Luckily, the bedding manufacturers of America have heard our cries and offer an astounding array of essentials designed to help us combat the cold. The truly wonderful thing is that most warming is done below your duvet or quilt, so you needn’t sacrifice your already fabulous bedroom style just because it’s winter. Consider adding one or two of the snuggly options below — or one from each category if you’re a true Northerner! — and enjoy a warm, restful night’s sleep before you have to trudge out to shovel the snow in the morning.
Starting from the bottom and working up…
Mattress Pads
1. The fact that this fuzzy pad is reversible for year-round use means you won’t have to store it in the warmer months — a plus for those of us with minimal closet space. Eileen Fisher Reversible Wool Mattress pad, Garnet Hill, $294-$542 (on sale)
2. For serious winter-only warmth, there is nothing quite like a heated mattress pad. Restwarmer Dual Control Heated Mattress Pad, Queen, Target, $69.99
Sheets
3. Flannel sheets were a way of life for me growing up in New England and I still believe there is no better fix for a chilly night. Signature Flannel Bedding, Garnet Hill, $28-$120
4. If your bedroom isn’t exactly a walk-in freezer, but you still find ordinary percale sheets too crisp in winter, I highly recommend jersey sheets. They are soooo soft and can easily transition into other seasons making them a good buy all year round. Organic Cotton Jersey Sheets, The Company Store, $24-$129
Blankets
5. A blanket is another subtle way to add a bit of warmth to your existing bedding. This one is washable wool and has a cool vintage camping vibe that I love. Yakima Camp Blanket, Pendleton, $78-$118
6. This lighter weight cotton blanket would be another great year round pick. Flame Stitch Blanket, West Elm, $69-$99
Comforters
7. Finally, to really stay warm you’ll need a heavy comforter. Down is universally recognized as the warmest fill — it’s so cozy and fluffy you’ll never want to get out of bed! Primary Down Comforter, Cuddledown, $103-$343 (on sale)
8. While down is the warmest, the fact is a lot of people have allergies or are interested in using fewer animal products in their homes. If either of these scenarios applies to you, a down-alternative comforter is a great solution. Primaloft Blanket, Williams-Sonoma Home, $160-$265
Top of the whole shebang with your favorite duvet set and some decorative pillows and no one will even know that underneath your bed is prepped for the ultimate cozy night’s sleep.
What do you do to keep your bed cozy and warm during winter?
Images: 1. Garnet Hill, 2. Target, 3. Garnet Hill, 4. The Company Store, 5. Pendleton, 6. West Elm, 7. Cuddledown, 8. Williams-Sonoma Home
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
Party Recipe: Creamy Crawfish Dip
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
Oh I think I need all of those!
http://couveillustrations.blogspot.com/
Instead of flannel or jersey knit sheets, I was recently given fleece sheets. I was a bit dubious at first, but have since fell in love with them. The fleece is pretty fine, not like a jacket, and ridiculously soft! I am a really warm sleeper, so I was kind of worried about getting too hot, and sweating, but fortunately, I've only been warm and cozy, not hot and sweaty!
It's not glamorous but a hot water bottle works like a charm!
400 thread count sheets, reversible flannel blanket under my down comforter w/duvet, all tucked nicely under my mattress to keep the cold air out. My boyfriend hates it since he's a warm sleeper - he just sleeps on top of the entire pile when he comes over
I'm another hot water bottle user. Cheap and efficient; definitely not glamorous, but it beats freezing.
Comforter, cat and my toddler. I'm warm.
You know what I love even more than flannel sheets? These cozy, very affordable, fluffy "Cashmina" sheets from Domestications.com. They feel wonderful on these cold, cold nights -- like curling up with a big, friendly animal. http://preview.tinyurl.com/cashmina
Flannel sheet, two down comforters with flannel covers, one more down blanket over the feet, one husband and four cats. What can I say--we live in Wisconsin and sleep with the window open until around -5F. I love to sleep cold and snuggle in!
My Ikea comforter is so warm I often have to throw it off in the middle of the night.
I'm fairly certain a significant other is the best bed-warming decide created. So long as his thread count is appropriate.
I use those herb-filled things you put in the microwave. Great bed warmers.
Flannel sheets from LL Bean with flannel duvet cover in NYC. So warm and cozy I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. Also, linen sheets are surprisingly warm. I have linen sheets and a linen duvet cover that are almost as warm as flannel - they don't get cold at all.
We sometimes get too warm with flannel sheets so I usually have a flannel bottom sheet and an Egyptian cotton top sheet of coordinating colors. Instead of a hot water bottle or herbal microwavable bag, I made several microwaveable bags from fabric remnants and rice for myself and friends. I pop it into the microwave for a couple of minutes and it keeps my toes nice and toasty for at least half the night. If my feet are warm, then the rest of me is warm. This past week was minus 23 wind chill here so it's been tested!
Hey Bethany, I've spent my entire 49 years of life below the Mason-Dixon line, and flannel bedding is what's kept me going! I'd love a wool mattress pad. I had an electric blanket, but it stopped working after a year, so I sliced off the cord and use it as a regular blanket -- it's incredibly soft and fluffy.
I only need my duvet (down comforter). I just got a brand-new one for Christmas and it's actually *too* warm.... even with my window thrown open to the -5C (30F) degree chill outside; and I wouldn't want it any other way.
Down comforter here, and if it's really cold, small dog under the covers, at my feet.
We may have three dog nights sometimes, but we only have one dog!
Lands End Flannel Sheets & Duvet covers:
They don't pill like el-Cheapo flannel and last forever.
A silk-filled comforter is very warm and very luxe!
My kids each go to bed with two hot water bottles, one for the feet and one to hug. Hubby and I have a heated mattress pad.
That wool mattress pad looks divine, but it's price has me sticking with flannel sheets...plus the 10 mom-made quilts.
I love flannel sheets but nothing tops fleece. So warm and cozy - it's hard to get up in the morning. :-)