If you’ve ever stood in a homeware aisle staring at £60 duvet sets and wondering whether the “luxury” label actually means anything, you’ll appreciate the relief of a retailer that cuts to the chase. Online Home Shop (OHS) has built an entire UK business around one idea: decent bedding shouldn’t cost more than a takeaway.
I’ve spent the past year picking through their bedding catalogue — polycotton duvet covers, teddy fleece sets, weighted blankets, fitted sheets, pillow protectors — and tracking which ones are genuinely worth the basket click. This isn’t a sponsored “everything is brilliant” post. It’s what I’d tell a friend who’d asked me where to start.
If you’re refreshing a bedroom on a budget, or kitting out a rental, here’s what I’d actually buy on OHS — and what I’d skip.
Why OHS for Bedding Specifically?
Bedding is OHS’s strongest category by a distance. Two reasons:
- Volume buying. They stock hundreds of duvet set variations in every common UK size (single, double, king, super-king) which means economies of scale and low pricing that other homeware retailers can’t match.
- Focused sourcing. Unlike Amazon (which sells everything) or Argos (which sells mostly brand-name bedding), OHS controls its own ranges. That keeps the quality more predictable — you know roughly what £10 polycotton feels like, because they sell 40 variations of it.
The flip side is that there’s no designer label panache. These are clean, functional, sometimes fun ranges — not the kind of thing you’d expect to see in a Living Etc. shoot. That’s fine if you want value. It’s not fine if you want Instagram clout.
1. Polycotton Duvet Sets — The Reliable Workhorse
If I could only buy one thing from OHS, it’d be a polycotton duvet set. Typically £10–14 for a double, £12–16 for a king size, they consist of a duvet cover and two pillowcases in a coordinating design.
What they’re good at:
- Easy-care — wash, shake, barely needs ironing
- Breathable — polycotton sits between pure cotton (too cool in winter) and polyester (too hot)
- Colour-fast — after 15+ washes, my sets have barely faded
- Patterns are surprisingly tasteful — simple stripes, florals, ombre, geometric
Watch out for: the cheapest £6 sets. These are usually pure polyester, noticeably shinier, and less breathable. Worth the extra £4–5 for polycotton.
My pick: a plain white polycotton king set for everyday, plus a patterned one for colour rotation. Total cost under £30 for both.
2. Teddy Fleece Bedding — Winter’s Secret Weapon
This is the category OHS does better than almost anyone. Teddy fleece duvet sets (and fitted sheets) are heavier than a traditional polycotton set and have that plush, hug-like feel that makes getting out of bed in January physically harder.
What you get: a thick teddy fleece duvet cover and matching pillowcases, usually in neutrals (grey, oatmeal, blush) or themed patterns.
Typical price: £16–22 for a king set. Compare to Dunelm’s equivalent at £35–45 and you see why these sell out every November.
Who should actually buy teddy fleece?
Anyone whose bedroom gets genuinely cold at night (poorly insulated homes, top-floor flats, bedrooms that share a wall with the outside). If you run hot or live in a well-insulated new build, you’ll overheat under teddy fleece — stick to polycotton.
3. Weighted Blankets — A Surprise Hit
OHS’s own-brand weighted blankets come in 4–15kg options at around £30–50, which is significantly cheaper than specialist brands like Mela or Kalm (which go £80–120 for similar weights).
I bought the 6.8kg version (the recommended weight for someone around 10 stone) and used it for three months before writing this. Honest feedback:
- Weight distribution is even — no awkward cold spots or bulges
- Outer cover is removable and washable (critical — you can’t put the whole thing in the machine)
- Takes about a week to get used to; after that, my sleep logging app showed a genuine improvement in deep-sleep minutes
- The cover fabric is fine, not luxurious — if you want a plushier cover, buy one separately
Worth it if you’ve been curious about weighted blankets but didn’t want to commit £100+ to the experiment.
4. Fitted Sheets and Pillowcases — Boring but Critical
Most people don’t think hard about fitted sheets. OHS has a deep range (from £6 for a single to £15 for a super-king, in roughly 15 colours), and they’re one of the few retailers that still stocks deep-pocket fitted sheets for mattresses thicker than 30cm — handy if you’ve upgraded to a modern pocket-sprung mattress.
