Nontoxic bedroom basics
I’m that girl who makes up the bed in our hotel room before we start our (vacation) day. My practical husband might roll his eyes (after all, the cleaning service will be there within the hour), but I love the look of a freshly made bed with sheets tucked tightly, pillows fluffed, and a perfectly smooth comforter. It truly makes the room! We’ve made it a habit of making the bed first thing every morning, and it’s my favorite way to start out the day on a productive note.
The best part about making the bed is when it comes time to settle back in after a long day’s work. There’s nothing like pulling back the crisp layers of blankets & sheets and sliding into that inviting pocket of coziness. I’ve tried many different types of sheets over the years - sateen, jersey knit, percale. Unsurprisingly, my favorites always have the same thing in common: they’re natural!
Sheets made of breathable, organic materials like cotton, linen, & silk are not only more comfortable, but healthier too. Sleep is an essential time for our bodies to rest and recover, and when we cuddle up into synthetic, chemical-treated bedding, our bodies are forced to expend precious energy all night long in order to process toxins instead (yikes!). Thankfully, there are plenty of natural bedding options available at both affordable & luxurious price points.
Ideally, a nontoxic bedroom would feature a natural bed frame, headboard, and mattress. We’re still working on making this switch in our home, but in the meantime we’ve made some simple updates such as investing in organic sheets, cotton blankets & natural pillows to make our bedroom a more restful, nourishing space. I’ll be sharing a few of my favorites below!
Organic sheet sets
Oh to be living in the year 2022, where organic sheets are available at mostly any place you shop! I’m so encouraged to see companies (even the big brands) promoting healthier, more sustainable bedding options. Organic bedding is the better choice not only because of its nontoxic properties, but it also makes a great long-term investment.
Since organic sheets aren’t treated with synthetic chemicals, their fibers remain more durable and last longer than those of conventional cotton. This means more years of comfy, beautiful sheets. Yay! More importantly, the manufacturing of organic cotton is cleaner for the planet as well as every person involved in the chain of production along the way (including us consumers).
I’m a fan of crisp, cool bedding so percale is my go-to sheet of choice. But, I also have my eye on the beautiful, luxurious linen sheets that I’ve been seeing all over social media. When I’m looking for sheets, I check that they’re made of 100% organic materials, have a thread count of at least 200, and are manufactured at a trustworthy facility (look for the fair trade certification). I’ve noticed that most upscale, splurge-worthy sheets are imported from India & Turkey (known for their quality, organic crops). Listing a few of my favorites below!
Organic duvet cover
For all the same reasons that organic sheets are the best choice, a natural, organic duvet cover is essential to a nontoxic bedroom. We share our bed with a 115 lb labrador retriever, so our duvet is an absolute necessity. I love how simple it is to wash the covers weekly to give our bed a total refresh. We swap between 2 different duvets: one organic percale cotton, and the other European flax linen.
I tend to be a minimalist, so opt for white covers that work all year round. However, I’m always drooling over the seasonal, earthy tones put out by luxury brands like Parachute & The Citizenry. If you’re like me and aren’t quite ready to commit to a collection of seasonal duvet covers, then a simple neutral like white or light grey makes for a timeless investment.
Organic bed blankets & throws
If you have a dog sleeping in your bed with you, then you know the importance of having an oversized bed blanket that you can easily wash and swap daily (because, shedding). And if you don’t - then you still might love to have a quilt or blanket at the foot of the bed to create a luxurious, layered look. When I learned that our polyester blankets were potentially releasing harmful chemicals into our home, I started to look for some more natural options.
A blanket made of any natural material (cotton, linen, etc.) is better than synthetic - but if possible, organic fabrics always makes the best choice. Blankets are something we use and wash all the time, so it’s truly a worthwhile investment to opt for natural blankets in order to prevent microplastic shedding in our laundry & our homes.
Natural comforter (duvet insert)
As I began to detox our bedroom, I was shocked to see how many items we owned that were made of synthetic materials. It’s common for cheaper comforters to be stuffed with toxic foams & backed by chemical fabrics. Sadly, I’ve seen expensive brands guilty of this as well!
When looking for a healthy comforter, it’s important to look at both the exterior shell & the interior elements. Keep an eye out for a 100% natural exterior (organic if possible), and stay away from synthetic fillers. The best options are the classic down or cotton filled comforters, but I’ve recently seen other great options such as wool & alpaca filled duvets.
Natural pillows
Lastly, the pillows. And if you’re like my husband, you might be breathing into them all night long (I still don’t understand how he sleeps like that). It is definitely worthwhile to invest in healthy, natural pillows. Even decorative pillows could be releasing toxins into your bedroom if they’re made of harmful, synthetic materials.
I look for pillows that are made of a 100% natural exterior and filled with all natural stuffing. A few options could be down-filled, latex-filled, and even kapok-filled (this is plant fiber). I recently bought our baby’s first ever toddler pillow (so cute!) and it’s filled with organic wool. The great news is, there are plenty of natural, healthy options out there.
*More Affordable Options
These options aren’t organic and their country of origin isn’t as clearly posted, but they make great choices for those on a budget.
If you’re new in your nontoxic journey, I would suggest that one of the first places to start would be the bedroom. As cliché as it may sound, we spend about 1/3 of our lives in our beds! (maybe more like 1/4 for us new parents out there). Creating a healthier bedroom can help give our bodies more of the essential rest that we need.
Thankfully, there are plenty of quality, natural bedding options out there, & although it will be an investment - these are simple swaps that will have an immediate impact on our health and the health of our families. Most importantly, I encourage you to walk closely with God every day and ask him for guidance and wisdom as you continue to cultivate a healthy home for you & your loved ones. Sweet dreams, friends!
til next time,
Becks