Bedding as a Gift – A Guide

Short answer: Bedding is a good present if you know the measurement of the recipient's duvet. If you do not, a dressing gown or a towel is the safe choice, because a set in the wrong size cannot be used and has to be exchanged straight away.

Find the measurement first

There are two common sizes for a single duvet: 140x200 and 140x220 centimetres. If you cannot ask without giving the present away, look at the label in the set on the bed, where the size is almost always printed.

The colour you cannot get wrong

Grey, sand and dusty blue are the three colours that fit almost any bedroom. Strong colours and patterns are a personal choice, and they are hard to get right if you have never seen the room.

The set

The range of colours and qualities sits under bamboo bedding. A set with both a cover and pillowcases is the present most people can use, and it feels more considered than a single pillowcase does.

The dressing gown as an alternative

If you do not know the duvet's size, a dressing gown is the obvious choice, because the sizes are few and broad. See bamboo dressing gowns for women and bamboo dressing gowns for men, where small to large covers most people.

For Christmas

Bedding and dressing gowns are classic Christmas presents, because they are used all winter. See the rest of the ideas under Christmas gift ideas if several presents for several people are being found in one go.

The certificate as an argument

If the present is for someone with sensitive skin, a certified product is the reassuring choice. The items sit under OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified items and are tested for substances that can irritate skin.

What not to give

Avoid giving a single sheet, a single pillowcase or a set in a very personal colour. Those are presents that end up at the back of the cupboard, because they do not match anything the recipient already owns.

Include the receipt

Always include a gift receipt. Even with the right measurement, a colour can be wrong for a room you have never seen, and a receipt makes exchanging easy without anyone having to say anything about it.

The wrapping matters

Bedding often comes in a plastic bag, and that should be swapped for paper or a ribbon around the set. It takes two minutes and makes the difference between a present that looks bought and one that looks thought about.

Do not wash it first

A new set should be given as it comes. Do not wash it first in the belief that this helps, because then it cannot be exchanged and the recipient cannot see that it is new and unused. See also a better night's sleep.