Marks & Spencer Comfortably Cool Bedding review: do these cooling lyocell sheets live up to the hype?

Price: from £17.50 | Shop now at M&S

How we tested

Mumsnet editor Poppy tested the M&S Comfortably Cool fitted sheet, pillowcases and duvet cover at home over the course of 6 weeks. She took detailed notes on the bedding's quality, comfort and how effective it was at cooling throughout the night, as well as how well it washes and dries.

What Mumsnet users say

"They are absolutely fantastic, cool, smooth and so comfortable. They wash well too. No more overheating for me!" Freakydeaky

"I love the M&S comfortably cool range. Really helps with my night sweats." heidibuttsupper

"It's amazing! Its a 200 thread count, beautifully silky, actually stays cool, washes fantastically, barely creases and it's not too expensive either." FrenchHen

"Unbelievably soft and somehow manages to avoid wrinkles altogether, so always looks v. tidy even though I’m a slattern who doesn’t iron." TerribleCustomerCervix

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Our verdict

I must admit I was sceptical that bedsheets could make much of a difference to the temperature of our bed, but oh my goodness, I'm a convert. Having slept on cotton sheets for my whole life, I was really impressed by how cool and smooth the lyocell mix sheets, duvet cover and pillowcases felt in comparison.

Paired with a Panda Bamboo Mattress Topper, the M&S Comfortably Cool bedding has really improved my sleep. I tend to get quite hot at night, and suffer from the occasional night sweat which can wake me up. I was amazed at how much the bedding helps to regulate the temperature in my bed, and find I'm sweating and waking up a lot less at night. In fact, when I put the M&S set in the wash, my cotton bedding felt a bit uncomfortable in comparison.

My bed is a European King, so the fitted sheet I tested didn't fit perfectly as this range isn't currently available in European sizes. The fabric is nice and light, and it washes well in my washing machine at 30 degrees. The bedding can be dried in the tumble dryer, but I prefer my retractable washing line, weather permitting. It dries quickly and retains its smoothness and softness after washing.

Related: The best cooling pillows for a great night's sleep

How does the M&S Comfortably Cool bedding range look?

Available in nine colours and three patterns, there's bound to be a Comfortably Cool set to match your bedroom decor. I went for teal, and was impressed by the range of choice - often with specialist cooling products, you have to choose between style and function, but M&S have made sure there are plenty of options available.

How effective is M&S Comfortably Cool bedding at cooling?

The bedding certainly makes a noticeable difference to the temperature and feel of my bed. When you get under the duvet, it feels fresh and cool. The temperature feels regulated throughout the night, it warms up along with your body heat initially, but seems to create a nice equilibrium to keep you feeling, as the name suggests, comfortably cool throughout the night.

Lyocell is a semi-synthetic fabric, made from cellulose derived from wood. It's a sustainable fabric, and more resistant to pilling than cotton. The M&S Comfortably Cool range is made from a blend of 78% lyocell and 22% cotton, which is smooth to the touch, moisture wicking and contains M&S's StayNew™ technology to keep it looking good as new for longer. As if that wasn't enough, it also has a non-iron finish, if you're concerned about creases, and Mumsnetters can attest to the fact that it stays supernaturally crumple-free.

Read next: The best quiet fans for your bedroom

Does the M&S Comfortably Cool bedding range offer good value for money?

M&S do a huge range of bedding, with prices from £17.50 for a standard king size cotton blend set. A king size set of Comfortably Cool bedding will set you back £106 - plus there's a duvet (£99) and mattress topper (£89) available too.

These prices are certainly premium, but the difference is clear when compared to non-cooling bedding, and Mumsnetters swear by the range for combatting night sweats.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing baby and child products for 2 years, with a particular focus on home and garden essentials, laundry appliances and cooling products. From pedestal fans to paddling pools and washing machines to steam irons, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the best products out there.

Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.

After earning a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Leeds and a PGCert in Fashion and Lifestyle Journalism from University of the Arts London, she worked in fashion for most of her 20s. When her children were young, she undertook an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester and re-trained as an author and freelance writer.

About Mumsnet reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.