Can you mix bed sheets? Yes − here's the secret to doing it stylishly

I asked bedding designers how to mix bed sheets by color and material to create a beautiful bespoke bedspread

Mix-and-match bedding from Piglet in Bed on a bed against a gray wall.
(Image credit: Piglet in Bed)

One of the best ways to enhance your bedroom with a bit of personality is to mix and match your bed sheets. You can pick and choose pieces from your favorite bedding bundle to create a sheet set that meets your sleep needs and achieves your stylistic vision. 

There are so many methods for mixing bed sheets. If you're a little tired of plain white sheets, you could spice things up with a bold duvet cover or a brightly colored throw. If you live in a temperate climate, you could pair warmer materials with cooler ones to reach your optimal temperature. 

Once you learn how to mix bed sheets, you can create a bespoke 'bedscape' that speaks to your style and changes with the seasons. If you feel in need of inspiration, then you're in luck: I asked bedding designers and textile manufacturers how best to mix bed sheets. To get started, all you need is a few sets of the best bed sheets.

Can you mix bed sheets?

Before we begin, a word of warning: just because you want to mix and match your bed sheets by color or material doesn't mean you should mix and match them by size. It might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how often it happens. In fact, pairing an oversized fitted sheet with an undersized flat sheet, or vice versa, is one of the biggest bed sheet mistakes you can make. 

How to mix bed sheets by color

Bed Threads sheets in pink clay, rust, and terracotta.

(Image credit: Bed Threads)

Now, don't get me wrong: the best white bed sheets are clean and classic, designed to complement any and every bedroom color palette. If you're keen to switch up your sheets, but you don't want to stray too far from tradition, you could try to incorporate natural, neutral hues, such as beige, tan, and oatmeal.

That's how Heidi Luber would do it, anyway. As the founder and owner of Lubertex, the premier bedding and bath brand, Heidi works closely with interior designers at five-star hotels and luxury spas. Naturally, she pays attention to their bedspreads, and she's noticed that 'hotels are starting to move away from the all-white look to play with shades of creams and beige. Mixing and matching shades helps to create a high-end look and makes bedding stand out a bit more than the standard all-white'.

Once you've established a color scheme that works well with your room color ideas, it's time to layer your shades. 'Another trend I've spotted is "triple sheeting", where instead of a duvet cover, hotel housekeeping staff are using three sheets,' Heidi reveals: 'one fitted sheet; a flat sheet under the duvet; and then a top sheet over the duvet. Not only does this save time, since you don't have to stuff a duvet cover, but you can also play around with fun top sheets and mix and match to create a unique combination'. 

Headshot of Heidi Luber.
Heidi Luber

Heidi is the founder, owner, and President of Lubertex, a premier textile manufacturer that supplies high-end hotels and luxury spas across North America,

If you're keen to experiment with colors, or you'd like to play with prints and patterns, then I recommend you shop with one of three specialist sleep stores. Magic Linen specializes in bright block colors, while Piglet in Bed is better for softer shades: I love their Sage Green Bedtime Bundle. To create a custom bedspread, you could head to Bed Threads to build your own bundle

How to mix bed sheets by material

Piglet in Bed sheets on a bed against a white wall.

(Image credit: Piglet in Bed)

Take a look through your linen closet, and I expect you'll find a few different bed sheet types. In terms of materials, you've almost certainly got a set of cotton sheets, plus the best linen sheets for the summer. If you're an eco-conscious shopper, you might have some bamboo bedding stored away, or even something more adventurous, such as wool, hemp, or eucalyptus. 

You could always pair warmer sheets with cooler ones to transition between the seasons. In the spring and fall, I like to sleep with the best warm comforter to keep cozy, but I rest my head on a percale pillowcase, so that I still feel like I'm sleeping on the fresh side of the bed.

A word of warning: too many textures in the same bed could lead to sensory overload. I've tried to pair starchy linen sheets with a silk pillowcase, and I wouldn't recommend it: the contrast kept me up at night, and I had to wash each sheet on a different setting. 

I asked bedding designer Parima Ijaz, founder and CEO of Pure Parima, how to mix and match bed sheets by material with style and practicality in mind. 'If you want to mix fabrics, it's smart to stick with cotton sheets for greater versatility,' says Parima. 'Different weaves offer different benefits. If you're a hot sleeper, you might prefer a cooler, crisp fabric, such as percale, while sateen offers a softer, smoother, warmer feel and makes a beautiful bedspread'. 

Headshot of Parima Ijaz.
Parima Ijaz

Parima is the founder and CEO at Pure Parima, the luxury bedding brand that uses the finest Egyptian cotton to make the most stylish sheets. 

Our verdict

Parachute bedding on a bed against a white wall.

(Image credit: Parachute)

You can absolutely mix your bed sheets to reflect your sense of style and the changes of the seasons. Just keep in mind a few practical considerations. As and when you pair bed sheets from different bedding brands, you should double-check the dimensions of each sheet: some come up a little small, while others are uncomfortably oversized. 

Whether you mix bed sheets by color or by material, you might need to wash them on separate cycles to protect the fibers and keep the dyes on one sheet from bleeding into another. It might be worth learning how to wash bed sheets to elongate the life of your bedding.

Emilia Hitching
Sleep Editor

Emilia is our resident sleep writer. She spends her days tracking down the lowest prices on the best mattresses and bedding and spends her nights testing them out from the comfort of her own home. Emilia leads a team of testers across America to find the best mattress for every sleep style, body type, and budget.

Emilia's quest to learn how to sleep better takes her all around the world, from the 3Z mattress factory in Glendale, Arizona to the Hästens headquarters in Köping, Sweden. She's interviewed luxury bedding designers at Shleep and Pure Parima, as well as the Design Manager at IKEA. Before she joined Homes & Gardens, Emilia studied English at the University of Oxford.