets are solid colors to correspond with background colors.