Today, luxury bed linens are available in an endless array of colors and patterns, though traditionally bed sheets were white. And still, tradition often prevails. Matouk product line director Colleen Mistry says, “White is, well white! White remains a constant and is always a best seller. There is a huge place in the market for white and many people love that crisp, clean look of a fresh set or freshly washed set of white sheets.” Matouk showroom manager Melanie Angeles-Dizon agrees, “Most of my customers use white sheeting as a base because it goes with a lot of different prints and colors. And, they like the crispness of White sheets.”
That said, both White and Ivory linens have a place in one’s home. Mistry notes that “both colors compliment almost any decor and are extremely versatile. Ivory is still important for someone who wants the creamy, buttery tones that the color offers a space.”
Angeles-Dizon finds that in her experience with designers and their clients, the White versus Ivory debate is also heavily influenced by the design of the room, “Designers choose Ivory only when the space calls for it...such as when there’s a lot of floral wallpaper with a neutral background and natural wood furniture. Choosing Ivory colored sheets over White creates a warm, romantic feel. It is somewhat sophisticated traditional and it can soften the look of the space.”
White and Ivory have long been at the forefront of the Matouk product line, however in recent years there were calls for a color in between the two - a beautiful, discreet neutral. In 2019, we introduced Bone. As Mistry describes it, “The subtle nature of Bone really is something special, not quite white, not quite ivory, but a magical color if you want that in between!”. Before Bone was added to our collection, Angeles-Dizon heard many designers looking for something they call off-white, and we are excited to offer a color that is just that.
Some of most beloved and luxurious styles are now offered in Bone, including our Virginia bed linens. Virginia is a special nod to Matouk’s 90th anniversary; the couture collection uses an archive-inspired Swiss lace that is placed by hand on our 1000 thread count Gatsby percale.
We believe that mixing White and Bone, or White and Ivory, in a single vignette looks modern and fresh, and we’ve started to introduce more of these color combinations with styles like Roman Hemstitch and Grace. Mistry expands on this idea, “Mixing in Ivory or Bone can give an otherwise all white bed some more dimension. Take our Bel Tempo Nocturne bedding or Mirasol towels for example, we mix White and Bone on the style itself, which results in a really chic combination. We also like to layer in and mix Ivory onto an all white bed - such as with Ceylon Satin Stitch or Dream Modal.” Angeles-Dizon shares that several designers she’s worked with also choose to mix White and Ivory, “Most of them would do White sheets and pillowcases with Ivory trim, and Ivory top of bed like coverlets or quilts, and shams mixed in.”
At the end of the day, the beauty of these neutral colors are their flexibility. White, Ivory and Bone can make individual statements in a bed or bathroom, or pair together for a rich look with added dimension. No matter which color you prefer, Matouk offers a vast selection of bed and bath linens to suit your style.
