Get Luxury Bedding on a Budget (I Tested These Affordable Options for 5 Months!)
We’re sharing how to get luxury bedding at an affordable cost with our tested picks!
You’ll be on cloud 9 with these finds. ☁️
Obsessing over luxury bedding you can’t stomach to pay for? Our budget-friendly alternatives will leave you and your wallet on cloud 9!
I’ve been testing our recommendations for 5 months (and counting!) and think these are the only bedding essentials you need…
Bedding is an item you can find at many retailers and as a Hip sidekick for nearly 5 years, I have tested LOTS of different bedding essentials. I was really excited when I got to hand-select what I thought would give our Hip readers the MOST bang for their buck while still feeling like they are getting a luxury bed experience.
I did extensive research when vetting each item I’m going to share below and I have personally tested every single one for the past 5 months (and counting!). So, I can assure you they’re worth every penny! 🤩
I originally picked these bedding essentials because they make a great luxury alternative. Check out how they compare to Boll & Branch prices:
*Note that all prices listed below were accurate at the time we ordered them.
LINEN DUVETS:
- Boll & Branch – Signature Hemmed Duvet Set
- Alternative – DAPU 100% Linen Duvet Cover Set
WAFFLE KNIT BLANKETS:
- Boll & Branch – Waffle Bed Blanket
- Alternative – Walmart Great Bay Home Cotton All-Season Waffle Weave Knit Blanket
SHEETS:
- Boll & Branch – Signature Hemmed Sheet Set
- Alternative – Amazon California Design Den Sheets
DUVET INSERTS:
- Boll & Branch – Down Alternative Duvet Insert, Midweight
- Alternative – Quince Premium Down Alternative Comforter
PILLOWS:
- Boll & Branch – Down Alternative Pillows
- Alternative – Quince Premium Down Alternative Pillows
Boll & Branch is just one of many “luxury” bedding companies that are known for their luxurious bedding essentials. They use ethically sourced, organic cotton which has a reputation for being durable and ultra-soft. However, the incredibly steep prices are enough to steer any consumer away.
Read more about my 5 months of testing and how to make a bed luxurious in your home on a dime:
These California Design Den sheets are just as luxe as Boll and Branch Sheets but are well over $200 LESS.
Amazon California Design Den Sheets – $37.99
I knew I had to try these sheets when researching the best luxury sheet alternatives because they shared many of the same notable features as the popular Boll & Branch sheets. They’re ethically made, meet the Standard 100 & OEKO Tex Certifications, and are breathable, cool, and pill-proof. Plus, they even have the same hem design as the Boll & Branch sheets!
Here’s what one Amazon reviewer said about these luxury bedding alternatives that totally had me sold:
“Every time we stay at a nice hotel, my husband has sheet envy. He even went so far as to pay well over $200 for a set of Boll & Branch sheets because apparently, presidents have slept on them. Those sheets do not feel like hotel sheets, but these do, and for a fraction of the price! They fit our thick pillow-top mattress nicely. They’re soft but hold their shape for a crisp feel. I also love that you can buy these pieces individually. Highly recommend.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My final thoughts on these sheets after 5+ months of testing:
I’ve washed these sheets countless times and every single time they come out wrinkle-free and soft as ever! Plus, they fit my mattress and mattress topper with room to spare so I know they’ll comfortably fit the deepest of mattresses with ease. After multiple washes, they’ve also remained the same size and haven’t shrunk AT ALL!
Before owning this sheets set, I actually had Parachute sheets which cost FAR more, but I haven’t put them on my bed since! These affordable Amazon sheets were everything I hoped they would be and more!
I discovered the softness of this 100% stone-washed linen duvet cover after staying at an Airbnb! It’s luxury bedding quality for less than Parachute Home – 60% LESS to be exact!
DAPU 100% Linen Duvet Cover Set – $136.99+
- Or shop the entire DAPU store on Amazon!
