I Touched Every Sheet and Towel I Could Find at Brooklinen — These Are the Ones I’d Buy

Let me start by saying that I don’t blame anyone who only buys bed and bath linens in person. There’s nothing like the disappointment of crawling into bed to find that the new sheets you thought were cooling are actually hot and stuffy, or that the towels you just offered guests are scratchy and thin. But if you’re only shopping IRL, you might miss out on those internet-famous brands that mostly sell online, like Brooklinen. 

Brooklinen has 10 store locations, which means unless you live within driving distance of its New York; Philadelphia; Washington, DC; California; or Chicago stores, you won’t get to experience its linens in person before buying. But that’s exactly why the Personal Shopper series is so handy — I do the vetting for you by venturing into stores myself to test everything on display and report back on what’s worth it. I’ve already tested everything at Parachute, so I headed to Brooklinen’s Williamsburg location to help you find the best Brooklinen bed sheets and towels for you. 

Brooklinen is one of those brands that, even if you’ve never tried their products, you’ve probably seen or heard about them online. The Brooklyn-based brand’s bed and bath linens are highly Instagrammable, and come in an ever-changing range of cool color and print options. Besides, a Brooklinen-edition of Personal Shopper just makes sense. Apartment Therapy editors have tested tons of Brooklinen items in their homes — from its resort-worthy bed sheets and cooling bed blankets to the bath sheets and famous waffle-weave towels — but have actually never been inside a Brooklinen store until now. Suffice it to say, this visit was long overdue! 

All of Brooklinen’s bath towels and bed sheets were tested by me, Alexa Casanova. As Apartment Therapy’s shopping writer, it’s essentially my job to test, review, and recommend products, whether it’s easy-to-assemble furniture, the softest linens, or anything else you may be looking for. I’ve covered them all, so I know what makes a piece of furniture worth buying. I was previously the commerce editor at Design Milk and Well+Good.

I evaluated all the Brooklinen sheets based on the following criteria to find the best ones for every need, whether you’re looking for crisp bedding to keep you cool through the night or something in the middle you can use all year-round. For more advice on finding the best bed sheets, check out our buying guide here! 

• Material: What are the sheets made of? Are they made using a special weave? How do these affect the way they feel? 
• Appearance: How do the sheets look? Do they have a luxe sheen or do they have a smooth, matte appearance? 
• Texture and weight: How do the sheets feel? Are they airy and cool or rich and cozy? Would they be better for summer or winter use? Hot or cold sleepers? Or are they a suitable year-round option? 

I touched, tugged, and tested all the sheets on display at Brooklinen to help you find your ideal set.

What impressed me: When Brooklinen customers asked for a softer version of the brand’s best-selling percale sheets, the brand delivered with the Washed Classic Percale sheets — and boy did they ace the assignment. These sheets are perfectly balanced, essentially giving you the cooling quality of percale, only with a softer, smoother feel. They’re like percale sheets that have already been “broken in” for you, boasting that relaxed, snuggly texture of your most-loved sheets straight out of the box (or, in this case, straight off the display rack). If you want cooling bed sheets that don’t skimp on softness, these are the ones to go for. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% long-staple cotton 
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 14 options

What impressed me: As a hot sleeper, I’m very familiar with Brooklinen’s best-selling Classic Percale sheets. They’re breathable, cool to the touch, and refreshing all over; they basically make my entire bed feel like the colder side of my pillow (the dream!). Best of all, they look so put-together! The crisp matte finish somehow makes even an unmade bed look polished and virtually wrinkle-free, as if they were freshly pressed. If you’re a hot sleeper and haven’t tried the Classic Percale, these could be a new year-round option for you. Otherwise, they’re a solid pick for the warmer months. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% long-staple cotton 
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 29 options

What impressed me: Brooklinen’s Washed European Linen sheets are unlike any other linen sheets I’ve tried. The brand actually tested 27 versions before landing on this upgraded weave (and it shows!). While linen bedding can sometimes feel a bit scratchy right out of the package, these 100% European flax sheets are garment-washed for drapey, lived-in softness. I was so impressed by how breezy they felt without being wispy and insubstantial — they even won over AT’s Home Director Danielle Blundell, who historically never liked linen sheets.

