10 best single bedding sets for students that are affordable, soft and durable

Sinking into bed with this silky soft set is nothing less than dreamy. Feeling the fabric, we were convinced we were dealing with a pure cotton, high thread count product, so it was a shock to learn that it is made from a mix of cotton and sustainably sourced Tencel lyocell, which is what gives it its breathable quality on those balmy summer nights. The watercolour pattern is calming and airy, and we like that there is the option of checked or striped prints because it is reversible. It also washed well and looked good on the bed without needing to be ironed.

The fun monochrome design featured on this bedding set will look great in any room and with almost all colour schemes. It feels soft and our tester slept fantastically wrapped in it, plus it washed well. The print is timeless and at just £12, we were very happy with this one.

This bedding set scores highly in the design stakes. We love the understated Scandi monochrome check and the fact that it is 100 per cent cotton makes it even better. It feels soft and came out of a 60C wash cycle looking as good as new. It is already reasonably priced but Hema offers 10 per cent student discount in-store and for online orders using the click and collect service to make this bedding even more excellent value for money.

It is almost impossible to believe this bedding set is less than £10 because the quality tells an altogether different story. It feels thick and well-made and we loved the highlands-inspired ochre design. This one also gives you options, with a reversible design that has a contemporary check pattern on one side and a more traditional tartan on the other.

It looks like the marble trend is here to stay and now you can sleep in it too with this grey bedding set. We found this soft to touch and liked that we had the choice of a darker or lighter design thanks to it being reversible. It washed well and you can get away without ironing it if you give it a low-temperature spin in the tumble dryer.

Being a student does not have to mean missing out on life’s luxuries, especially when it comes to bedding with this plush set. The silky smooth, 200 thread count cotton and sateen stripe design mean even a dorm in halls can feel like a sophisticated hotel room. We love the timeless elegance of this set and found it made for an extremely comfortable night’s sleep. It is also available in other colours, including champagne, blush and white, to match your scheme.

We adore the Moroccan-inspired monochrome print on this duvet cover and are certain it would be a great fit for almost any room. The corners feature natural-coloured tassels, adding a nice touch to the North African design and a button-up hem meant our duvet stayed in place without moving about inside night after night. A big plus is that it is 100 per cent cotton so can be washed at up to 60C and it needed no ironing so could be put straight on the bed from the washing line. Just remember to also pick up pillowcases because they are sold separately to the duvet cover.

You have truly hit adulthood when you understand the value of having two bedding sets – one on and one in the wash. This duo of duvet covers and pillowcases means you can acquire it all with minimal effort and shopping around. The stylish geometric designs, one in grey and the other in ochre, are beautiful and even these are reversible, meaning you are essentially picking up four different styles of easy-care polycotton bedding for less than £20.

Even if your student accommodation is on the top floor of a city-centre high rise, you can bring the outdoors in with this plant print bedding set. The green illustrated design brightened up our tester’s room brilliantly and the quality of this pure cotton set is sure to guarantee a restful night’s sleep.

This excellent-value-for-money bedding set injects a hint of Scandi design into a room, with its geometric pattern. We love that it can be flipped to reveal either a grey or vibrant yellow colourway depending on your mood. We found it dried quickly on a clotheshorse after washing, which would be ideal if your student accommodation means no access to a washing line or tumble dryer, although it can be tumble-dried.