I've found the way to get "French girl sleep" - the secret lies in your sheets

Soak & Sleep Luxury Bed Linen: from £29.40

These sumptuous sheets come in every size — from single to super king — and in 14 gorgeous colours, including this year’s must-have shade: butter yellow. With so many options, finding your perfect set is a given.

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If you’ve ever wondered what secrets French women are keeping to themselves, I think I’ve just uncovered one — and it’s hidden in plain sight. It’s not skincare or style this time — it’s their bedding. I tested Soak & Sleep’s French linen and stumbled into a whole new world of soft, effortlessly elegant sheets. People are calling it “French girl sleep” — and honestly, I think it’s something we should all be weaving into our bedtime routines.

A third of my family lives in France, and every time I visit, I sleep beautifully. I used to put it down to the warm weather (definitely not the company…), but I’m starting to think the real reason is much simpler: it’s the sheets. French linen is some of the best bedding you can buy — breathable, beautifully textured, and très chic.

So I decided to put the theory to the test and dressed my bed with Soak & Sleep’s French linen. As a hot sleeper, I expected to toss and turn—but instead, I’ve been dozing off faster and waking up refreshed. It turns out, the secret to sleeping like the French might just be as simple as switching your sheets. And now that I’ve figured it out? I had to share it.

Specifications

Composition

There's no such thing as 'just linen', which is why it's so important that you know all the details behind the composition of your sheets. French girl sleep doesn't happen by accident, after all. The most important thing to know is that the Soak & Sleep Linen sheets aren't just crafted from linen yarn, they're made with French linen that's grown in Normandy. You'll often see luxury brands referring to their linen as 'European flax'. If that's the case, it's likely that they mean that it's come from Normandy. Its the region in which the linen fibre lengths (also known as staple lengths) are longer, so you get better quality, durability, and a much softer feel from your bedding. Trés bon

Soak & Sleep also have created the yarn using a technique called ring spinning, which only goes to reinforce the strength and softness of the fabric. It helps to build that soft, slubby feel of the sheets. See what I mean when I say there's a lot more to the linen than you might think?

Who would it suit?

Linen is effortlessly chic — just like the French. There’s just no resisting the relaxed elegance of a beautifully rumpled linen duvet. It’s stylish without trying too hard, and Soak & Sleep leans into that vibe with its French Linen range. By embracing the natural slubs in the fabric, they allow the subtle variations in colour and texture to shine — exactly the kind of undone perfection that feels so French.

Linen is having a moment, too. With prices climbing, it’s quietly becoming a bit of a status symbol. Combine that with the fact that Soak & Sleep offers their linen bedding in nearly every shade imaginable, and you’ve got a set of sheets that will look just as good as they feel. If you eat with your eyes, this one’s a feast.

It’s no surprise, then, that Soak & Sleep’s French Linen is among their bestsellers. The breathable weave is naturally temperature-regulating, perfect if you’re battling night sweats or just want to sleep cool and comfortably. It’s also a dream for sensitive skin — gentle, soft, and never clingy.

And here’s the kicker: despite its chic aesthetic and cooling credentials, Soak & Sleep’s French Linen remains one of the more affordable options out there for high-quality linen bedding. Yes, it’s pricier than polyester, but when it comes to bedding, I never compromise — and this set proves you don’t have to.

What is it like to sleep on?

I love the look of rumpled linen. I always have. The effortlessly tousled, just got out of bed look, feels almost curated and yet you don't have to do a thing to stage it. With that in mind, you can only begin to imagine how much I loved having this bedding in my home. It looked so elegant.

Making the bed is really easy. The pillowcases are envelope closure and they're pretty snug, so you get a neat finish around them. If linen doesn't look elegant enough as it is, the end of the duvet cover is fitted with delicate linen ribbons which tie shut, enhancing the casual, soft feel of the sheets.

