In February last year, Nate Berkus launched a bedding collection, and by the end of the month, his painted stripe quilt set had arrived at my door.
Working in the realm of celebrity style, I had spent many months prior scrolling his feed, admiring some of his most beautiful interior design projects – but for the first time, his collection with mDesign made his work accessible in every kind of home, including mine. The painted stripe quilt, now reduced on Amazon, was an easy choice. It's the one that first caught my eye when interviewing Berkus (coincidently about the collection), and it appeared in the backdrop of many of the promotion shots – many of which were set in rooms painted in soft neutrals like my own. I ordered the set knowing its beige and taupe colorway looked good, but understanding its softness and longevity came with time.
More than one year later, I can say with confidence that this is one of the best designer bedding collections in the industry. It's survived (many) coffee spills and comes out softer after almost every wash. It's currently reduced for Amazon Prime Day, so it's worth buying now.
This set of three includes one quilt and two matching standard pillow shams. It's made from cotton percale, meaning it's breathable and offers the versatility to be used year-round. Designed by Berkus with comfort in mind, it set gets softer over time for a lived-in feel. It's currently 46 percent off for Prime Day, so it's worth ordering before it sells out.
Using the set for a whole year meant I could put its 'all-season' label to the test. The quilt is made from cotton percale – cotton denoting the type of fiber and percale describing the kind of weave. To create percale, cotton fibers are woven into a crisscross pattern to withstand wear and boost breathability. Cotton percale sheets sleep cool and look crisp, so they're ideal for hot sleepers and those who want to uphold a minimal, almost hotel-like aesthetic in their bedrooms.
In my case, I'm working with a small bedroom (a sign of city living, after all), so I aim to keep my space as light and bright as possible. This percale piece is exactly what I wanted.
As mentioned, percale is known for its breathability, so I was able to see how the temperature compared around the calendar. Since my apartment is compact, it retains heat easily, meaning my bedroom can feel hot even in the winter months. Consequently, in summer, I often found I was too warm with my former bedding, but with this quilt set, I was notably more comfortable.
It's also worth noting that the set is OEKO-TEX certified. After having the set for a few months, Emilia Hitching, the sleep editor at H&G, explained why this is important. OEKO-TEX is an organization comprising independent textile and leather testing institutes across Europe and Japan. They provide standardized tests and verification for multiple different textile types, including this one. After a year of machine washing the set, it still looks as new as it did when I got it out of the box, and if anything, it feels even softer. I can sleep well, knowing the only unwanted substances on my quilt come from those aforementioned coffee spills.
I plan on keeping this set on my bed for as long as I can (and at least while the colors continue to work for me in my apartment). However, while putting this together, I couldn't help but notice some more Berkus-designed bedroom pieces that are also reduced on Amazon. I've not tested these, but if I give in to my lack of self-control, I will do soon...
With over 80 reviews, most of which are over four stars (and a 4.4-star average), it's clear that I'm not alone in my observations. Most customers similarly comment on the versatile appearance and quality of the set – particularly when used in a neutral space. If you're looking to upgrade your bedroom, this is your cue.
