Quick Answer: Are They Worth It?
A "Bed in a Bag" is an all-in-one set containing a comforter, sheets, pillowcases, shams, and sometimes a bed skirt.
Pros: Convenient (one purchase matches everything), cheap ($50-$100).
Cons: Usually 100% polyester (hot sleeping), sheets are often thin and pill quickly, comforter batting clumps after washing.
Verdict: Great for guest rooms or student rentals. For your master bedroom, you will sleep significantly better buying separate high-quality sheets and a durable duvet.
Brad, Owner since 1987: "We have been helping Brantford families sleep better since 1987. Every customer gets personal attention, honest advice, and the kind of follow-up service you just do not get from big box stores."
5 min read
Walking into a department store in Brantford, you'll see walls of plastic-zippered bags promising a complete bedroom makeover for $89.99. It's tempting. A Bed in a Bag Queen Set seems like the ultimate hack.
At Mattress Miracle, we aren't against convenience. But we are against bad sleep. Here is the honest truth about what is inside that bag.
What You Get (Usually)
A typical 8-piece Queen set includes:
- 1 Comforter (Polyester fill)
- 2 Pillow Shams (Decorative)
- 1 Flat Sheet
- 1 Fitted Sheet (Often shallow pockets)
- 2 Pillowcases (For sleeping)
- 1 Bed Skirt (Dust ruffle)
The Material Trap
To hit that low price point, manufacturers cut corners.
The "Microfiber" Myth: Most bags boast "Double Brushed Microfiber." This is a fancy word for plastic. It creates a barrier that traps heat and sweat.
The Lumpy Comforter: The batting inside cheap comforters is rarely stitched down properly. After one wash, the filling shifts to the corners, leaving you with a lumpy, useless blanket.
When is a Bed in a Bag Okay?
We recommend them for:
- Guest Rooms: If the bed is used 10 nights a year, durability doesn't matter as much.
- Staging: Selling your home? It's the cheapest way to make a bedroom look photo-ready.
- AirBnB / Student Rentals: Where sheets might get ruined/stained and need frequent cheap replacement.
Building a Better Bed
For your own bed, invest in the "Mix and Match" approach.
- Sheets: Buy 100% Cotton or Bamboo (breathable).
- Duvet: Buy a quality insert that lasts 10 years.
- Cover: Buy a Duvet Cover Set (Cover + Shams) for the design.
This costs more upfront ($200-$300 vs $90), but you won't be replacing it in 6 months, and you won't wake up sweaty.
Bedding Materials and Sleep Temperature
The materials in your bed-in-a-bag set directly affect sleep quality. Research in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology (Okamoto-Mizuno & Mizuno, 2012) found that sleep surface temperature is the single strongest environmental predictor of sleep quality. Polyester bedding (common in budget bed-in-a-bag sets) traps 40% more body heat than cotton, potentially disrupting the natural temperature drop needed for deep sleep. TENCEL and bamboo blends (found in premium sets) absorb 50-70% more moisture than cotton according to Lenzing AG fibre data, making them ideal for hot sleepers.
Quality Bedding at Mattress Miracle
We carry queen bedding sets and individual pieces that complement our mattresses: cotton sheet sets ($79-$149), mattress protectors ($49-$99), and pillow protectors ($19-$29). Brad and Dorothy can recommend the right bedding material based on whether you sleep hot or cold and which mattress you choose. Visit us at 441 1/2 West Street, Brantford.
Shop: Queen Mattresses at Mattress Miracle
Shop This Topic at Mattress Miracle
Popular picks at Mattress Miracle:
Or browse all mattresses in our Brantford showroom.
Find Your Perfect Mattress at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1987. Come try mattresses in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Frequently Asked Questions
Why do the sheets pill so fast?
Short-staple synthetic fibers rub together and break, creating fuzz balls. High-quality cotton uses long fibers that don't break.
Will the fitted sheet fit my pillow-top?
Likely not. Most bagged sets have 12-inch pockets. Modern mattresses are 14-16 inches deep. The sheet will pop off the corners constantly.
Can I wash the comforter?
Yes, but use a large machine and tennis balls to try and keep the fluff even. Dry on low heat to prevent melting the polyester shell.
Do you sell complete sets?
We sell "Duvet Sets" (Cover + Shams) and "Sheet Sets" separately. We believe in letting you choose the right fabric for your skin, rather than forcing a pre-packed kit on you.
Invest in Sleep, Not Plastic
Visit Mattress Miracle at 441 1/2 West Street. Feel the difference between a bagged microfiber sheet and our bamboo display. You spend 8 hours a day there, make it count.
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
Mattress Miracle
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford
Phone: (519) 770-0001
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4
Our team has 38 years of experience helping customers find the right sleep solution. Call ahead or walk in any day of the week.
Sources
- Walker M. Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. Scribner. 2017. ISBN: 978-1501144318.
- Okamoto-Mizuno K, Mizuno K. Effects of thermal environment on sleep and circadian rhythm. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012;31(1):14. DOI: 10.1186/1880-6805-31-14
- Krauchi K. The thermophysiological cascade leading to sleep initiation in relation to phase of entrainment. Sleep Med Rev. 2007;11(6):439-451. DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2007.07.001
- Haskell EH, Palca JW, Walker JM, Berger RJ, Heller HC. The effects of high and low ambient temperatures on human sleep stages. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1981;51(5):494-501.
Sources
- Jacobson, B. H. et al. (2008). "Grouped comparisons of sleep quality for new and personal bedding systems." Applied Ergonomics, 39(2), 247-254. PubMed 17662962.
- Radwan, A. et al. (2015). "Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment." Sleep Health, 1(4), 257-267. PubMed 29073401.
- Kovacs, F. M. et al. (2003). "Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain." The Lancet, 362(9396), 1599-1604. PubMed 14630439.