My only gripe with the plush version is that it doesn’t have straps (the regular one does, but I haven’t tested that). Although it doesn’t come off—it stays in place, thanks to the cotton cover—the corners sometimes get bunched up when you change the sheets and need to be adjusted.
Best Bedding
It doesn’t really make sense to spend $1,000 on an organic mattress, then buy non-organic sheets that will rest directly on your skin. Here are some of our favorite organic sheets to top off your organic mattress. For more options, check out our Best Sheets, Best Cooling Sheets, Best Bamboo Sheets, and Best Linen Sheets guides. All prices listed here are for queen sizes unless otherwise noted.
Soft Cotton Sheets
These are the best organic cotton sheets I have tested. They’re soft, but not overly sticky, which is a feeling I don’t mind (if you do, check out the avocado slices below). Brooklinen cotton sheets are made from GOTS-certified organic cotton. They are also Oeko-Tex certified, meaning they have been tested and do not contain any known toxic chemicals. The 300 thread count makes this blanket shiny and soft but not so stiff that you end up sleeping hot. These are a great choice for summer or if, like me, you sleep on the warm side even in winter.
For a Silky Feel
These 600-count sheets are like sleeping on silk or satin. Somehow they are actually 100 percent GOTS certified organic cotton from India. The only potential problem here is that, because they are a dense weave, they sleep warmer than you are used to. Avocado also has a 400 count version that I haven’t tested, but that might be a better choice for sleepers.
Soft, Cool Hotel Style Sheets
I first tested the Antipodean wool duvet (see the next section), which I loved, but recently I started sleeping on these sheets and I’m confident enough to say that they are very good. They remind me of the sheets you’d find in high-end hotels – crisp, soft, clean white sheets. Like any organic cotton sheets here, these are naturally hypoallergenic. They are made of ultrafine, long-lasting natural cotton, with a weave on the heavier side that gives them less weight. Everything Antipodean makes is sustainably grown on low-impact farms that use regenerative farming methods. These are also breathable. I haven’t slept with them in real heat yet, but so far they’ve been comfortable at night when the only thing I needed to sleep on was a sheet.
Linen Sheets
Organic linen sheets can be purchased heirloom-high-quality, well-maintained linen will last for years, if not decades. That said, if you’re used to counting 600 cotton as the sheets above, linen sheets are, well, different. They are durable, although gentle on all washes (cold water, soft wash, cool or dry). What doesn’t change is their weight. If you like heavy covers, these are the sheets for you. Linen is also more breathable and cooler than other fabrics, making it a good choice for hot sleepers. It’s tough too. Avocado natural linen sheets are some of the hardest I’ve tried and will last for years. A bottom sheet is included (sometimes flat linen sheet sets), and there’s a matching duvet cover ($439).
The Best Wool Duvet
To complete your collection of bedding you need a beautiful natural duvet. My favorite that I tested is Antipodean’s organic merino wool duvet. As one of the authors of our merino wool guide, I was well-read to love the Antipodean wool duvet, but I was surprised by how much I love it. Like most wool items, the Antipodean wool duvet is capable of doing amazing things that sound too good to be true, like keeping you warm, but breathable enough that you rarely get too hot. (I’m a hot person, and I can attest to this.) Wool is able to do this because it’s what’s known as a reactive fiber—that is, it responds to changes in your body temperature and the environment just as it does when it insulates and warms and cools a sheep. The result is a duvet that has given me the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had. One thing to note, this duvet is heavier than most people will be used to. I don’t mind, but sometimes it feels like a weighted blanket.
Organic Pillows
We have a complete guide to pillows, but we’ll be adding some organic choices here, because if you’re trying to avoid phthalates and other chemicals, your pillow is just as important as your mattress.
A top natural choice in our pillow guide, the best part about the Green Avocado Pillow is that it’s easy to adjust. For example, I hate soft pillows; I like pillows that are almost flat. So I just unzipped the avocado pillow, took out half of the stuffing (my kids used it to make sock puppets), and I finally had the pillow of my dreams. My son, who likes a very full pillow, took some of the extra avocado stuffing and filled his pillow. Everyone wins. The filling here is GOLS-certified organic latex and GOTS-certified organic kapok. The cotton blend cover is nice and soft and not too hot. I’ve had mine for four years now and it’s as good as the day I got it.
How We Tested and What to Look for in an Organic Mattress
Mattresses are big, and checking them takes up time and space. Members of the WIRED Gear team have been testing mattresses for years, and we’ve slept on every mattress on this list for at least a few weeks, often longer—in many cases, years more. That said, there is no way we can test them all. Here are a few general tips, tricks, and things to look for when shopping for an organic mattress online.
- Know Your Sleep Type: Different mattresses are designed for different sleeping styles. Are you a side sleeper? Stomach sleeper? Back sleeper? Or are you like me, a little bit of everything (they call it co-sleeping)? Knowing the answer to this question can help narrow down your search to a mattress that’s right for your sleeping habits. This is where mattress reviews like ours come in handy; we test all types of sleep.
- Do You Like Hard, Soft, Medium? Mattresses come in different firmness options, often within the same model. Whichever is right for you depends on what fitness you enjoy, and any problems you may have, such as back pain.
- Innerspring vs. Foam: Natural mattresses come in two basic forms: the traditional innerspring coil design and pure foam. We primarily tested and recommended the innerspring in this guide, although pure foam designs have improved in recent years, and we’re in the process of testing a few now. The biggest difference in my experience is the amount of heat retained by the foam. It’s a good choice for cold sleepers, and hot sleepers are better off with a pocket-sized coil design.
- Check out the Trial Period: Everyone makes mistakes; to avoid living with a possible mistake, make sure the mattress you’re considering offers a sleep test. Everything listed here offers some kind of sleep trial after which, if you’re not happy, you can return the mattress.
- More Expensive Doesn’t Mean Better: Organic mattresses aren’t cheap, but there’s no reason to spend a fortune just to get a good, eco-friendly night’s sleep.
- Check the Warranty: Lifetime warranties are rare these days, but most mattresses we’ve tested offer around 25-year warranties. Some companies go up to 10 years, but watch those with suspicion. A good mattress should last more than 10 years, and good companies are willing to stand behind their products for a long time.
- Expect Auction: Mattresses go on sale all the time, usually every few months for most companies. Unless you need a new mattress right now, you’re probably better off waiting for the next big sale.
What Makes a Mattress Organic?
To help you make sense of the often confusing world of natural mattresses, here are some terms and certifications you should know.
The big name in organic certification, and organic cotton certification is the Global Organic Textile Standard, often abbreviated as GOTS. It looks not only at how cotton is grown and processed but also at environmental and social standards, and uses third parties to independently verify that standards are being met. If you want to know, you can read the 6th standard version online.
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