Mattress colours and depths for bed sheets explained

Hi Elizabeth,

Thank you for your question. You are right that our mattresses are white and that the colour choice applies to the base. You will also need deeper sheets for the Origins Pocket 1500.

Why are mattresses white?

Almost every mattress on the market is white or off white, and ours are no exception. A white cover will not show through a pale fitted sheet, so it works with whatever bedding and colour scheme you choose.

White also shows marks clearly, so you can spot a stain early and sponge it with a mild detergent without any risk of lifting dye from the fabric. Our guide on how to get stains out of a mattress covers the method.

A few boxed foam brands have used brightly coloured covers as part of their branding. We prefer white for the reasons above, and we always recommend a removable, washable mattress protector to take the brunt of sweat and spills. The mattress itself should only ever be spot cleaned and left to air dry, as explained in our mattress care guide.

Choosing a colour for your base

The colour choice on our site is for the base, and this is where you can match your bedroom. Our handmade divans, bed frames and headboards come in a range of fabrics and colours, from neutrals through to bolder shades.

You can see the full choice in our bases range, and our guide to bed frames and bedsteads helps if you are still deciding on a style.

Have mattress depths changed over the years?

Yes. Mattresses made with generous layers of upholstery on both sides are deeper than many of the thin, one-sided mattresses people have been used to, so older fitted sheets often come up short.

Depth on its own is a poor guide to what is inside a mattress, though. We explain the standard UK depths, what makes up those centimetres and how depth relates to sleep quality in our full guide to standard mattress depth and how thick a mattress should be.

Will your sheets fit the Origins Pocket 1500?

The Origins Pocket 1500 is 30 to 33cm deep, with 1,550gsm of upholstery over 1,500 pocket springs, and costs £1,050 in a king size. It is two-sided, so it carries fillings on both faces, which is a large part of that depth.

Standard fitted sheets are usually too shallow for it, so you will need an extra deep sheet. Our Extra Deep Fitted Pima Cotton Sheet has a 38cm pocket and costs £55 in a king size, and our 100% Cotton Quilted Mattress Protector is cut to the same depth, also £55 in a king size.

If you plan to add a topper, allow for its thickness too. Our guide to choosing a fitted sheet for a deep mattress explains how to work out the pocket depth you need.

If you would like any more help, or would prefer to order over the phone, call us on 0161 437 4419.

Sleep Well,
John & Ryan