14 Expert-Approved Home Products to Make You Feel Like You’re Living in a Hotel

The Expert Edit features interviews with specialists about the products they swear by in their chosen field. For the latest installment, we spoke to Tandy Avery, VP of Product Development at Luxome, about her recommendations for all things home, including bedding, bath products, and loungewear.

Tandy Avery is the VP of Product Development at Luxome, which is one of my personal favorite home brands that makes my go-to bedding, towels, and weighted blanket (the latter being a must have for keeping my anxiety at bay). Avery oversees the research, sourcing, design, testing, and development of all the high-quality luxury products on Luxome’s site, which means a large part of her job is comparative analysis. In my personal opinion, she’s mastered the game, considering the fact that I’ve never used bath towels, sheets, or a comforter quite as plush or temperature-regulating – and that’s even including my hotel stays.

“I have learned how other brands/companies churn out products for profit, but it almost always ends in a sacrifice of quailty,” Avery reports of her experience at Luxome. “Although difficult and more costly, we’ve stuck to our brand principles and do not settle until we have developed and thoroughly tested products that we feel confident in and love. The learning lesson is that despite having to push back timelines or sometimes start from the beginning again, we should never compromise on the end result. We take great pride in this and it does not go unnoticed by our happy customers.”

Being one of those happy customers who also happens to sweat in her sleep and had tried countless products to no avail, I now wake up dry thanks to Luxome’s bedding. But in an effort to explore even deeper, I asked Avery to share her tips for purchasing cooling bed sheets and washing delicates – like towels – so that their quality is preserved over time.

Ahead, read through Avery’s advice, then learn which home products she personally uses daily to prioritize comfort, convenience, and a feel-good, luxurious atmosphere.

What are the best cooling bed sheets for summer?

The best and most comfortable materials for summer bedding are those made from natural fibers, as Avery explains. “Since a majority of people tend to overheat at night, natural fibers, such as viscose from bamboo, cotton, and linen are breathable and more comfortable than synthetic materials. Viscose and lyocell from bamboo will also help regulate body temperature,” she says. You can also keep your eyes peeled for 37.5 Technology that helps keep you warm when you’re cold and cools you when you’re hot. If you do decide to invest in temperature regulating bedsheets, the bonus is you shouldn’t have to switch out your bedding when the seasons change.

How often should you wash bedding?

Avery’s standard rule is to wash bedding once a week or every two weeks, although lifestyle and personal preferences may obviously affect that cadence. “Sheets can accumulate many things you can and cannot see over time, including skin flakes, bodily fluids and oils, dust, dust mites, pet hair, dirt, sweat, and allergens,” she says. If that freaks you out a bit, you can shower before bed to preserve cleanliness – and if you have allergies, try to stick to the once a week wash since bacteria and dust mite buildup in your sheets can make them worse.

What temperature should you wash bath towels?

The best way to maintain the quality of your bath towels is to follow proper washing and care instructions. And if you’re anything like me, you probably didn’t know that hot water is more damaging to fibers, which can result in shedding towels that wear more quickly. Another eye-opening takeaway? You should avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets if you have high-quality towels with absorption properties and you want to reap the benefits of their fast-drying capabilities. “Fabric softeners work by leaving a layer of residue on your linens that reduces the absorption of your towels,” Avery explains, recommending a once-a-week wash for full bath towels and more frequent wash for washcloths and hand towels.

“For bath towels, how often you’re washing is more important than changing seasonally because occasional wear and tear won’t affect the usability of the towel whereas over-washing or incorrectly washing them will. Switching them out after a year or two makes the most sense in terms of material durability and maintaining hygienic habits,” Avery says.

Shop Tandy Avery’s must have home products ahead.