You can probably guess what these felt like to sleep on: dreamy. Linen has this wonderful je ne sais quoi—and it’s not just about aesthetics. Technically speaking, linen’s ‘hollowfibre’ structure makes it stronger, more breathable, and more absorbent than cotton. All of which is music to my ears, as someone who naturally sleeps hot and tends to toss and turn through the night.

I was curious to see whether switching to linen would make a noticeable difference—and it absolutely did. These sheets felt soft and whisper-light against my skin, even during warm spells. There was a coolness and calm to them that helped me settle faster and stay asleep longer. It was like they were quietly working with my body, not against it.

But the real litmus test? My mum. She’s suffered from night sweats for years and has been loyal to cotton bedding for as long as I can remember. I lent her my linen set (temporarily, I thought), and—well—she won’t give them back. After four decades of crisp cotton, she’s a full-blown linen convert.

“I’ve been cooler and more comfortable than ever,” she told me. “But more than anything, I love how soft and supple they feel. And actually, I’m falling in love with the tousled bed look.” French women have long embraced that slightly undone, beautifully effortless style—and now, apparently, so has my mum.

Cleaning

Soak & Sleep has done some great work behind the scenes for you. They pre-wash and shrink your bedding so that you can pop it in the wash carefree. This is handy from a maintenance perspective, but it's also great for the feel of the linen. When it's first spun, linen threads can feel quite harsh against your skin. However, with each wash, it gets softer and softer, which means that your bedding has already been made better by Soak & Sleep.

Online, Soak & Sleep has a whole Bed Linen Care Guide, but I'll summarise it for you here. First, they recommend pulling back your duvet to air your bed while you're getting ready (this lets moisture evaporate). Next, they recommend washing your sheets every week at 30-40°C with a powder detergent. Although, if you have coloured linen, they recommend finding a gel that's suitable for coloured sheets. What they really recommend avoiding is a stain remover or brightener, because "they create an optical illusion that changes the appearance of the colour." They add "creams and face washed contain chemicals that will bleach your bed linen, such as benzoyl peroxide."

If you can, Soak & Sleep suggests air drying your washing, but it can be tumble dried on a lower setting although, they add an extra tip to "remove your bed linen from the dryer while slightly damp if you want fewer creases."

Soak & Sleep also say that all their bedding has been "tested with focus on colour fastness, durability, and washability," which will be reassuring if you buy some brighter sheets and you're not sure which wash to pop them in.

How does it compare?

I’ve tried both Soak & Sleep’s and Piglet in Bed’s French linen bedding, and while they’re similar in quality, they offer slightly different experiences. Soak & Sleep’s linen feels a little more rustic and weighty—beautifully breathable and perfect if you love that natural, lived-in look. It softened nicely after a few washes and feels incredibly cosy. Piglet in Bed’s, on the other hand, has a slightly smoother, more refined finish straight out of the box, and the colour palette feels a bit more curated and trend-led. Both are lovely, but I’d say Soak & Sleep is great for everyday comfort at a slightly more affordable price point, whereas Piglet in Bed feels a touch more luxurious.

Should you buy it?

If you want some simple, luxurious linen, this set is hard to beat. I was sleeping in these every night until my mum commandeered the sheets. I actually can't tear them off her bed, so will be placing another order soon.

How we test

At woman&home, we take sleep seriously—so when I test bedding, I leave no stone unturned. I dive into the science behind sleep to understand exactly what contributes to a restful night, and I use those findings to guide every review I write. From analysing fabric blends to identifying whether a brand is using 100% natural fibres or a mix, I make sure you know exactly what you're sleeping on.

Each set of sheets gets a long-term road test, too—I sleep in them across weeks and seasons, using a sleep tracker to see how they perform in different conditions. I pay close attention to how they feel against the skin, how they wash, and whether they crease or fade over time. I also compare them to other popular options, so you get a full picture of how they stack up. By the end of my review, you'll know if they’re worth the investment—and if you’re still unsure, I’m always happy to chat. I could talk bedding all day!