Posted on: May 29, 2007
Fresh Linens for a 'Fairytale' Bedtime Story
Linens for the best-dressed beds strike a delicate balance between comfort and enchantment with deep, exotic colors, opulent fabrics, shiny sheens and distinctive textures
By Bev Bennett
CTW Features
Image courtesy The Absolut Sprits company’s Nordic-inspired Absolut Vanilla bedroom set.
Bed linens may be the one area of home furnishings that’s as susceptible to the whims of fashion as the clothing that hangs in your closet. Designers regularly update the colors and textures of sheets, comforters, pillows and coordinated accessories that textile companies bring to market twice a year.
One trend that continues to make a statement is opulence. Forget industrial, sleek, feminine or clean lines. Think lush, expensive fabrics, deep and exotic colors, interesting surfaces and extravagant layering. Imagine Scheherazade.
“Our three top sellers are the most opulent collections,” says Nancy Wilson, who works in product development for Arhaus, a Cleveland-based furniture and home accessory chain. For example, a collection called Silk Road uses hand-embroidered dupioni (silk) blend with cotton apparel-weight velvet in a duvet cover. Pillows are available in 14 different fabrics all embellished with beading, braids and tassels.
In the fabric the main story is different surfaces. Very shiny shown with very matte. Sheers, crinkles, metallics. Almost iridescent.
Yves Delorme, a French manufacturer and retailer of fine linens, has a line called Serail, inspired by Art Deco styles with fabrics in lush shades of chocolate, paprika and fawn. “We have fabrics in toile or sateen finishes, and pillows in all shapes and fabrics with embellishments,” says Virginia Peale, spokesperson.
Current colors also reflect a fascination with the East, with an emphasis on red, rust, teal, gold, plum and black, but with a twist. The red is a little more tomato-ey, the teal isn’t ’80s, but a stronger blue-green. The black is a rich black that doesn’t go blue or gray, according to Wilson.
“Consumers are looking for something original in their homes and are drawn to items where the imperfections become attributes because they evoke a feeling that they are one-of-a-kind,” Wilson. “We’re using silk, jacquard and chenille – a lot of texture. Our customers really respond to the textures.”
Linens producers are following the cues, developing bedspread and duvet covers with quilting, puckering or waffle weaves, says Dana Poor, spokesperson for Cotton Incorporated in New York City.
Layered bedding is another way to achieve textural and color interest. Just as apparel designers suggest matching separates, so do the creators of bed linens. And when it comes to beds, the more you can pile on the better.
“The larger the bedroom the more opportunity you have to include everything you want that fits your personal taste,” says Wilson.
According to Wilson, consumers want more pillows, more quilts, more shams. They’re turning to their homes and enjoying them more, especially the bedroom. They’re willing to put more money into bedding.
Statistics support her claim. Sales for the home textile industry have been increasing at six percent a year for the last decade, according to Poor. That’s greater than the four percent increase for apparel during the same time period.
“This has a lot to do with people wanting more fashionable homes,” she says. Decorating with bed linens, “people can make an impact without breaking the bank,” she adds.
Yet consumers are also incorporating what they have into new bedding styles and colors.
“People aren’t throwing out what they have. Instead they’re taking a nostalgic approach, keeping the family linens and quilts along with the new bedding. They’re personalizing their bedding so it looks a little different, not just off the shelf,” Poor says.
