The Best Bedding

Blogger Jessica Sturdy of Bows & Sequins shares her Chicago Parisian-chic bedroom design. Tufted linen headboard, ruffled Crane & Canopy bedding, Ballard Designs spotted beige animal print shams, Pier 1 throw pillows.

If you know me, you know I’m very particular about my sleep. Reason being, I’m not very good at it and typically tend to not get nearly enough. So when it’s time to go to bed, I have a pretty specific routine I know I need to follow. And for me, it all starts with bedding! Good bedding is a little luxury that goes a long way. Us ladies tend to justify investing in clothing, shoes, and accessories by mentally calculating the “cost per wear” and it’s pretty much the same thing with your mattress, sheets, duvet, and pillows…. You use them every single night! And your sleep directly impacts your day, life, emotions, etc.

I started writing this post in the fall, and the day I went to publish it, my site crashed. Remember when I was headed to Japan in November?! It crashed right before I got on a 15 hour flight, haha. That was fun! 🙄

Lauren was in town visiting just before I left for Japan and was raving about how comfortable my bed was. (#humblebrag) She’s since ordered the same mattress! When I was in Cabo a few weeks ago, I got talking about bedding with another girl on the trip and 15 minutes later, I remembered I never actually published this post. I know I’ve shared photos of my bedroom, but I figured I’d break it down even further and talk about my favorite bedding essentials! (Especially since we lost an hour of sleep over the weekend, I figure we can all use a little bit of extra shuteye…)

Blogger Jessica Sturdy of Bows & Sequins shares her Chicago Parisian-chic bedroom design. Tufted linen headboard, ruffled Crane & Canopy bedding, Ballard Designs spotted beige animal print shams.

1. It all starts with your mattress!

I may or may not be a bit of a mattress snob. When my mom and I redecorated my childhood bedroom when I was in 7th grade, we drove like 3 hours to this furniture that was supposedly the best in our area. (Please note that I grew up in BFE.) I remember laying on like 100 different mattresses until I found the *perfect* mattress and I believe it was right then and there that I became a mattress snob for life. To this day, my mattress at my parents’ house is still probably one of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept on. And then when I graduated from college, I did the whole test again and found another *perfect* mattress for my old place in Chicago in 2011. (Remember this bedroom?! #TBT) When I decided to move to New York and realized my queen-sized mattress wouldn’t fit in my tiny apartment, I remember crying myself to sleep for like a week thinking about giving up that bed. It was *that* good. Even though it was only a year later, the mattress had been discontinued so buying it in a full-size wasn’t an option. We found a pretty similar mattress that stuck with me all of my years in New York. But when I moved back to Chicago last year and wanted to go back up to a queen-size and realized my coveted mattress had been taken out of storage and given to my brother, I was back at square one.

After moving across the country and basically having to completely furnish an entire apartment (things that happen when you go from a 300 square foot studio to a true one bedroom), I jumped at Tuft & Needle’s generous offer to try one of their mattresses. To be completely honest, I figured it would be fine for a few months and I’d go pick out a new mattress after the dust had settled from moving. I mean, how good of a mattress could it be if it’s delivered in a box?! Well here I am almost a year and a half later, and I have zero intentions of going mattress shopping anytime in the foreseeable future. The Tuft & Needle mattress completely surpassed all of my expectations! And every guest I’ve had over has commented on how comfortable it is. In fact, Lauren ordered a Tuft & Needle for her new NYC apartment, too! (This is not at all sponsored, FYI.)

Blogger Jessica Sturdy of @bowsandsequins shares her Chicago Parisian-chic bedroom design. // Boll & Brand Sheets

2. And then the sheets!

These Boll & Branch sheets are hands-down my favorite sheets that I’ve ever owned or slept on. They’re so, so soft and honestly get better with every single wash! There’s seriously nothing better than crawling into my bed at night… It’s the best! Highly, highly, highly recommend.

I was telling my friend in Cabo that I end up washing my sheets and putting them back on my bed the same day because I hate having to sleep on different sheets. I need to buck up and order another pair!

