To ask how much 'spare' bedding I really need?

[FlamedToACrisp]

I inherited my Mum's entire collection of bedding from her house. We have 2 double beds, in use, + 2 singles, not in use. Apart from the bedding actually on the beds, how many

pillows,
sheets,
duvets,
cushions,
sheets,
quilt covers

should I keep, assuming they are nothing special and I usually have about 3 lots of guests a year who stay about 3-4 nights?

Also - how many spare towels is wisdom and how many is hoarding?

2 sets for a guest bed. 3 for one in regular use.

Each double has 4 pillows in this house. Each single has 2.

Towels we have three each for the house one microfibre each for days out/ camping/ swimming etc.

Then I have two hand towels per loo for guests and a couple of big towels I leave out for guests when they stay.

But I also have a whole old set to mop up washing machine or bike or off road related disasters with.

Over the years I have had lots. Now we only have one set per bed. That way they get washed, dried and back on in the same day, no hanging around.

We have lots of towels because we kept some from MIL that the boys then take to uni with them. But nowhere near 30!

I have 2 pillows, DH has 3 and the boys have 2 each. I hate cushions.

Sheets - I have 3 sets of bedding - sheet, duvet cover and pillow cases - each for DD and I so I can guarantee that I can have one on the bed, one in the wash and one spare at all times. I store each set inside its pillow case and they fit nicely "filed" vertically in a storage box in our hall cupboard, so take up very little space

I keep two sets of sheets for the guest bed - we rarely have back to back guests but I prefer to be able to strip the bed, put on the clean bedding and then wash/put away the dirty stuff at my leisure, without having the guest bed unmade or feeling like I should get it washed and remade straight away.

Duvets - I just have one summer duvet for my bed as I run hot at night so use it all year round and just have a blanket for cold nights; DD has two - summer and winter - and I keep one for the guest bed that is mid weight so suitable all year round, and make sure to leave blankets for guests who might feel the cold.

Pillows - two per person, per bed. I dont keep extra pillows as we don't have enough guests to warrant hoarding them

We don't really bother with cushions etc on the beds as they're just extra clutter, but I do keep a bedspread over the guest bed when it isn't in use, just to ensure the sheets stay clean as the guest room is also our study and DD sometimes likes to sit on the bed to do homework so she can spread out with more space than there is at the desk.

I've just moved in with dp so culled mine, but I kept two sets per bed plus the questionable Christmas one he had.

We have 2 for each adult bed, 3 for each kids - the extra for the kids bed is because with kids, one can easily be in the wash, one on and yet need changing - sick, wee, drinks spilt etc. Less likely in adult beds.

Some people like buying clothes, some people makeup, I like household linen.
Every 5 years or so, a young person I know needs to set up home on a budget and I merrily equip them with all they need, so it’s not going to landfill, and start buying again.
Admittedly we need Summer and Winter changes but I have 12 (?) full sets for two single beds, 8(?) for a double, dozens of towels, ditto of tablecloths in three sizes.
Some was inherited from DMIL, most is good quality and it all gets used in rotation.
Having a choice of “lovelies” makes life a little more interesting and appeals to my nesting instinct.
I’m also a quilter...

We have ours and the guest room decorated in a similar colour scheme so that bedding matches both rooms so I don't need to think about it. We have 6 sets ( we often have continuous back to back guests when covid allows thanks to DHs parents being separated so two sets of in-laws and grandparents and then all his friends that want to visit )

Two kids rooms have about 5 sets between them dd prefers black and blue to pink so means again I can just change them without thinking - the only set that's specifically hers is her black teddy fleece set.

Youngest uses a sleeping bag so no bedding there yet.

We also have two fold out camp beds that live under the guest bed a double air bed and 4 sofas that often end up as makeshift beds so I bought plain cheap non fitted sheets and neutral coloured quilt covers so it can all be thrown in the wash together.

I dread to think how many sets we have in total and how many single quilts we own ... I know we definitely own more than 30 towels.

Most we've had stay at once was 9 so used a lot of towels that weekend.

Covid restrictions has been an eye opener at how much time we normally have other people in our home ( I think I much prefer the time with no guests!!)

I'd take a good look at the quality of the old stuff. I need to replace most of my bedding due to fading and holes every few years but the old 70s sheets that I inherited from mum still look and feel as new. I dare say that they'll outlast me. So it might be good economy to save the really good stuff and accept the retro look of them.