It was during the Renaissance Period when bedding as we know it today was designed. Whilst the poor continued to sleep on hay-covered platforms, the wealthy owned mattresses stuffed with down and wrapped in luxurious materials. Their four-poster beds were covered in embroidered canopies and contained pull-out trundles for maids and personal valets to sleep on. Mattresses were suspended from the bedframes using ropes or straps. They were covered by smart linen sheets and wool blankets. The beds grew more and more lavish for the most wealthy. They became so expensive they were passed down through the family for generations. Reported to spend most of his day in bed, Louis XIV became so obsessed with bedding that he bought 413 beds for the Palace of Versailles. It is understood that he held court daily from his bed.
While bed linen and bed sheets are often used interchangeably, they are actually two distinct types of bedding that serve different purposes. Bed sheets are the primary layer that goes directly on top of the mattress, while bed linen encompasses a range of additional bedding items such as duvet covers, pillowcases, and decorative blankets. Whether you prefer the crisp coolness of freshly laundered sheets or the luxurious feel of high-quality linen, there are plenty of options to help you create the perfect bed for a good night's sleep.
