
Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets
These sheets are buttery-smooth, 480-thread-count bedding, rated best overall by Good Housekeeping
Buy on AmazonBrooklinen has become a leader in the affordable luxury bedding industry since its founding in 2014 by Vicki and Rich Fulop through a Kickstarter campaign. The company emphasizes responsible manufacturing with premium materials at accessible prices. Initially launched as a web-exclusive brand specializing in luxury sheets, Brooklinen has expanded to offer a range of soft textiles, including bedding, bath, apparel, and home goods, available both online and in physical stores.
While the product line has grown, Brooklinen remains most recognized for its sheets, which now include options made from cotton, linen, flannel, and a cashmere/cotton blend. This review focuses on the brand’s best-selling Luxe Sateen sheets, evaluating their quality, comfort, breathability, and drape based on a two-week trial. Read on for a detailed analysis of how these sheets performed.
Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets Overview
Pros
- The sateen fabric effectively balances lightweight breathability with a comforting drape.
- The sheets feel similar to percale, a material recognized for its cool, crisp texture.
- The fitted sheet securely fits a 12-inch mattress without shifting and has enough pocket depth to accommodate a taller mattress.
Cons
- The sheets initially have a slight odor and stiffness when unpacked, though this resolves after the first wash.
- The fabric wrinkles easily, and the wrinkles are challenging to remove.
What are Brooklinen sheets?
Brooklinen’s Luxury Sateen Sheets Core set includes one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. The sheets are available in six sizes (twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California 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, which includes a Luxury Sateen duvet cover and two additional pillowcases. For those upgrading their entire bedding collection, Brooklinen’s bundles provide cost savings.
The Luxury Sateen Sheets feature a sateen weave with a one-yarn-under/three-to-four-yarns-over design. This structure gives the fabric a subtle sheen and greater drape compared to lighter percale weaves, which use a one-over/one-under pattern. Percale sheets are known for their crispness and enhanced breathability due to the spacing between yarns. In contrast, sateen’s tighter, heavier weave typically retains more heat, making it popular in colder climates. While Brooklinen’s Luxury Sateen Sheets are heavier than percale due to their weave, they still offer the crispness and notable breathability typically associated with percale.
Additional specifications worth mentioning include the thread count and third-party certification. The Luxury Sateen Sheets have a thread count of 480, which is relatively high but not the maximum. Higher thread counts generally indicate increased softness and durability, though the number alone isn’t a definitive measure of quality, as manufacturers can inflate counts to suggest greater luxury. Here, the 480 thread count results in a dense yet not overly heavy feel. The Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets are also Oeko-Tex certified, meaning a neutral third party has tested them and confirmed they are free from a wide range of harmful chemicals.
How well do Brooklinen sheets fit a standard mattress?
Before addressing the fit, a few observations about the Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets. When first unpackaged, the sheets exhibited a slight odor and stiffness, a common trait in new bedding. Washing them prior to use, as is recommended for any new sheets, eliminated these characteristics. For cotton sheets like these, an initial wash also helps address any potential shrinking.
Most mattresses range from 12 to 15 inches in depth, and the one tested here is a 12-inch queen. The Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets feature a 16-inch pocket, which fit the mattress seamlessly and should accommodate any mattress up to 16 inches tall. The fitted sheet’s strong elastic ensured a snug fit, keeping it secure throughout the night. Even after restless movement, the corners remained in place.
The pillowcases include an inner flap that fully encloses a standard queen-size pillow. They stayed on consistently, maintaining coverage and providing a cool, comfortable sateen finish.
How do you wash Brooklinen sheets?
The Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets wash effectively. They can be machine washed in cold water, dried on a low setting, and removed promptly to minimize wrinkles. After four washes, the sheets retained their initial thickness and softness, showing no significant shrinkage or pilling.
Wrinkles, however, were a noticeable concern. Cotton sheets, particularly those with a crisper texture like these, are prone to wrinkling, but the wrinkles in these sheets resembled those of percale more than a typical drapey sateen. Brooklinen recommends removing them from the dryer immediately to prevent set-in wrinkles, which can persist until the next wash unless ironed. This wrinkling tendency also applies to the Brooklinen Luxury Sateen duvet cover, which mirrors the sheets’ behavior.
How comfortable are Brooklinen sheets?
The Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets stand out for their combination of drape and breathability. They feature the subtle sheen of sateen and a heavier drape than percale, while still delivering the cool breathability typically associated with percale, making them suitable for hot sleepers seeking temperature regulation. During colder nights, they provided sufficient warmth without causing overheating, even for someone prone to getting too warm while sleeping.
After using flannel sheets through the winter, the lighter feel of the Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets initially raised concerns about staying warm. However, with bedroom temperatures ranging from the upper 50s to low 60s Fahrenheit (and outdoor temperatures between the high 20s and low 30s), the sheets maintained comfortable warmth without trapping excess heat or disrupting sleep.
The drape of these sheets is noticeable, offering a gentle coverage over the body without feeling overly heavy or restrictive during movement. Their balance of drape and breathability is exceptional, making them an excellent choice for those who prefer a sheet that lightly contours the body without excessive heat retention. This “hug” is subtle, not tightly conforming to every curve.
In comparison, Coyuchi’s Sateen sheets offer a buttery soft drape, greater weight, and more sheen, but they retain more heat and come with a price tag nearly $100 higher. Between the two, the Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets provide better value and versatility across seasons.
How long do Brooklinen sheets last?
Brooklinen emphasizes quality in its Luxury Sateen Sheets, crafted from 100 percent long-staple cotton fabric. This material, composed of longer cotton fibers, results in a stronger, softer, and more durable fabric compared to short-staple cotton. The long-staple cotton enhances the sheets’ durability and lasting strength.
During testing, the corner seams were inspected and tugged firmly. They proved to be well-constructed and sturdy, minimizing the risk of seam failure over time. The Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets also performed well through multiple washes, suggesting they are likely to remain reliable for at least several years.
Are Brooklinen sheets worth the money?
The Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets are priced lower than the typical $800 cost of many luxury sateen sheets, though they still represent an investment for most buyers. Their value, however, justifies the expense.
With an ideal combination of weight and breathability, these sheets suit year-round use for most climates, potentially exceptions being extremely hot or cold regions. For the majority, they offer comfort across all four seasons, providing long-term savings by eliminating the need for seasonal bedding swaps.
The sheets maintain their shape and stitching integrity, washing well without pilling, which enhances their durability and reduces the need for replacement after just a year or two. The price also accounts for the Oeko-Tex certification, a third-party verification ensuring the sheets are free of harmful chemicals.
Final Verdict
Bedding comfort preferences differ widely, with the best sheets offering the ideal mix of feel, breathability, and warmth tailored to individual needs. Some prefer heavier sheets, while others favor a barely-there sensation. The Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets cater to those seeking a versatile, year-round option. They bridge the gap between lightweight summer percale and heavier winter sateen or flannel sheets. Though not buttery soft, they provide a comforting weight, cooling crispness, and excellent breathability. Additionally, they feature third-party Oeko-Tex certification and a broad range of colors and patterns to suit various design tastes.
While not inexpensive, these sheets align with Brooklinen’s claim of accessibility, priced below comparable high-quality alternatives. After a two-week trial, their status as a best seller became clear. They ensured comfortable sleep amid shifting seasonal temperatures, allowing the focus to shift from the sheets themselves to simply enjoying restful nights.
For those looking to avoid seasonal bedding changes, the Brooklinen Luxury Sateen Sheets offer a practical solution without an exorbitant cost.