Blogger Jessica Sturdy of Bows & Sequins shares her Chicago Parisian-chic bedroom design. Tufted linen headboard, ruffled Crane & Canopy bedding, Ballard Designs spotted beige animal print shams, Pier 1 throw pillows.

3. Let’s talk duvet covers!

My Duvet Cover is from Crane & Canopy… I’ve been using their duvet covers for years! I love how it’s a blank slate for the rest of my pillows and throws, but the little ruffle detail gives it some interest.

Blogger Jessica Sturdy of @bowsandsequins shares her Chicago Parisian-chic bedroom design. // Boll & Brand Sheets

4. And comforters…

Dating back to high school, I’ve always ordered my duvet inserts from The Company Store. I get the down-alternative style and you can pick the warmth/heaviness! I have a lighter one for summer and a heavier one for winter that I switch in and out.

Blogger Jessica Sturdy of @bowsandsequins shares her Chicago Parisian-chic bedroom design. // Boll & Brand Sheets

5. Pillows are everything!

Pillows are truly everything when it comes to your bedding. But it’s totally a personal preference to figure out what suits you best! I feel like I’ve tried them all… I had the Westin Pillows when I lived in New York. (They’re on sale, FYI!) I currently have these pillows that I got from Bed, Bath, & Beyond that I loved, but I think they’re getting kind of worn out from the last year and a half of use. After staying at the Sofitel in Beverly Hills before I went to Asia, I think I’m going to order the Sofitel down-alternative pillows! I slept like a freaking baby. (In part due to NyQuil, yes. But the pillows were 👌🏼)

Blogger Jessica Sturdy of Bows & Sequins shares her Chicago Parisian-chic bedroom design. Tufted headboard, blush pink rug, and white, ruffled bedding.

Any other bedding favorites you swear by?! I’d love to hear!

Blogger Jessica Sturdy of Bows & Sequins shares her Chicago Parisian-chic bedroom design. Tufted linen headboard, blush pink rug, and white, ruffled bedding.

FYI: You can see my full bedroom tour with links to shop everything in this post!

Current Faves

Leave a Comment

18 Comments

  1. 3.13.17
    Kendal said:

    Your bed is gorgeous! I love the colors that you picked, and those pillows!

    Kendal // Life With Kendal

  2. 3.13.17

    This came at the perfect time! I’m in need of some new bedding for spring!

  3. 3.14.17
    Caitie said:

    I am in desperate need of new pillows but I was overwhelmed with all the options so THANK YOU for this!

  4. 3.14.17
    Katherine White said:

    I can’t get enough of my Crane and Canopy bedding! So soft and such great quality, plus the designs are to die for. Love how you styled the pink shams without it being too overwhelming, thanks for sharing!

  5. 3.14.17

    Yes!!!! Your bed is the best. I forget if I told you this or not but I made Josh order your Bed Bath and Beyond pillows when I got back from Chicago! I might try the Sofitel ones if you think they’re good too! Miss you!!!

  6. 3.14.17
    Kate said:

    Love the light pink….so pretty!
    -Kate
    http://www.katekoutures.com/

  7. 3.15.17
    Emily Suied said:

    I recently tried Brooklinen Sheets – and to be honest when they were delivered I didn’t love the way they felt right out of the box – but after I washed them and slept on them the first night, it was a total game changer! These sheets seriously get better after every wash and are not too heavy or too light – they are crisp and soft. I totally love them and would recommend them if you’re looking to try new sheets!

  8. 3.15.17
    Emily Heintz said:

    We absolutely LOVE our Tuft&Needle. I recommend it to anyone in the market for a bed!

  9. 2.13.18
    Nicole said:

    Is your bed blush, or more of a beige? Or a mix?? So pretty!!

  10. 6.27.18

    Please check out the products on our website. Thank you

  11. 5.14.19
    Tony Sagar said:

    Everybody sleeps differently as 1 size does not fit all when it comes to sleep. I always used down and feather but found them too HOT….. I started using the natural Australian Sheepskin Wool Duvet Comforter from a niche boutique brand Down Under Bedding and I’m not sweating all the time and sleeping better.
    Check out this video on the benefits of wool bedding