I thought white bed sheets were boring – until I saw how Leanne Ford styled them in this beautifully rustic guest bedroom

The simplicity of this textural look may have converted me to white bedding

leanne ford for crate and barrel
(Image credit: Crate & Barrel)

Confession: I've never been someone who uses white bedding. Even as someone who loves neutral spaces, a plain white bedsheet has always felt really rather boring and verging on sterile.

So, I was surprised to find myself drawn to the guest bedroom in designer Leanne Ford's rustic project. Not only does it feature a white duvet cover and white pillow cases, but even the headboard is covered in white fabric. It's a linen-drenched bedding setup.

Usually, this look would repel me, but this linen-drenched bed design is a lesson in getting it right. It turns out, making white bedding look chic is all about texture – and Leanne's design has it in abundance.

All-white bedding sort of goes against all of this year's interior design trends. Pattern, print, and color are at the forefront of trending styles this year – even a neutral decorator like me is gravitating towards bedding that's a bit more interesting.

But Leanne's latest project makes a compelling case for white bed sheets. She's drenched the entire bed in linen – and the matching headboard is something new and unexpected that really elevates the whole design.

And the reason it works so well? It's the texture – it adds visual interest that prevents the bed from feeling flat and unfinished. It takes away the need to add pattern or contrasting pillows – the linen's naturally imperfect finish does all the work.

The white bedding feels light and airy, reminiscent of summer days, with that sort of ruffled texture that gives the scheme an unfussy yet still beautifully curated look. But it's not the bedding alone to credit for this chic scheme.

The narrow wall panels add a lot of texture to the room, which feels busier than the standard shiplap, so the plain white look of the bedding becomes a calmer, more simplistic element to add balance to the bedroom.

There's also the contrast of the decor – the vintage wall light and the oversized, brown-tone abstract artwork add warmth and tonal interest, so the bedding doesn't have to do all of the heavy lifting.

I think this room is a reminder that not every element needs to be a bold, busy design. It's also a lesson in how to get white bedding right – using a beautifully textured fabric like linen and introducing that unexpected headboard moment has really worked. It adds the impact and wow-factor every bedroom needs without overwhelming.

Shop the look


Leanne's guest bedroom design has convinced me to give textured white bedding a go for a relaxed yet sophisticated summer bedroom. I've never tried linen sheets before, but heard good things; they're breathable, temperature-regulating, and hypoallergenic, everything you need during the warmer months. And if this space is anything to go by, it looks stylish too.

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Molly Malsom
Kitchens & Bathrooms Editor

I’ve worked in the interiors magazine industry for the past five years and joined Homes & Gardens at the beginning of 2024 as the Kitchens & Bathrooms editor. While I love every part of interior design, kitchens and bathrooms are some of the most exciting to design, conceptualize, and write about. There are so many trends, materials, colors, and playful decor elements to explore and experiment with.

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