Snuggling into a fluffy bed swathed in soft organic sheets is pure heaven. But before you head out to shop for bedding, let’s take a look at what you need to know before you buy.

What is this organic bedding of which you speak?

Instead of scratchy, irritant-laden cotton/polyester blends, organic bedding is made from only 100 percent natural products that don’t contain any synthetic chemicals or materials. For instance, most organic mattresses are made from 100 percent cotton and contain natural foam latex from the sap of rubber trees. Sheets, blankets, and pillowcases are typically made from a combination of organic cotton and wool.

Organic bedding is biodegradable so, theoretically, you could chop up an old sheet and dump it in your garden where it will eventually disintegrate. Realistically, it means that when your bedding graduates from your bed to your rag pile, you can eventually toss it in the trash and not worry about what it’s doing to the local landfill.

Where do I find the good stuff?

We’ve already written about where to find great organic sheets from everywhere from Pottery Barn to Macy’s. If you know your way around a sewing machine and want to make your own customized bedding, hit up a local upholstery shop to help you get the fabric you need. Be sure to check out our post on eco-friendly textiles for extra tips on measuring and fitting.

For specific bedding ideas, we love:

• This soft, 200-thread count whimsical China-themed children’s bedding. We’re also nuts for, well, anything from Pottery Barn Kids – like this organic line of Doctor Suess awesomeness.
• Certified organic crib sheets and liners for our precious babes.
• Earth-toned organic cotton bedding for a serene, soothing bedroom decor.
• Bohemian floral sheets and comforters from Midwest modern designer Amy Butler.

Great bedding is only part of the equation of getting a good night’s sleep. Check out our seven tips for making the most of your slumber. Good night, sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.

Image: Coyuchi

We have long sung the praises of Midwestern textile designer, Amy Butler, who introduced an exotic, Indian-inspired organic bedding collection of five designs this year. She even rolled out rugs to match!

The lovely and much needed bedding (still can’t find organic in many of my favorite haunts) includes 400-thread count sheeting, elegant embroidery and paisley flourishes woven without harmful dyes.

Among my faves is the Bucharest motif (above) with patterns found in Romanian embroidery and the flourishes of formal gardens. While modern and bold, the charcoal gray and ivory palette imbues the collection with understated warmth. The duvet would be at home in many environments – perhaps even yours.

Leave a comment here and you could be sleeping in the bedding soon as part of our decor give-away.

I would even repaint my master boudoir gray to complement this lovely duvet. Hey, that rhymes! Lemon yellow would work well as a backdrop, too, don’t you think?

Image: Amy Butler Design

A short walking distance (yes people do walk occasionally at their own peril in L.A.) from the Hollywood sign, Mann Chinese Theater and Griffith Park, the Hollywood Pensione is a green boutique lodge housed in a 1915 Craftsman dwelling.

Can Hollywood glamor be paired with good eco ethics? Naturally. They go together like J-Lo and Brad Pitt. Can’t you see that duo cast in a romantic feature? Perhaps Marc and Angelina can visit the set. But if they want to stay here they better book soon. This hotel only has three guest rooms, all with modern green amenities.

Listed in the top 10 of the best L.A. Inns and B&B’s by Resorts and Lodges, each guest room comes with a private bath, a common lounge with a balcony, and a fully-equipped guest kitchen.

Check in and take a nap on the comfy organic mattresses with fluffy wool toppers and fine organic bedding by Anna Sova. The hotel also offers spa-like bath luxuries with state of the art in-room technology like a flat screen TV and cable – so you can watch your favorite HBO and Showtime shows instead of chasing down stars in Beverly Hills.

The hotel boasts air and water purification throughout (a must in smoggy LaLa town) as well as complimentary organic wine, dark chocolate truffles, organic bamboo towels and Zen alarm clocks. You bring the vibe, they provide the rest!

