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Brooklinen has risen to the top of the affordable luxury bedding industry—a long way from its Kickstarter roots in 2014, when the company was founded by Vicki and Rich Fulop. The bedding brand focuses on responsible manufacturing using quality premium materials at “accessible” prices. It started as a web-exclusive brand focused on affordable luxury sheets but now includes other soft textiles—bedding, bath, apparel, and home goods—available both online and in Brooklinen brick-and-mortar stores.
Despite the line’s expansion, the company remains best known for its sheets. In addition to the original cotton set, they now offer sheets made from linen, flannel, and a cashmere/cotton blend. I gave Brooklinen’s best-selling version, the Luxe Sateen sheets, a try for 2 weeks to experience their quality and comfort for myself. The sheets weren’t quite what I expected, but I’ll readily admit that they did my sleep a world of good by balancing quality and breathability with comfort and drape. Keep reading to get an in-depth look at how the brand’s top seller performed in my tests.
Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Sheets Review, at a Glance
Rating: 9/10
PROS
- Sateen fabric strikes an excellent balance between lightweight breathability and comforting drape
- The feel of the sheets is similar to percale, a material known for its cool crispness
- Fitted sheet fits a 12-inch mattress without shifting while still leaving room in the pocket for a taller mattress
CONS
- Sheets have a bit of an odor and stiffness right out of the package, which disappeared with the first wash
- Fabric wrinkles easily, and wrinkles are difficult to get out
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What are Brooklinen sheets?
Brooklinen’s Luxe Sateen Core sheet set includes one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. The sheets come in six sizes (twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and Cali king), five standard colors and patterns, and eight limited-edition colors and patterns. The brand also offers the set as part of a “Hardcore” bundle paired with a luxe sateen duvet cover and two additional pillowcases. If you’re upgrading all of your bedding, Brooklinen’s bundles will save you some cash.
A sateen weave, like that of the Luxe Sateen set, has a one-yarn-under/three-to-four-yarns-over design. It gives the fabric a slight sheen and more drape than lighter percale weaves, which have a one-over/one-under design. Percale sheets are crisp, and the additional space between their yarns creates an especially breathable sheet. Sateen’s tighter, heavier weave typically retains more heat and is thus favored in colder climates. Brooklinen’s sateen sheets are indeed heavier than a percale set due to their weave. However, they bring the crispness and impressive breathability usually reserved for percales.
A few other specs worth noting include the thread count and third-party certification. Thread count refers to how many threads are in a square inch, and the Luxe has 480. That’s heading toward a high thread count, though far from the highest. Higher thread counts typically mean more softness and better durability. Don’t get too caught up on thread count—there are ways for manufacturers to bolster the numbers to make the sheets look more luxurious than they are. In this case, the 480 count gives the sheets a dense but not overly heavy feel. The Brooklinen Luxe Sateen sheets are also Oeko-Tex certified, which means a neutral third party tested them and found them free of a long list of harmful chemicals.
How well do Brooklinen sheets fit a standard mattress?
A few things before I jump into the fit of the sheets. Upon opening, the Luxe Sateen sheets had a bit of an odor and stiffness, which is normal for most bedding. Wash the sheets (just as you would any new sheets) before the first use to remove any odors or stiffness. Once I washed the Brooklinen sheets, these issues were gone. Washing cotton sheets before use is also a good idea for getting any shrinking out of the way.
Most mattresses are between 12 and 15 inches deep, and mine is a 12-inch queen. The Luxe Sateen sheets have a 16-inch pocket, which worked beautifully with my mattress and should work similarly for any mattress up to 16 inches high. Strong elastic pulled the pocket tight and kept it in place while I slept. I had no problems with the corners coming untucked, even after a restless night.
The pillowcases have an inner flap to encase a standard queen-size pillow completely. They stayed on and kept the pillows covered in cool and comfortable sateen.
How do you wash Brooklinen sheets?
The Luxe Sateen sheets from Brooklinen wash beautifully. Simply machine wash in cold water, dry on low, and remove promptly to prevent wrinkles. I washed them four times, and they felt as thick and soft as when I first opened them. There wasn’t any significant shrinking, and they didn’t pill.