Pillowcase packs (2 for £5, 4 for £9) are a good way to rotate without buying new duvet sets. The polycotton options here hold up as well as the duvet covers.
One tip: always buy fitted sheets one size up if your mattress is deeper than a standard UK double. OHS lists the pocket depth on most products, but not all.
5. Kids’ and Character Bedding — Niche but Strong
If you have kids, OHS’s licensed character ranges (Disney, Harry Potter, Paw Patrol, Pokémon, football clubs) are priced 20–30% below what John Lewis or Next charge for equivalent licensed bedding. Quality is on par — the prints are vibrant and don’t peel after washing.
The caveat: designs change every season, so if your child is obsessed with a specific show, buy two sets at once. They’ll be gone by the time the first one wears out.
Side-by-Side: Best Picks Under £30
| Product | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Polycotton duvet set (king) | £12–16 | Everyday rotation, rentals, guest rooms |
| Teddy fleece duvet set (king) | £18–22 | Cold bedrooms, winter comfort |
| Weighted blanket (6.8kg) | £30–40 | Sleep anxiety, restless sleepers |
| Fitted sheet (king, deep) | £9–12 | Modern thick mattresses |
| Pillowcase 4-pack | £9 | Rotation without buying a full set |
| Licensed kids’ duvet set | £14–18 | Children’s rooms, gifts |
How to Buy Smart on OHS
A handful of tactics I’ve picked up:
- Wait for a site-wide event. OHS runs “Mega Value Deals” and end-of-season clearances roughly every 6–8 weeks. That’s when the best discounts stack.
- Buy two sizes up for deep mattresses. Fitted sheets from most UK brands assume 25cm pocket depth. If your mattress is 30cm+, check the product description carefully.
- Combine to hit free delivery. Free delivery kicks in at around £55. Adding a pillowcase set or a throw is often cheaper than paying £3.95 postage.
- Skip “complete 7-piece” bundles. These usually include a flat sheet (rarely used in UK homes) and a valance sheet (often unnecessary). You’re paying for items you won’t use.
What I Wouldn’t Buy Here
To be balanced — a couple of categories where I’d look elsewhere:
- Towels. As covered in my full OHS review, the towel bales feel thinner than the price suggests. Stretch £5 more for a supermarket own-brand or White Company basics range.
- Pure cotton percale. OHS has tried this but the quality isn’t consistent. For pure cotton, Soak & Sleep or a John Lewis sale is better value.
- Pillows (the actual pillow, not the case). The fillings flatten fast. Buy the pillowcases from OHS but the pillows from Dunelm or Silentnight.
Want to refresh the bedroom this week?
Start with one duvet set and one throw. You can rebuild an entire bedroom aesthetic for under £40 using just those two items.
Free delivery over £55 • Klarna and Clearpay available
Bottom Line
Bedding is where Online Home Shop genuinely earns its keep. Polycotton duvet sets, teddy fleece, weighted blankets and fitted sheets all deliver on the price. If you can be disciplined about avoiding the towels and skipping the flashy “bundle” deals, you can kit out an entire bedroom for less than the cost of a single premium duvet cover from a department store.
If you’ve never ordered there before, start with a polycotton king set and a teddy fleece throw — about £28 combined — and make your own call from there.
Quick FAQ
How does OHS bedding compare to Dunelm?
OHS is consistently cheaper on entry- to mid-range bedding. Dunelm has a broader premium range and in-store browsing. For value, OHS wins.
Is teddy fleece washable?
Yes, at 30–40°C. Air-dry or tumble on low — high heat damages the plush texture.
How long does a typical OHS duvet set last?
In my experience, the polycotton sets easily last 2+ years with weekly washing. Teddy fleece will show pilling after 6–8 months of heavy use but remains functional for longer.
Do they do custom sizes?
No — sizing is standard UK (single, double, king, super-king, emperor in a few cases). Check product dimensions carefully before ordering.