Above is an Airbnb I once stayed in and after sleeping with this duvet for one night I found myself unzipping the bottom to find out what brand it was so I could order one for myself. This is after I splurged on a Parachute Home duvet for over $300. 😳 I was sure it would be out of my price range because it felt SO luxurious!
The bottom has a zipper closure that makes taking off the cover and washing a cinch. Even better, it’s made of breathable, 100% Stone-Washed French Linen which usually comes at a high cost so I was SHOCKED to find out this duvet set was under $150! 😱
Similar to the luxurious (and very over-priced) Boll & Branch duvet covers, this set also has a simple hemmed design, interior corner ties, and comes in 16 different color options, which is 7 more than Boll & Branch and 4 more than Parachute Home. 😉
Another feature I loved about this duvet cover is that it has the effortless style of a linen duvet, but the softness of what I imagine all the Boll & Branch owners rave about…or better. In fact, I prefer it to my not-so-old Parachute Home duvet cover!
My luxury duvet cover for less is 100% linen and so buttery soft. 🤩
My final thoughts on this Boll and Branch duvet cover alternative after 5+ months of testing:
I LOVE IT!!! 🤩 For starters, it’s exactly like the quality from the time I stayed in my Airbnb – soft, thick, and LUXE! I was seriously disappointed with how scratchy my not-so-old Parachute Home duvet felt and without hesitation replaced it with this much more affordable set. My new DAPU duvet cover has washed so well and is easy to take on and off thanks to the zipper. Speaking of zippers, a quality zipper on a duvet cover is almost unheard of at this price range and is durable too. It’s 100% a keeper!
My luxury duvet insert pick complements the duvet cover I shared above perfectly and was almost $300 LESS than my Parachute Home duvet.
You know just how difficult it is to find the perfect duvet insert if you’ve ever shopped for one. Everyone wants the perfect amount of fluff, without feeling too hot, and something that lasts without looking lumpy. All within a reasonable budget to boot!
I honestly didn’t think that existed so a few years ago I splurged on a Parachute Home duvet that was $399. 🥵 While I loved it and felt it was the luxury duvet I was looking for, I’m thrilled to say I’ve found exactly the same thing for almost $300 LESS! 🤩
This Quince duvet insert is ethically sourced (RSD certified), made in the USA, and contains baffle box construction for even distribution of fluff (i.e. it won’t look lumpy and uneven after many months or years of use. It also features corner loops and comes with a generous free return policy for 365 days. 😱
Here’s one review that had me totally sold on this option:
“I tried many brands such as Avocado, Boll and Branch, etc but I found Quince to have excellent quality and a great price point.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My final thoughts on this Boll and Branch duvet insert alternative after 5+ months of testing:
My bed before had a Parachute down comforter which cost a pretty penny…are you starting to see a trend here? 😆 YES, I replaced ALL of my spendy bedding with these incredibly affordable, yet luxurious finds! Despite my old duvet down comforter being much more expensive, I cannot even tell the difference between the two of these!
They have the same amount of fluff, even distribution, and really do keep your temperature regulated at night. I’m thrilled with this duvet insert and didn’t expect much for the super low cost, but I’m truly wowed by the quality! After 5 months, I can confidently say the baffle box construction is durable and all of my “fluff” has remained evenly distributed. This duvet is luxury bedding at a practical price! 😍
Boll and Branch pillows are nice, but these Quince-made pillows are even better and cost about $58 LESS per pillow.
