West Elm offers modern, design-forward sheets with a strong emphasis on sustainability and Certified Fair Trade materials, appealing to shoppers who want their bedding to be both stylish and ethically sourced. In contrast, Brooklinen is a direct-to-consumer brand focused on delivering premium-quality, exceptionally soft sheets at a more accessible price point, prioritizing comfort and value over specific design trends.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right bedding brand for your home.
West Elm: The Modern, Sustainable Bedding Choice
West Elm, part of the Williams-Sonoma family, is a home furnishings retailer known for its contemporary aesthetic and commitment to sustainability. Their bedding collection reflects this, offering clean, modern designs crafted from eco-conscious materials like organic cotton and linen. West Elm is the go-to for design-savvy consumers who want their sheets to seamlessly coordinate with a modern interior while supporting ethical manufacturing.
- Product mix: Complete home furnishings, with bedding collections that include sheets, duvet covers, quilts, and blankets designed to complement their furniture and decor.
- Style/vibe: Modern, minimalist, and sometimes bohemian. Expect subtle patterns, neutral color palettes, clean lines, and a focus on texture.
- Price point: Mid-range, with sheet sets typically ranging from $60 to $150. Frequent sales, especially around holidays, can offer significant savings.
- Quality & Materials: Known for high-quality natural fibers, including organic cotton, European flax linen, and TENCEL™. Many products are Fair Trade Certified, ensuring ethical production.
- Sustainability: This is a major selling point. West Elm is a leader in sustainable sourcing, using GOTS-certified organic cotton and promoting fair labor practices.
- Shopping Experience: Omnichannel. You can shop online or visit one of their many physical stores to feel the fabrics in person before you buy.
- Return policy: Most items can be returned within 30 days of purchase for a refund. Some exceptions may apply to specific bedding items for hygiene reasons.
West Elm is ideal for shoppers who prioritize contemporary style and sustainability and appreciate the ability to coordinate their bedding with a wider range of home decor.
Shop West Elm: westelm.com
Brooklinen: The Direct-to-Consumer Comfort Specialist
Brooklinen has built its reputation on a simple premise: luxury-quality bedding without the luxury price tag. As a direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand, they cut out the middleman to offer premium sheets known for their exceptional softness, durability, and classic style. They focus intensely on the user experience, from the materials they use to their straightforward online shopping process and customer-friendly policies.
- Product mix: Primary focus is on bed and bath textiles. They offer a famous lineup of sheets in various materials like Classic Percale, Luxe Sateen, and Washed Linen.
- Style/vibe: Timeless and versatile. The aesthetic is clean and classic, leaning into an expansive palette of solid colors and simple, subtle patterns that can fit into any bedroom decor.
- Price point: Upper-mid-range, with core sheet sets priced from approximately $89 to $169. They offer bundle deals and promotions that provide excellent value.
- Quality & Materials: Their signature is long-staple cotton, which results in stronger, finer, and softer threads. This commitment to high-quality raw materials makes their sheets exceptionally soft and durable.
- Fit & Sizing: A comprehensive range of sizes is available, from Twin to California King, including less common sizes like Split King to accommodate adjustable beds.
- Shopping Experience: Exclusively online. Their website is easy to navigate, with detailed product information, thousands of customer reviews, and a simple checkout process.
- Return policy: Very generous 365-day return and exchange policy, even on used products, which showcases their confidence in their quality.
Brooklinen is the perfect choice for consumers whose top priority is unparalleled softness, durability, and a hassle-free online shopping experience.
Shop Brooklinen: brooklinen.com
West Elm vs. Brooklinen Comparison
Price Comparison
On the surface, both brands operate in a similar mid-range market, but their pricing strategies differ. West Elm sheet sets start lower, often around $60, but can climb to $150 or more. Their value improves significantly during one of their frequent 20-30% off sales events.
Brooklinen's starting price is higher, typically around $89 for their Classic Percale set, climbing to $169+. However, their price-to-quality ratio is often considered better because you're getting premium long-staple cotton at a price that still undercuts traditional luxury brands. Bundles and seasonal discounts help make Brooklinen even more competitive.
Style & Aesthetic
This is a key differentiator. West Elm is trend-driven, offering modern and minimalist designs, textured fabrics, and subtle patterns that align with current interior design styles. Their bedding is designed to be part of a larger, coordinated modern home look. This is perfect if you want a curated, stylish bedroom.
Brooklinen focuses on timeless, versatile style. Their collection is dominated by a wide array of solid colors - from classic neutrals to sophisticated jewel tones - and a few simple patterns like pinstripes. Their aesthetic is less about making a design statement and more about providing a classic, comfortable foundation that works with any decor.