However, wrinkles were more of an issue. Truthfully, wrinkles were about the only issue I had with these sheets. I expect wrinkles with cotton sheets, especially those with a crisper fabric like these. But these wrinkles were closer to that of a percale than a drapey sateen. That’s one reason Brooklinen suggests removing them from the dryer immediately. If you don’t, the sheets will hold those wrinkles until the next wash (unless ironed). That’s also something to remember if you buy the Brooklinen Luxe Sateen duvet cover—it will wrinkle like the sheets.
How comfortable are Brooklinen sheets?
I truly enjoyed these sheets for their blend of drape and breathability. They have a slight sheen of sateen with a heavier drape than percale. Yet they still have the cool breathability percale is known for—almost like temperature-regulating sheets for hot sleepers. When nighttime temperatures were low, they kept me comfortably warm, even though I typically get overheated at night.
I’ve been using flannel sheets over the winter, and the Luxe Sateen sheets felt so much lighter that I was worried I would get cold. There was no need to fear. Despite nighttime bedroom temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s Fahrenheit (outside temps in the high 20s and low 30s), they kept me comfortably warm but didn’t trap heat and interrupt my sleep.
The drape was enough that I felt the sheets falling over my body, but they weren’t so heavy that I got caught in them when rolling over. I can’t stress enough how great the balance between drape and breathability is with these sheets. They truly strike the perfect note for people who like to feel a sheet gently hugging the body but get overheated if there’s too much heat retention.
Keep in mind that when I say they hug the body, I mean a gentle hug rather than one that flows over every curve of the body. I’ve used Coyuchi’s Sateen sheets before, and they have a buttery soft drape and more weight and sheen than Brooklinen’s sheets. They also retain more heat and cost nearly $100 more. If I were investing in one of the two, I’d lean toward Brooklinen’s Luxe Sateen to get more bang and seasons for my buck.
How long do Brooklinen sheets last?
Brooklinen focuses on quality, which the brand nails with the Luxe Sateen sheets. They’re made of 100 percent long-staple cotton fabric, which creates a stronger, softer fabric that’s more durable than short-staple cotton. A staple is a name for the individual cotton fibers, and the long staple used in these cotton sheets is what gives them their lasting strength.
In my tests, I gave the corner seams a good pull and once-over. They’re well-sewn and strong, reducing the chances of a burst seam down the road. The Brooklinen sheets held up well during washing, and I expect them to last at least a few years.
Are Brooklinen sheets worth the money?
The Brooklinen Luxe Sateen sheets are more affordable than the typical $800 price tag that luxury sateen sheets often go for. For many people, they’re still an investment. However, I think they’re an investment worth making.
They’re the perfect weight and breathability for year-round use. There could be exceptions for those living in an extremely hot or cold climate, but a set like this will comfortably see most people through all four seasons, thus saving them money in the long run.
They hold their shape and stitching, washing well without pilling, which reduces the likelihood they’ll need to be replaced after only a year or two of use. The price also reflects the third-party Oeko-Tex certification verifying that the sheets are free of potentially harmful chemicals.
If the price still feels a little steep, watch for one of Brooklinen’s big sales, when these sheets might get discounted by $30 to $40.
Should you buy Brooklinen sheets?
Bedding comfort preferences vary from person to person, with the best bed sheets providing the right feel, breathability, and warmth for individual needs. Some people like a heavy sheet, while others barely want to feel them. The Brooklinen Luxe Sateen sheets are a good option for those who want a year-round sheet set. They fill a gap between a lightweight summer percale and a heavier winter sateen or flannel sheet. They’re not exactly buttery soft, but they do bring soothing weight, cooling crispness, and impressive breathability. They also come with a third-party certification and a wide selection of colors and patterns to fit different design preferences.
These sheets aren’t cheap, but, as Brooklinen claims, they are accessible and run at a lower price than sheets of similar quality. After trying these sheets for 2 weeks, I see why they’re a best seller. They let me sleep comfortably despite fluctuating temperatures during the change in seasons. In fact, I forgot about the sheets and simply enjoyed getting a good night’s rest.
For those who want to skip seasonal sheets, the Luxe Sateen sheets fill the bill without blowing the budget out of the water.
Where to Buy the Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Sheet Set
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Meet the Tester
Stacey L. Nash is a writer and product tester for BobVila.com and The Spruce, and her background is in home and garden products. She’s researched and tested home products for more than 5 years and specifically products for the sleep industry for over 18 months. She tests everything from mattresses to bedding and also writes about the conditions that contribute to healthy sleep. Stacey takes an honest, no-nonsense approach to testing and emphasizes the features that help or hinder healthy sleep.