Premium Down Alternative Pillows – $39.90 per pillow
Just like the Quince duvet insert, their pillows are ethically sourced (RSD certified), made in the USA, and hypoallergenic. I first tried their soft/medium pillows but didn’t feel they had enough fluff, so I took advantage of their generous free return policy (which is good for 365 days!). It was a silver lining because I was able to witness just how wonderful their customer service is! 🤩
When I did my exchange, I somehow only issued an exchange on one of my pillows despite mailing back both of the ones I ordered. When I realized only one pillow was in my new order, I called their customer service and I had another pillow on the way minutes later. It was a wonderful and easy experience! 👏🏻
These are the pillows for you if you have pillow envy every time you go to a high-end retailer and want to lay all over their high-end pillows. (Cough, cough…Pottery Barn). 😏
Here’s what one reviewer said about the medium/firm pillows that had me convinced I needed to exchange for this set:
“I have been to every store, testing and smushing all the down-alternative pillows imaginable. Normally I am a tried and true buy-it-in-the-store after evaluating it in person, but I took a gamble on Quince because the website and cost just made sense. I have to say, they feel uber-luxe, just like the ones I tried in high-end retailers, I totally believe they source from the same places. I ordered two in the medium/firm and will be going back for more. They are pretty soft and smushable so even I, a stomach sleeper am comfortable. If I was a side sleeper I might try to find an even plusher one but for the price, these are too good to beat!”
My final thoughts on these pillows after 5+ months of testing:
They’re LEGIT! I wholeheartedly agree with the initial review I read and they’re everything they say they are. Plush, fluffy, and perfect! As a fellow occasional stomach sleeper, I think these are perfect! Plus, my fiance who is really picky about pillows has even enjoyed sleeping on these every night without complaint (which is rare!).
Despite over 150 nights of sleeping on these, they’ve held their shape just as the day I unpacked them. I just love how they look on our bed too. They have a perfectly relaxed look and don’t look stiff like other pillows. As a bonus, they fit the DAPU linen covers that come with the duvet cover, perfectly. 👏🏻
I will say, I don’t think they’re quite supportive enough for side sleeping if you love super firm pillows. So I wouldn’t recommend these are your primary pillow if that’s how you sleep. However, if you’re looking for the perfect finishing touch to your cozy and luxurious bed on a budget, these should be it!
I found a very affordable Boll and Branch waffle knit blanket alternative, but it’s one essential from my 5 months of testing I wouldn’t recommend.
Not everything I tested for my luxury bed post panned out. After 60 days of testing and a few washes later, I was pretty underwhelmed with this bedding essential. Although, I do still have it on my bed 5 months later…so it’s not too terrible. 😉
Not only did it shrink enough that I could no longer tuck it in on either side (or the foot of my bed!) but the hem along the top and bottom came out wrinkled every time so unless I washed it, it would look pretty messy. I also find the fabric to be rather stiff and not the best quality. If you’re wondering how to make your bed luxurious, this might be one alternative to skip.
While I still wouldn’t spend Boll & Branch money for a similar waffle blanket, I may consider this organic waffle knit blanket I found on Etsy in the future. 😉
Overall, I think I have found 4 core luxury bedding essentials anyone should have to get a high-end look and feel for the BEST price!
You could consider splurging on high-end bedding that comes with a steep price, or you could take my word that these essentials are all you need! After comparing them to high-end brands that I’ve literally splurged on before – I would choose my alternatives time and time again before!
I think they changed the duvet cover. It now says it is button closure 🙁
Oh darn! Sorry for any confusion. I still find the zipper closure listed as I click through to the product page. Hoping that might help! ❤️
Thank you for this post I was going to buy the expensive one but now I am going to buy everything you suggested. Quick question have you tried Mellanni sheet set, it has over 300K reviews on amazon.
You’re welcome, Jay! So happy to hear this post was helpful for you in making a decision on what to purchase. 🤗 I’ll share your question with Sara and get back with you soon! 💗
Hi again! Sara did already get back with me, and has not tried out those sheets. If you decide to snag a set, let us know what your thoughts are on them! 🥰
Thank you Jessica and Sara. 🙏🏻
You’re welcome, Jay! ❤️
Did you end up finding a better cheaper alternative waffle knit blanket?
Hey there! That one is linked above and from Walmart! It is the Great Bay Home Cotton All-Season Waffle Weave Knit Blanket. 🤗❤️