Is clean bedding the new green bedding?

By Mandy Clarke, Editor There has always been something completely irresistible to me about a plush, multi-layered, perfectly made, crisp and comfy hotel bed.

Don’t get me wrong I am keen on the ‘green’ housekeeping trends. Sheets and towels should be washed on demand rather than every day, under normal circumstances, but I wonder how bedding trends will change due to COVID. It seems that ‘clean’ became the new ‘green’ across the board!

The bed is the central focus of any guest room and from the moment I glimpse a flawlessly made bed with freshly washed linen, it triggers pleasure signals in my brain. I instantly relax. I know that I cannot be alone in having these feelings, perhaps it is universal?

I have never been a fan of fussy hotel bed adornments and in the

wake of the global pandemic I think the clean and simple look will be massively on trend.

Leading on from the pandemic what industry insiders claim travellers will look for (and sniff)

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in hotel bedding are layers that can be instantly verified as clean. From a bed, many guests will seek cleanliness to the point of sterility, but they will still want it to ooze comfort and luxury.

However, opulence does not extend to mountains of scatter cushions!

I have a word of advice for accommodation operators, this might be the time to store those extra cushions and bed skirts for a while, because even if you reassure guests that these items are laundered regularly, your guests may not be so confident. Now is the perfect time to minimise the complexity of your bedding, you can do this by using good quality, easy wash white cotton sheets and your guest beds can still look and feel incredible.

COVID has forced much change across the industry and this is another reason to simplify your guest bed. Consider that your traditional turn-down services may no longer be standard practice and an increased demand from guests for hotel isolation requires contactless service, so beds must be easier for guests to maintain.

White has never been out of fashion because it looks great and guests have confidence that it is clean. So go for gold and provide them with supersized, soft, white bedding. Industry insiders suggest there is an incoming trend towards oversized linen on big beds to create a clean, luxe vibe that looks big, opulent, and comfortable.

For me, oversize gets a huge tick because no-one gets cold in the night! Many agree, and in 2018 when 2000 people were surveyed as part of the UK’s 2018 International Hotel Show, respondents expressed a penchant for big beds and supersized luxe bedding. The Perfect Hotel Bedroom Report showed most respondents prioritised big beds over big rooms, with king and super-king beds being sought by a massive 89 percent of respondents.

Adding “pops” of colour and texture is still on trend but adding them with cushions, runners and throws is out. However, an insider told us that colour elements can still be added by using the triple sheet method and waffle-weave blankets can add texture and warmth. Some accommodations have been very creative with their unique “pop” by adding an embroidery logo or stylish design to their white linen.

Nature will remain an enduring design inspiration and for guests experiencing indoor isolation this trend is now more important than ever. More guests will seek a simple neutral palette paired with nature, for instance white linen paired with warm wood elements can create both a sense of cleanliness and peace.

Insiders also suggest the popular Nordic-Coastal style will remain on trend, because it is a look that embraces natural, clean, and simple elements and offers a light and airy Scandinavian feel. The design and flexibility of this style also works well in a COVID climate where the possibility of living, working, and playing in one room for 14 days is very real!

To conclude, the industry consensus is that white linen rules. Accom providers will continue to use triple sheeting because it allows them to create a luxuriouslooking bed with three flat sheets and a doona, quilt, or blanket. This system not only provides a sanitary environment for guests, but also saves on the time and money involved in purchasing and laundering expensive bedspreads. The focus on hygiene means that guests not only expect their white sheets to be sparkling fresh, but doonas, and waffle-weave blankets must be washable as well as beautiful. The hotel pillow menu trend is likely to continue but pillows and covers must also be capable of a machine wash.

Housekeeping favours the ease of bed changes involving only one colour, and commercial laundries are increasingly resistant to stocking and washing linen which is anything but white. PostCOVID, housekeepers are the gatekeepers for infection control in your hotel and guests look to them for confidence in your brand. Likewise, the guest bed is the heart of their guest room experience.

Clean is in, but does this mean that Green will be out?

No, in my opinion guests will want both clean and green. For now, the industry is back in the world of single use amenities and disposable drink and food containers to prevent the spread of infection but there is no reason why bed linen or towels should be washed every day. In fact, contactless service may lead to less bed changes because the only time housekeepers will enter your room is when your stay is over.

Because first impressions always count...

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