going to sleep in a room of our own.

March 23, 2021

This post is sponsored by Brooklinen.

Carving out a second bedroom in this new apartment has been one of the most restorative projects of the past year. Before we moved in September, it had been ten years since James and I shared a bedroom with a door that closed. The idea of being able to leave behind whatever was happening in the rest of the apartment—to not hear the hum of the refrigerator, or see the shadows of the kitchen table—as we went to sleep, felt like it would be the ultimate luxury. 

When we arrived, the reality was somewhat distinct from the cocoon we’d fantasized about. Our bedroom sits between two sets of French doors and serves as the main thoroughfare through the apartment. For much of the day, it functions more as a busy hallway than a serene bedroom. Still, we’ve been making steady progress on getting this space closer to being the peaceful sanctuary of our dreams. In January, we added soft green paint to the walls and a fresh coat of white to the ceiling. In February, we found the perfect pair of vintage bedside lamps and pushed the furniture around. When Brooklinen reached out to see if I might be willing to take their sheets for a test-drive in March, I was delighted to take them up on the offer and take another small step toward making this pass-through bedroom feel just a bit more intentional. 

We opted for Brooklinen’s Linen Hardcore Bundle, which provides all the essentials for proper bed dressing—their Core Sheet Set, a Duvet Cover, and two extra Pillowcases—and allowed us to mix and match from their range of color options. We chose a Charcoal Chambray and White Stripe Duvet Cover, white Core Sheet Set and an extra set of striped pillowcases to complement the duvet cover.

Right out of the box, I loved the rumply texture of Brooklinen’s stonewashed linen.The bedding is noticeably lightweight and breathable, especially welcome for linen which I find can sometimes tend toward feeling heavy. These OEKO-TEK-certified essentials also come with my personal bedding non-negotiables: envelope closures on the pillowcases for keeping things tidy and cotton ties inside the duvet cover to keep the duvet from bunching up inside. I love that the pillowcases have a slim hemmed border that gives a little polish without veering toward fussy. In an otherwise plain and simple space, the charcoal stripes play off our dark furniture and add a bit of pattern and, dare I say, drama.

We may still be living in a small city apartment with three little kids, and the sound of the refrigerator buzzing is not the loudest thing in this apartment by far, but when we close those French doors and fold down the covers, there’s no question it feels awfully nice to climb into bed in a room of our own.

If you’d like to give Brooklinen a try, they’re offering Reading My Tea Leaves readers a special discount. Use the code readingmytealeaves to receive $20 off orders over $100. Offer expires 6/20/21.

This post is sponsored by Brooklinen. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Reading My Tea Leaves.

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13 Comments

  • Reply Melissa March 23, 2021 at 4:20 pm

    hi! it feels tacky to comment asking about a brand comparison, and/but how would you say they compare to parachute’s linen sheets, which I think you’ve also used at some point? these look lovely!

    3
    • Reply ERIN BOYLE March 25, 2021 at 2:00 pm

      Thanks! We’re really enjoying them! I’d say these are more lightweight but otherwise comparable!

      3
  • Reply B March 24, 2021 at 12:23 am

    Hi, the soft green – it’s incredible; close to nature – the space looks so beautiful, zen.

    1
    • Reply ERIN BOYLE March 24, 2021 at 11:46 am

      Thanks so much! We love it!

      2
  • Reply LaTonya March 24, 2021 at 11:44 am

    Loving the colors, E!

    1
    • Reply ERIN BOYLE March 24, 2021 at 11:46 am

      Thank you!!

      1
  • Reply kim m March 24, 2021 at 12:59 pm

    That first shot, that combo of colors, that bit of pink… swoon. I’m happy to hear you and James have this space for yourselves… well at night anyway!

    1
  • Reply Cj March 24, 2021 at 3:25 pm

    Rest well there!! Gorgeous spring blooms. What is the paint color on the wall? perfect for a bedroom.

    1
  • Reply Sara March 25, 2021 at 1:18 pm

    Erin, how lovely to have a cozy room of your own (basically!). I’ve been searching for months for an organic striped or chambray duvet cover and have had no luck. I was thinking of this very duvet from Brooklinen …. but haven’t gone with it yet because it’s not organic. I’ve read through Brookline sites, but can you share a little about what made you comfortable choosing their bedding over something organic? I’m thisclose to pressing buy but really want my money to do the most good with this purchase. I know you have impeccable taste and always keep sustainability top of mind so I value your opinion! Thanks in advance!

    1
    • Reply ERIN BOYLE March 25, 2021 at 1:58 pm

      Thanks, Sara! It’s really a personal call based on your own budget and comfort levels. As you likely know, linen is made from flax, which is generally considered a sustainable, renewable resource that’s less water intensive than either organic or conventional cotton. I was glad to see that Brooklinen is OEKO-TEX certified, which also offers an additional layer of comfort that both environmental and worker protections are in place. There are definitely other certifications out there that represent a still higher standard—GOTS and MADESAFE among them—and choosing an organic bedding option with those certifications in place is certainly a valid consumer choice if you have the personal wherewithal to do that! In a very challenging year for so many and for my own small business in particular, I was so pleased to be able to have the support of a company that meets lots of my criteria and high standards while still remaining relatively accessible to the average reader of this site. The bottom line is that consumer choices are never perfect and I think the best we can all do is make the choice that feels the best for us at a given time while really training our energies on the policies and powers that can do the most good to solve the most pressing issues on a systemic level.

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  • Reply Sara March 26, 2021 at 10:29 am

    Erin, what a thoughtful response. Thank you so much. Through this year of limitless trials, I’ve been trying to vote again and again and again with my dollars. Hence a duvet becoming more than just a duvet (gah!). So aptly said: consumer choices are never perfect … and training our energies on policies and powers. I have been waiting for the perfect at the expense of the quite good. Thank you for your elucidation. I truly appreciate all the work you do and have done here!

    2
  • Reply Kathy M April 1, 2021 at 11:20 pm

    I’d be really interested in seeing how well the sheets hold up; the ones I bought from a different company wore thin within 6 months, despite washing them only every 10-14 days, cold water, gentle cycle, never a dryer…all the company said was I should have bought 2 sets and alternated between the two!! I saved for almost a year for them, I DO love the feel of linen sheets….

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