Quality & Materials
Both brands deliver high-quality products, but their focuses diverge. West Elm emphasizes the source of its materials, with a lean towards organic and Fair Trade Certified cotton and natural flax linen. Their sheets are durable and well-made, with a crisp, modern feel.
Brooklinen's reputation is built on the feel of its materials, specifically long-staple cotton used in their Luxe Sateen and Classic Percale sheets. This type of cotton creates a softer, smoother, and more durable fabric. Many users report that Brooklinen sheets feel more luxurious and get softer with every wash.
Fit & Sizing
Both brands offer reliable sizing for standard beds (Twin, Full, Queen, King, Cal King). West Elm provides sufficient options for most shoppers. However, Brooklinen goes a step further, offering more comprehensive sizing, including "Split King" sets for adjustable mattress bases - a huge plus for anyone with that specific need.
Shopping Experience
Your preference here will depend on how you like to shop. West Elm offers an omnichannel approach. You can visit a physical store to see and feel the sheets before committing, or you can order online. This is ideal for tactile shoppers who want to interact with products directly.
Brooklinen's streamlined, online-only model is designed for convenience. Their website is user-friendly and packed with helpful reviews. The experience is enhanced by their responsive customer service and an industry-leading return policy, removing most of the risk from buying online.
Sustainability & Ethics
West Elm makes sustainability a core part of its brand identity. It prominently features Fair Trade Certified™ labels, highlighting a commitment to fair wages and safe working conditions. They are also one of the largest purveyors of GOTS-certified organic cotton textiles, making them a clear winner for the eco-conscious shopper.
Brooklinen practices responsible sourcing and uses eco-friendly dyes, but sustainable certifications are not as central to their marketing. They maintain transparency in their supply chain and are committed to ethical production, but West Elm's dedicated programs and certifications are more prominent.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice comes down to whether you prioritize modern style and ethics or pure comfort and online convenience.
Choose West Elm if:
- You're decorating a modern, contemporary, or minimalist bedroom.
- Ethical sourcing and sustainability certifications like Organic and Fair Trade are very important to you.
- You want to see and feel the sheets in a physical store before making a purchase.
- You are buying other home goods and want your bedding to coordinate perfectly.
Choose Brooklinen if:
- Tangible softness and a long-lasting, luxurious feel are your absolute top priorities.
- You are looking for the absolute best price-to-quality ratio in premium bedding.
- You appreciate an easy online shopping process with a very generous, risk-free return policy.
- You own an adjustable or split king mattress and need specific sizing options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Elm or Brooklinen cheaper?
West Elm's entry-level sheets can be cheaper, especially during a sale, with prices sometimes starting around $60. However, Brooklinen often represents better overall value, offering premium long-staple cotton in their core sets that rival more expensive luxury brands.
Which has better quality furniture?
While this article focuses on sheets, West Elm is primarily a home furnishings brand with a full range of stylish furniture. Brooklinen specializes exclusively in bed and bath textiles and does not sell furniture.
Which sheets are softer, West Elm or Brooklinen?
Most users agree that Brooklinen sheets, particularly their Luxe Sateen collection made with long-staple cotton, are softer and have a more luxurious feel straight out of the box. West Elm sheets are high quality, but Brooklinen's core mission is centered on exceptional softness.
Does West Elm or Brooklinen have a better return policy?
Brooklinen has a superior return policy, offering a 365-day "any reason" window for returns or exchanges, even if the sheets have been used and washed. West Elm offers a more standard 30-day return period for most items.
Which brand is better for hot sleepers?
Both brands offer excellent options for hot sleepers. Brooklinen's Classic Percale and Washed Linen sheets are highly breathable and crisp. Similarly, West Elm's organic cotton percale and European flax linen collections are great choices for promoting airflow and staying cool.
What is West Elm known for in bedding?
West Elm is known for its modern designs, textured looks (like crinkle velvet or waffle weaves), and a strong commitment to sustainable and ethically sourced materials like organic and Fair Trade Certified™ cotton.
What makes Brooklinen sheets so popular?
Brooklinen sheets are popular because they deliver the luxurious feel of high-end hotel bedding at a much more accessible price point. Their use of long-staple cotton, a focus on softness and durability, and a customer-friendly online model have earned them a loyal following.
Where can I buy West Elm and Brooklinen sheets?
You can buy West Elm sheets on their website or in their physical retail stores across the country. Brooklinen sheets are sold exclusively through their official website, brooklinen.com.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
