Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set review: a bargain buy for kids’ rooms or students

Our verdict

For just £10 for the single size, the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set has performed considerably better than I expected. After three weeks on my six-year-old's bed, including the sort of nightly duvet wrestling only a small child seems capable of, it still looks virtually new.

The grey, black and white striped design is neutral, unisex and easy to style, making it a good option for a child's bedroom, spare room or student halls. It's also forgiving enough that I suspect it would disguise the aftermath of a 10pm Pot Noodle rather well, although thankfully we didn't put that particular theory to the test.

The biggest compromise is the fabric. We're used to very soft muslin bedding at home and my immediate reaction when I opened this was, frankly, “oof, that's a bit rough”. The 52% polyester and 48% cotton percale feels crisp and slightly synthetic rather than soft and luxurious. It did soften after its first 40°C wash, though, and my six-year-old hasn't complained about its comfort once.

It has also proved lightweight and breathable, washed without shrinking, fading or bobbling and dried easily on my heated clothes airer. At this price, that's difficult to argue with.

I'd happily buy another as a spare set for my children's beds, although the polycotton fabric means it wouldn't replace the softer, natural-fibre bedding I prefer for my own.

How we tested the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set

I tested the single Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set over three weeks on my six-year-old son's bed.

Before use, I inspected the duvet cover and pillowcase for loose threads, stitching problems and other manufacturing flaws, checked the dimensions and fastenings and fitted it over his existing single duvet and pillow.

The Habitat Stockholm Stripe Bedding Set comes with a single duvet cover and one pillowcase

My son then slept in it nightly for three weeks, including during some September days when temperatures reached above 20°C. During this time I assessed comfort, breathability, fit and whether the duvet moved or bunched inside the cover.

I also reversed the duvet cover during testing to try both designs and washed the set at 40°C using my usual bedding cycle. As I don't own a tumble dryer, I dried it on a DrySoon heated clothes airer and checked it afterwards for shrinking, fading, bobbling, pulled threads, creasing and changes in softness.

And, because its chief tester is six, it has also endured considerably more wriggling and wrestling than your average laboratory durability test.

What is the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set? 

The Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set is a budget-friendly duvet cover and pillowcase set from Argos's Habitat range and part of the Stockholm Stripe Textiles collection.

It combines a neutral grey, black and white striped design with a coordinating reverse and is made from a 52% polyester and 48% cotton percale with a 144 thread count.

At the time of writing, it has a 4.7 out of 5 rating from 736 Argos reviews, with 95% of customers recommending it.

What's included in the set, and what sizes does it come in?

I tested the single set, which includes one duvet cover measuring 200 x 135cm and one pillowcase measuring 75 x 50cm.

At the time of writing, the range includes:

• Small double: £9

• Single: £10

• Double: £14

• King size: £18

• Super king: £22

Larger sets include two pillowcases rather than one. Only the single set was tested for this review. Though, I would have liked to have had two pillowcases as DC sleeps with two pillows. 

The bedding is machine washable at 40°C and can be tumble dried on a low temperature 

What's the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set made from?

It's made from 52% polyester and 48% cotton with a percale weave and 144 thread count.

If you're accustomed to very soft cotton, linen or muslin bedding, you'll notice the difference immediately. My boys usually sleep in H&M muslin bedding and, straight from the packet, the Habitat set felt considerably rougher and more synthetic.

It's not flimsy, though. The fabric feels lightweight rather than thin and has held up extremely well during testing.

Personally, I prefer bedding with a higher cotton content and more natural fibres. But at this price, some compromise is inevitable, and the polycotton construction also makes this an affordable and practical option for students, spare beds and children's rooms.

How does the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set feel to sleep in?

Despite my reservations about the fabric when I first opened it, my six-year-old has slept comfortably in the Habitat Stockholm Stripe throughout our three-week test.

It feels lightweight and cool rather than heavy, and has been breathable enough as temperatures have fluctuated during September, including several days above 20°C.

The fabric isn't particularly soft. “Crisp” is the charitable description; “oof, that's a bit rough” was my first impression. It became noticeably softer after washing, so if you're using it on a child's bed or are sensitive to slightly rough bedding, I'd wash it before first use.

If you're a student who just wants something clean and serviceable on the bed with minimal faff, you may not be remotely bothered.

The bedding set was sent to me by Argos to sample their student university essentials

How well does the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set fit and hold together?

The single duvet cover measures 200 x 135cm and has fitted my son's standard single duvet well throughout testing. The 75 x 50cm pillowcase also fits his pillow comfortably and has an envelope closure to keep it neatly tucked inside.

The Loaf duvet itself has bunched occasionally, although I'm testing this with a six-year-old who considers remaining still while asleep apparently impossible.

The clear plastic buttons at the bottom are easy to fasten, but I have found myself doing some of them back up a few times each week. Again, given the amount of wrestling this duvet has endured, I'd consider that a minor niggle rather than an obvious construction fault.

