Luxury hotels adopted all-white bedding in the 1990s as a psychological trick pioneered by Westin and Sheraton to make guests believe a room has just been recently renovated and meticulously cleaned.

A closer look

Luxury hotels adopted all-white bedding in the 1990s as a psychological trick pioneered by Westin and Sheraton to make guests believe a room has just been recently renovated and meticulously cleaned. White sheets cannot hide stains, dirt, or stray hairs, so providing them is the hotel industry's way of aggressively flexing their laundering capabilities to an increasingly germaphobic clientele. The visual impact of a pristine white bed produces a halo effect that makes the entire room feel inherently more luxurious, even if the carpet hasn't been deep-cleaned since the Obama administration. It is a brilliant piece of subconscious marketing that ensures you will completely ignore the questionable stains on the decorative lobby armchair