A good night’s sleep is as important to us as not missing a deadline. That’s why we prize sheets that feel like a retreat from the busy day, and Boll & Branch sheets, an AD-favorite bedding brand, are making this happen. Both AD commerce director Rachel Fletcher and contributor Yelena Moroz Alpert are drawn to the company’s sustainability ethos and efforts—it’s Fair Trade-certified (you can even trace the origin of your items) and doesn’t use harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process. All of the sheet styles have an Oeko-Tex tag. The organic cotton is pesticide-free, as Boll & Branch uses marigolds on their farms in place of synthetic alternatives, and the farming methods use less water.
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Of all the materials Fletcher has tested—percale, Supima cotton, and linen—the Boll & Branch signature hemmed sheets made from long-staple cotton were the most impressive and lived up to the hype. “That extra-soft feel, paired with the lovely, cooling properties, makes them feel like the luxury sheets they are,” she says of the sateen set. With more than 9,600 reviews, it’s a Boll & Branch bestseller known for its buttery softness.
These are made of long-staple cotton fibers that promise to give you even more comfort wash after wash, and Fletcher can attest that after multiple cycles and almost five years of use, there is still no fraying or pilling, “just that coveted softness which feels lived-in but not worn out.” And since the elastic banding on the fitted sheet is top-stitched, loose threads are unlikely. Fletcher also appreciates the earthy tones of the mineral colorway of her sheets and the hem detail is a “really nice visual touch.”
The collection comes in 17 solid colorways and eight patterns, which include small and large floral motifs, as well as stripes. While these sheets are a pricey investment, she 100% recommends these and stands behind the quality. “These are in a constant rotation of four to five sets of sheets (what can I say, I’m a design editor) so they get washed at least once a month,” she explains in her best sheets review. “Despite some very slight color fading, they’re as strong and now even softer than when I first got them.”
After falling in love with Boll & Branch pajamas, Alpert also recently tested the signature embellished sheet set with the piping detail. “I am always looking for unique bedding designs, but you really can’t go wrong with this classic detail,” she says of her cream sheets. “The piping runs like an elegant cord along the trim of the pillow case and flat sheet, bestowing that high-quality hotel feel.” It doesn’t hurt that the bed sheets feel as if you’re sleeping in a tub of whipped butter (that’s a good thing!).
However, to compensate for the frigid midwestern winter, Alpert has been swapping the cooling sheets for a flannel set with a plaid windowpane pattern. “Soft, even plush, doesn’t begin to describe the coziness factor,” says Alpert. “These feel like the inside of your favorite sweatshirt. Or maybe like a fuzzy velour, like the fur of a puppy. Seriously, these are one of the softest flannel sheets I’ve tested.”
In terms of flannel weight, these are more on the medium-heavy side—you’ll appreciate this when the blizzard warning buzzes on your phone and you don’t care because your bed is like a Hallmark movie. “The other night, I actually dreamt that I had an extra cozy blanket, and in the morning realized that it was just the top sheet,” Alpert adds. The bedding is triple sheared, and as a result, pilling is very minor. Alpert has only noticed it happen in the area where her feet rub, but not anywhere else.
Once the weather returns to normal, Alpert will go back to her linen sheet set, also in the mineral hue. “The draping quality of these is really something,” she says. “When you sleep in these, it feels like a weekend morning, every morning. I really don’t want to get out of bed because these sheets are like an embrace.”
The Boll & Branch linen sheets are made of European flax and go through a four-step washing process that makes them exceptionally smooth. (Some other linen sheets can feel a bit coarse because of the bumpy slubs of the weave.) “It’s a noticeable difference,” says Alpert, who has quite literally compared four linen bedding brands side to side in one day. “It’s extremely light and airy. When I parachute it over my bed, I can see right through it, which gives it that heirloom quality.’
Another perk to consider is that the fitted sheets of both the signature and the linen sets have deep pockets (17 inches!), so your bedding fits seamlessly over a plush mattress, even if it has a topper. She’s also a little obsessed with the color, which reads like a moody stormy cloud but is very easy on the eyes. It pairs beautifully with crisp whites and soft grays.
Like Fletcher, Alpert agrees that these are definitely an investment, but one that is worthwhile. “I don’t see myself swapping these out anytime soon,” she says. In terms of durability, if bedding can develop a patina, then these linen sheets are the perfect example. After route washings with an eco-friendly detergent, like Koala Eco Laundry Wash, the bedding retains its airiness, yet has that lived-in softness and an almost bohemian quality.
But if you still need to decide whether you prefer flannel, linen, or the signature sateen sheets, Boll & Branch offers up to six free swatches in a range of colorways. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself adding a duvet cover to your cart or exploring the brand’s wide array of floral and embroidered sheets, too.