Rates are $165 to $495 depending upon which room you select and when you are staying. Don’t forget to make reservations at the local organic cafes. For a list of some of them, check out L.A. City Search.

Images: Hollywood Pensione

Summertime, and the cotton is high. It’s also 100% organic and woven in a refreshing feminine palette with low-impact dyes by Midwest modern designer Amy Butler.

Can you imagine having anything but good dreams when tucked into such life-affirming florals?

Come June, this first bedding collection by Butler makes its exotic debut, proving eco-friendly textiles have our fashionable bedrooms covered. Butler thinks over everything in these stunning ensembles, even tossing in the throw pillows to keep the layering a no-brainer.

If it all suits your style, these patterns will be available at her online shop as well as select Bed, Bath & Beyond stores. I don’t know about you, but I will be thrilled to see these additions to BB&B. Too often I have come up empty handed when casing the vast linen department for organic bedding with any sense of style. I would love to select Butler’s organics for a teen space or guest room.

Every bit as soothing as neutral Calvin Klein and as well-coordinated as the Donna Karan separates, Butler’s Far Eastern-inspired garden patterns and oversize block-printed paisleys expand our options in designing a modern bedroom enlivened by bohemian elements. Sure, Indian designs have always been available but not always as current in substance or high in quality.

Butler has collaborated with Welspun to produce this collection which pairs fun color combinations (pink with green, turquoise with lime, navy with red and green) all in skin-friendly 400 thread count fibers.

“I love that this collection is a design driven eco story and proves that eco friendly bedding can be vibrant and beautiful,” says the designer. “It’s fashion bedding at its very best.”

Sour on your space? Squeeze in some lemon and watch what happens. Next to coral, lemon is the flavor of the month, and if you think this tart infusion aids depression, you are bright! I followed the yellow brick road to what’s hot for summer and spring. Here are some juicy accents I landed on that will let all of us lighten up a bit for the season.

The ultimate hot seat: Cain Bench (above) from Branch Home, $130.

Waste not with this fruity Meyer Lemon reusable sandwich bag, $7.50 at Etsy

Fern Living Tea Towel from Lekker, $19, is spun of organic cotton and sweetened with a yellow punch.

I’m just wild about saffron and this organic Tonal Stripe Pottery Barn duvet and sham, $29-$169.

Mellow yellow pillow talk, $116 from Evo. And brighter pastures with the Vaca Pillow, $95, from Viva Terra.

Cut the mustard with vintage recycled cotton coasters, $14 each, Etsy.

Happy little bluebirds get a burst of joy with a painted bird house, $65, Viva Terra.

Melon is bringing a fresh slice of life to spring, showing up everywhere from dresses and jewelry to wall accents and fabrics. I’ve always loved the coral family, especially layering various hues from the spectrum – baby aspirin swimming alongside salmon, terracotta seasoned with spice. The names alone conjure all that is pure, soft, light and oh-so-femme. Here are some tasty seasonal offerings ripe for picking:

Mythic paints in shades of summer from the red and orange color palettes. All are non-toxic and delicious!

Pixel Organic Swaddling Blanket $24.90 at Bunny Baby.

Warm red Suzani Pillows $89-129 at VivaTerra.

Tile organic duvet, $60 from Pottery Barn.

Dalia Upholstery Fabric From Designtex.

Ceramic tile slab in deco coral from Eco Wise.

Slabs
120″x 48″ x 1/4″, 1/2″ , 3/4″, 1 1/4″ or 1 5/8″

Tiles
24″x48″x1/2″
48″x48″x1/2″

Thomas Paul handmade 100% New Zealand wool rug in orange and cream, $150 at Feel More Human.

Catalina Organic Market Sling, $109 from Serena and Lily.

Eco Bamboo Forrest Pillow in poppy and seagrass, $68 from Cottage and Bungalow.