After three weeks there are no pulled threads, loose seams or other obvious signs of wear.

Is the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set reversible?

Yes. The duvet cover is reversible, allowing you to switch between two coordinating grey designs.

Don't expect a dramatic bedroom transformation, though. It's essentially the same bedding with the stripe arranged differently. I switched it during testing and my six-year-old didn't notice, which probably tells you everything you need to know.

Still, both sides are neutral and easy to style, and the design feels grown-up enough to work equally well in a child's bedroom, spare room or student accommodation.

Can you machine wash and tumble dry the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set?

Yes. Habitat recommends washing it at 40°C and says it's suitable for tumble drying.

I washed DC’s set once at 40°C using my washing machine's preset bed and bath cycle. It came out without any visible shrinking, colour loss, bobbling or damage and actually felt slightly softer afterwards.

I don't own a tumble dryer, so dried it on a DrySoon heated clothes airer instead. It dried easily and retained its shape.

The bedding also carries STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX certification, meaning its components have been tested against the certification's limits for harmful substances.

The duvet cover is finished with simple clear button fastenings along the bottom edge 

Does the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set need ironing?

Not in my house. I avoid ironing wherever humanly possible and deliberately buy easy-iron or non-iron clothing for my children, so the chances of me ironing a duvet cover are vanishingly small.

Fortunately, after washing at 40°C and drying on a heated clothes airer, the Habitat Stockholm Stripe looked perfectly respectable. There were no particularly ugly creases and I was happy to put it straight back onto the bed.

Argos also states that ironing isn't necessary, while the polyester content should make it less prone to creasing than some 100% cotton bedding.

Is the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set fire resistant?

No. Now, this wasn’t entirely clear at first so I had to do some digging. According to information provided by the supplier through Argos's customer Q&A, the set is not fire resistant and hasn't been treated with a flame-retardant finish.

How easy is the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set to fit and use day to day?

Very. Admittedly, I'm accustomed to changing a super king at home, so putting a lightweight single duvet cover on feels like something of a holiday.

The fabric is light and easy to manoeuvre, the duvet fits comfortably inside and the buttons are straightforward to fasten.

For students tackling their own bedding for perhaps the first time, there really isn't much excuse.

The lightweight polycotton fabric feels soft and smooth, with a fine grey and white stripe running throughout

How much does the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set cost, and is it worth it?

The single set we tested costs £10 and, having used it for three weeks, I think its value for money is its strongest feature.

I didn't buy the bedding myself – it was gifted by Argos for testing – and I tested it before paying much attention to the retail price. Based purely on its appearance and performance, I'd have guessed the single set cost more than £15.

There are compromises. It isn't particularly soft and the 52% polyester fabric won't appeal if you prefer natural fibres. But it still looks virtually new after three weeks, survived its first wash without shrinking or fading and has kept my son comfortable.

I'd happily spend my own money on another as a spare set for my children's beds.

Who is the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set best for?

Students are an obvious audience. My six-year-old is technically a student too – primary school involves learning something new every day, after all – and he's proved a fairly effective stand-in during testing.

The low price, neutral design and straightforward care make it particularly well suited to student accommodation, where bedding may only be used for six or seven months of the year before being packed away again.

I'd also recommend it for children's bedrooms, spare rooms or simply as an inexpensive backup set for wash day.

It wouldn't be my first choice if you prioritise natural fibres or exceptionally soft bedding, and hot sleepers may prefer something with a higher cotton content. Likewise, if you're trying to recreate crisp-but-luxurious hotel bedding, this isn't it.

My verdict: should you buy the Habitat Stockholm Stripe Grey Bedding Set?

At £10 for the single set, there's very little to complain about.

After three weeks of testing, the Habitat Stockholm Stripe still looks virtually new despite regular use by a six-year-old, has washed well, dries easily and has proved lightweight and comfortable to sleep under.

The design is neutral enough for student accommodation, spare rooms and children's bedrooms without looking obviously cheap, and I was genuinely surprised by the price after testing it.

The compromise is softness. If you're used to high-cotton, linen or muslin bedding, you'll notice the polyester content immediately and I'd recommend washing it before first use. It isn't luxurious and it isn't trying to be.

For inexpensive, unfussy bedding that looks good and does the job, however, it's excellent value.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts (aka Beccy) is our resident home and lifestyle expert with a practical focus on sleep, wellness and everyday comfort. She’s equally at home tackling frank, NSFW‑adjacent topics as she is road‑testing kitchen gadgets, home appliances and beauty tech that work for real parents. As a mum of two, she writes with the time‑poor, sleep‑deprived in mind - honest product reviews, realistic routines.

When she’s not at her desk, she’s probably product‑testing with her two helpers, corralling a PTA, or walking her two dogs up and down country lanes. 

About Mumsnet reviews

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All prices correct at time of writing.

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