Matelassé Bedding Guide
With a rich history and myriad of contemporary interpretations, matelassé bedding is a lightweight, beautiful way to elevate your bedding aesthetic. Its intricate, quilted design adds depth and dimension, making matelassé coverlets and shams the perfect finish for a layered look or a standalone statement. Discover how to use this timeless material in any bedroom in our guide to buying and styling matelassé bedding.
What Is Matelassé?
Matelassé means “quilted” in French and refers to a type of single-ply fabric that is stitched or woven to create the appearance of being quilted. Though it looks padded, matelassé is just one layer of fabric and is most often used for coverlets or bedspreads, matching shams, and sometimes bed skirts or other accent pieces.
Popular matelassé motifs range from traditional floral, leaf, or paisley designs to modern geometric or pebbled textures.
When looking for high-quality matelassé bedding, pay attention to the three following characteristics:
- Fiber: The finest matelassé is made from cotton, a natural fiber known for its softness, strength, and breathability.
- Fabric: The defining characteristic of matelassé is its single-ply fabric. True matelassé will only have one layer.
- Construction: Matelassé bedding should be jacquard woven or stitched in such a way that it looks as if it is quilted. If your floral motif or other design is featured on padded fabric, you’re looking at a quilt, not a matelassé.
