Most people assume higher thread counts mean superior bedding, but that’s not always the case.

Yves Delorme (3050 Granville Street)
This family-owned French textile company offers the epitome of European luxury. The colours and patterns evoke a very continental sophistication, often with exquisitely intricate details. “I bought my first Yves Delorme boudoir set...nearly 30 years ago in Paris, and I’m still using it,” recalls sales associate Yena Yohan. For a queen set, prices are: duvet cover $525, flat sheet $370, pillowcases $285 a pair, and fitted sheet $220.

The Cross (1198 Homer Street)
For a decidedly more modern, yet equally luxurious option The Cross offers micromodal linens, which are spun from all natural beechwood. “It breathes 50 percent better than cotton and feels like silk,” enthuses Peter Wilds, in-house designer for The Cross. Made in Italy, these linens are available in four colours: white, ivory, mushroom, and pale blue. A queen-size cover is $525, with matching shams $125 each.

Terra Nova Linen House (106–1120 Hamilton Street)
Terra Nova Linen House offers a line in mulberry silk from Kookoon. Aside from its lustrous appearance and sumptuous feel, silk has a pragmatic side. It is hypoallergenic, wicks moisture away from the body, automatically adjusts to ambient temperature, contains amino acids to soothe the nervous system, and glides against hair, leaving it glossy and shiny. For a queen set: duvet cover $750; pillowcases $130 each; flat sheet $370; and fitted sheet $370.

Duxiana (2623 Granville Street)
Sometimes, the only option is to have your bedding custom-made. At Duxiana, there are almost endless combinations for choosing the perfect colour, texture, thread count, sheen, shape, backing, flange, and closures. Because it’s custom-made to your specifications, you can have matching accessories made, such as table skirts and curtains. For a queen set: duvet cover $400-$800; pillowcases $90-$200 each; and fitted sheet $105-$590.

Bacci's at Home (2788 Granville Street)
Designers Guild offers joyful colours and graphic designs. For a queen set, prices are approximately: duvet cover $345; pillowcases $95 a pair; fitted sheet $180; and flat sheet $180. Matteo offers a more neutral palette. The cotton and linen used in this line are woven, spun, and dyed in Bergamo, Italy and appeal more to sophisticated minimalists. For a queen set, prices are approximately: duvet cover $425; fitted sheet $170; and pillowcases $105 each.

18 Karat (3039 Granville Street)
The hand-woven and hand-knitted blankets range from rich aubergine to earthy pumpkin, and from gold to inky black, in a variety of weights. Some are so popular that they are kept year-round, such as the “lofty mohair net throw” ($147) and the weightier “luxuria quilted throw” ($300) with velvet detail.

David Fussenegger
This Austrian line offers colourful and playful textiles. Its cotton-fleece blankets are easily machine-washable. Some styles, including the ones for dogs and cats, quickly disappear off the shelves. Others, such as the stag-print, are popular wedding gifts. Available at Bacci’s at Home. Full-size blankets cost $195; kids’ blankets sell for $135.

Designers Guild
Its 100-percent lambswool and lambswool-cotton blankets are all reversible, which means twice the artistic value for this cozy throw. These blankets add a decorative, luxurious touch to any room. Matching bed linens are available, too. The blankets cost $375 and are available at The Cross and Bacci’s at Home.

Denyse Schmidt Designs
Acclaimed fibre artist Denyse Schmidt has produced modern blankets based on the tradition of quilting. Using contrasting yet complementary long, thin strips of soft fabric, these blankets invoke nostalgia while remaining contemporary. DS Design queen-sized quilts are $480 and available at Bacci’s at Home.

Mongolian Goat
“This is the ultimate in luxury,” confides Peter Wilds of The Cross. This Mongolian goat-hair throw comes in colours to complement every décor (ivory, chocolate-brown, and black) and is backed by ultra-suede. With plush, wispy tendrils, it’s a sumptuous accent piece for those with decadent tastes. It costs $550 at The Cross.