Brooklinen also beefed up the weave’s weight and tensile strength to give these a stronger, more durable feel. I might’ve rough-housed the sheets a bit while in the store to put this claim to the test (I tugged, crumbled, and pulled them taut), and they passed. These are linen sheets that are made to last. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% European Flax
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, European Flax™ Certification
• Colors: 20 options

What impressed me: Have a taste for the finer things? Then you’ll love the Luxe Sateen sheets, which are the closest you can get to re-creating a five-star hotel experience at home. Delectably soft and smooth, they feel premium and expensive, but not stiff. The buttery weave is actually quite drapey, and the “perfect all-season weight,” adds Style Editor Emma Dangel in her review. While touching the sheets in-store, I noticed they had a gorgeous sheen that adds to their overall richness, and would bring effortless elegance to any bedscape. Like most Brooklinen sheets, these come in a variety of colors, but I think you can really appreciate the weave’s luxe quality in the deeper shades, like the chocolate-brown color I photographed in the store. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% long-staple cotton 
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 29 options

What impressed me: Winter is coming, but the Heathered Cashmere sheets will keep you cozy through it all with their plush, cotton-cashmere blend. And yes, they feel as fancy as they sound, with a luxe diagonal heathered weave that looks so elevated (especially in the soft neutral colors offered!), like it belongs in a ski chalet. As I evaluated the sheets in-store, I noticed they felt incredibly warm and a little fuzzy — exactly what you’d want on a chilly winter night. But what really impressed me was how thin they are relative to their coziness. Not too heavy or too light, they’re a manageable mid-weight and don’t seem like they’d feel overwhelming when the weather calls for them.

Specifications: 

• Material: 95% Cotton and 5% Himalayan Cashmere
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 5 options

I evaluated all the Brooklinen towels on display based on the following criteria to find the best ones for every need, whether you’re looking for something light and quick-drying or plush and lofty. For more advice on finding the best bath towels, check out our buying guide here! 

• Fabric and construction: What is the towel made of? Is it a plain weave or textured jacquard? 
• Weight of the towel (GSM): Does the towel feel heavy and plush or thin and lightweight? What is the towel’s GSM? The higher the GSM, the denser the towel feels. Towels usually range from 300 to 900 GSM, with lightweight options falling between 300 to 450 GSM, and heavier ones reaching 800 or 900 GSM. 
• Absorbency: How absorbent is the towel? Does it effectively absorb moisture or does it require more effort to dry you off fully? 
• Dry time: How long does the towel take to dry after each use?  

I felt all the Brooklinen towels I could find (and used them to dry my hands after washing!) to help you find the best ones for your bathroom. 

What impressed me: Brooklinen calls the Plush Turkish Cotton towel the “everything towel,” and after trying it in store I can see why. At 500 GSM, it’s a balanced mid-weight towel that isn’t too fluffy or too thin, and, in my opinion, feels perfectly soft without sacrificing absorbency. It dried my hands off without smushing the water around, which is a win, and I noticed that it felt drier (although not completely dry) by the time I was finished testing the other towels on this list, so I’m confident you could use it for two-a-day showers without any ickiness. I obviously gravitated to the striped towels in store, which feature a contrasting flat-edge trim, but the towels come in a spectrum of classic neutral colorways you could fill your linen closet with. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% Aegean Turkish Cotton
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 13 options

What impressed me: The Super-Plush is Brooklinen’s fluffiest, softest, juiciest bath towel. It’s made using a zero-twist construction (which means that the cotton fibers are bundled together instead of being twisted into tight yarn-like strands), which gives it a softer, loftier feel. At 700 GSM, it’s technically the heaviest of Brooklinen’s towels, although it doesn’t really feel that way, which is a good thing. It has a plush, spa-like quality that isn’t too heavy. I’ll often use mine at home to wrap my hair after a shower, and it never feels like it’s weighing me down. It’s more absorbent than I was expecting for such a thick, fluffy bath towel. And while I wouldn’t say it’s quick-drying, the cushy, plush texture feels like an absolute treat. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% Aegean Turkish Cotton
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 18 options

What impressed me: If a fast dry time is at the top of your priority list, you’ll want to check out Brooklinen’s Ribbed Cotton TENCEL™ towels. They’re relatively thin and lightweight, which is key for any quick-drying towel, and by far the most absorbent ones I tested while in the store (they have a 550 GSM!). I’m convinced that the groovy, ribbed texture, in addition to being incredibly stylish, wicks away moisture more efficiently than a traditional towel. While the finish does give the towel a more structured appearance, it still feels soft and comfortable on my skin thanks to the TENCEL™ modal blend. Plus, I appreciated the diagonal weave on the flat-edge trim, which gives the towels an extra design-forward detail. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 77% Turkish Cotton and 23% Tencel Modal
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 7 options

What impressed me: The Dreamweave Waffle Bath Towel is hands-down the most lightweight option of the bunch, and boasts 290 GSM. It’s also one of Brooklinen’s most popular towels due to the proprietary waffle weave that feels like you’re wrapping yourself in a cozy waffle blanket. “What I love most about them is how surprisingly soft they are, which I noticed from the first time I held them,” agrees one former AT editor. “If you’re looking for lightweight towels that look elegant, get softer with time, and don’t take up a ton of extra room in your linen closet, then these are the ones for you!” 

If you’re not already used to waffle weave towels, I think the blanket-like feel of these might take some getting used to. I felt like it took more work to dry off my hands with these, because there aren’t those exposed, looped fibers to wipe away moisture like there are on traditional towels. But I find that what it lacks in absorbency, it more than makes up for in dry-time. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% Turkish Cotton
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 9 options