You're more likely to get bed bugs if your sheets are one of these 3 colors

On the left, an image of a young women checking her bed sheets and mattress for any sigs of bed bugs. On the right, a close up of bed bugs in a mattress — (Image credit: Shutterstock / Future)

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How to dress your bed to repel bugs
Anti-bed bug essentials

Choosing what color to dress your bed in isn't simply a matter of aesthetics — it could be the difference between a bed bug paradise and a mattress free of pests.

Research suggests bed bugs are drawn to bedding in black, red and purple (violet and lilac are particularly preferable to females), while turning away from green and yellow. So while you think covering your best mattress in black bedding is sophisticated, be aware bed bugs like your style.

But don't worry, we're exploring the simple bedding switches that make your mattress less tempting to a bed bug — and why black and red are a no-go.

Key takeaways: At a glance

A study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that male bed bugs are drawn to dark red and black sheets, while female bed bugs like lilac.
These darker colors might remind them of safe hiding spaces, or simply look like other bed bugs.
Bed bugs are less attracted to yellow and green sheets because they are very bright. To a bed bug, yellow signals 'exposure'.
Choosing yellow, green, white, beige or cream bedding so that you can spot the signs of bed bugs easier, such as their faeces (they look like ink dots).

The bed sheet colors bed bugs love and the colors they avoid

It's bad news for goths — bed bugs also love the gloomy aesthetic and it might be tempting them towards your mattress.

A study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that bed bugs tend to flock towards red and black sheets while staying away from green and yellow bedding.

Two women stand on either side of a mattress to change a light colored duvet cover — (Image credit: Future)

Male bed bugs in particular showed a preference for red and black, while female bed bugs had an eye for lilac and violet.

That's not to say yellow bedding will act as a bed bug repellent, but if you want to avoid turning your mattress into the perfect conditions for bed bugs, steering clear of darker sheets is a good place to start.

How to dress your bed to repel bugs

If you're looking to turn away bed bugs, take these factors into consideration when choosing new bed sheets:

Use a mattress encasement

Encasements wrap around the entirety of your mattress to provide protection against stains, moisture and dust. They’re also helpful at keeping creepy crawlies away, acting as a barrier against pests such as bed bugs and dust mites.

The Linenspa Mattress Encasement halfway on the mattress in or reviewer Ruth Jones' bedroom — (Image credit: Future)

We recommend anyone with a mattress uses a mattress protector, as it helps extend the life of your bed. A mattress encasement is an extra layer of protection to help in the fight against bed bugs.

Opt for light colored sheets

The study showed that bed bugs were most attracted to red and black sheets and turned their noses up at green and yellow bedding.

However, if spring shades aren't your vibe, opting for lighter colored sheets of any shade will be beneficial in preventing bed bugs, because it's simply much easier to spot the early stages of an infestation on a set of pale sheets.

Bed bugs and their eggs are small and dark, blending right in to your black bedding. And common signs of bed bugs — such as black and rusty marks — also disappear on dark bedding while standing out on pale sheets.

Choose easy to clean bedding

One of the best ways to avoid bed bugs is by regularly washing your bedding at a high temperature. We recommend 140°F (60°C) for 90 minutes, followed by a spin in the dryer set to hot (or a few hours in direct sunshine), roughly once a week.

A hand holding a mattress pad that's being placed in the washing machine — (Image credit: Getty Images)

However, some sheets can’t handle this level of upkeep. You should always read the care instructions before washing but when you’re shopping for a new set of bed sheets, the best options for pest control can withstand some rough handling.

Why your dark sheets are bed bug central

It's hard to get into the mind of a bed bug (and, frankly, few of us want to) so it's tricky to guess what they see in your dark sheets. However. there's a few theories as to why your red or black bedding is a bed bug lure...

Dark sheets remind them of safety: Bed bugs aren’t afraid of the dark — in fact, it's their safe space. Some theories suggest dark colored sheets remind bed bugs of their hidey-holes.
They look like other bugs: Have you ever seen a cluster of bed bugs on a mattress? It’s basically a dark blob. So for a bed bug looking for its friends, your dark sheets seem like bed bug Coachella.
It’s harder so spot bed bugs on dark sheets: Bed bugs are a brownish-red and their feces leave black spots. As a result, it’s harder to uncover the early stages of an infestation if you’re searching for signs on dark bedding.

Bed bug busting essentials

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