Getting 7-8 hours of sleep on a nightly basis is essential for wellness, but you could be spending that time cuddled up to toxic chemicals like pesticides, vinylidiene chloride, formaldehyde, antimony trioxide, melamine, decabromodiphenyl oxide and boric acid. While organic linens and pillows are key elements of a natural bed, a healthy night’s rest is all in the mattress. Here are the ten best eco-friendly, healthy mattress choices:

The wool mattress by Shepherd’s Dream is made entirely of this naturally flame retardant material. Plus, it adjusts to your body temperature and can even help alleviate aches and pains. To ensure that this mattress compresses evenly over time, it must be rotated frequently.

Savvy Rest isn’t interested in luring consumers with greenwash. Before releasing their Serenity organic mattress, they hired an independent laboratory to run extensive tests and confirmed the purity of dunlop latex rubber. Wary of false claims? You can check out the results yourself.

Handcrafted with care, the European Tufted organic mattress by Vivetique is comprised of certified organic cotton and wool. There are also traces of natural lanolin still present in the wool, which naturally repels dust mites.

Made from this mold and mildew resistant fiber, the hemp mattress by Earthsake is the perfect fit for sleepers who prefer a firm surface. Stronger and more durable than cotton, this organically grown material is neither dyed nor bleached, making it 100% natural.

The 9-inch thick Green Sleep organic mattress gets rid of pressure points and resists allergens like dust, mold and mildew. Three dense layers of natural rubber conform to fit the contours of your body, a pure wool lining acts as a chemical-free flame retardant and an organic cotton shell regulates moisture.

The Utopia mattress isn’t dyed or bleached and contains no synthetic materials or silicate barriers. Natural latex derived from the Brazilian rubber tree eliminates sleeping discomforts like pressure areas and restricted blood flow, and its vent holes help you stay cool or keep warm, depending on the season.

For supreme comfort, the natural rubber mattress from GreenNest combines layers of both soft and firm biodegradable rubber that’s harvested from the milk of Hevea brasiliensis on herbicide-free plantations.

Free of harsh chemicals, the Lotus mattress is made from visco-elastic memory foam using renewable plant-based resources.

Made from recyclable materials, the Keetsa Cloud mattress is embedded with EverGreen, a natural substance derived from green tea that controls odors and reduces stress.

The Apollo mattress boasts a fully-quilted, chemical-free cotton batting covered by a substantial layer of fluffy wool that is processed naturally from organically raised sheep.

Don’t miss these tips on how to get the most out of your mattress.

UPDATE 4/6/09: Suite Sleep contacted us regarding the eco-friendly qualities of their Suite Comfort Collection. With a decade of experience in organic bedding and one of the lowest carbon footprints around, this green company’s Suite Essential natural rubber mattress deserves a spot on the list.

Image: porcelaingirl

Dots are my favorite movie candy (I know, the red ones are the only good ones) and I love the round shapes on fabric, a happy trend for spring design and a great way to perk up a tired chair or sofa or add some bounce to your bed.

Modern Fabrics has a fun grouping of spot-on eco-friendly upholstery fabric that really measures up – all from some of the best modern design houses, including Knoll and Pollock.

The merino lambswool Dot Pillow from our own Viva Terra features lovely shaded fabric rounds lining up on the face of the ultra soft brown fabric ($79 including down insert).

I love how the dots take center stage on this new embroidered green organic cotton duvet and sham collection from Pottery Barn ($39 to $179). The dots are crewel-stitched by hand giving a custom feel to this ready-made bedding, which you can have a blast mixing with florals and other bright and bold shades.

For you little one’s room, toss in a dotty elephant, soft and organic in pink or blue and yellows. It will have a long memory of being tugged on, chewed and loved, and since it’s made of good stuff, no worries. I found it at Eden Home for $14.

And of course, a little dot action for your closet. These polka dot pattern sustainable sneakers from Simple will keep help you stay well rounded for spring. Remember to tiptoe through the tulips!

Image: soapylovedeb