The bedroom is one of the most important rooms in the house, even though we may not realize it. It’s a place we can call our own and use to relax and enjoy some time off. The main purpose of the bedroom is to provide us with a good night’s sleep. People focus on their mattresses when they think about comfort, and that’s not a bad thing. But they often forget about the importance of the sheets. Having a nice cosy material you can snuggle in can be a game changer. Wrapping yourself in a breathable soft fabric every night will give you peaceful dreams and you’ll feel fresh and rested every morning.
Materials
Shopping for new sheets can be confusing sometimes. If you buy high-quality sheets online be sure to inform yourself about the materials and decide which one will be the best for you. In the store, you can touch and feel them, but online stores are something different. The proper material has the power to make you feel comfortable, help you get a good night’s sleep and make you feel fresh every morning.
Cotton
Cotton is one of the most commonly used materials worldwide. It has the ability to adapt to any shape and size, and bed sheets are not an exception. It’s at the top because of many reasons. First, it’s breathable, which is great for people who tend to sweat a lot. Second, it’s durable so you’ll use it for a long time. Third, it’s very soft. Fourth, it’s easy to clean and maintain, meaning it doesn’t require any special treatment in stain removal.
And finally, it’s affordable. You won’t break your budget to have high-quality material on your bed. However, there are several types of cotton that differ in the thread count, its origin or the weaving style. Here are some of the most common types you can find on the market:
- Egyptian Cotton – most luxurious, super-soft, very smooth;
- Pima Cotton – natural sheen, very soft;
- Upland Cotton – lower quality, very common, very durable;
- Micro Cotton – fine threads, soft, durable;
- Cotton Jersey – soft, it’s knit not woven, easy to clean;
- Flannel – soft, pliant, good for colder weather.
Linen
When it comes to comfort, strength, and breathability in bedding, linen is a unique material that is different from the others. It’s made from the Linum plant – its fibres to be exact. Its texture is always soft and oftentimes it gives out a feeling of being quilted. Linen is also very breathable and you can find it on its own or blended with cotton for extra breathability and softness. You can use these sheets throughout the whole year. In the summer they’ll keep you cool and ventilated, and during the winter period, you’ll be warm and cosy. If you have kids, buy this material for them because of its durability. Kids can toss, turn and stain sheets a lot more than adults, and this material can take a beating. Plus, this is a hypoallergenic option, great for people with dust allergies.
Silk
Silk is probably the most luxurious material you’ll find on the market. It’s made by silkworms and that’s why it needs extra caution when you clean and maintain it. It gives out a sensuous feel that no other material has. People prefer it during the summer because it’ll keep you cool. Because of its hypoallergenic properties, it can help you ease any allergy symptoms. The only downside is its price. It’s quite expensive and not everyone can afford it. Plus, because of its delicate nature, you might have trouble maintaining it.
Bamboo
Bamboo is an environmentally friendly material that grows quickly and it’s used to make a lot of household goods besides sheets. Oftentimes, when you see bed sheets labelled with “bamboo”, they’re actually rayon. The bamboo plant goes through a chemical process where its pulp gets dissolved and re-solidified again. After this, manufacturers thread it and you get the bamboo sheets. This is not a very environmentally friendly process, but it produces a durable material that’s very soft. It’s also wrinkle-resistant, hypoallergenic and breathable. We recommend buying these sheets online so you can witness all the benefits bamboo sheets can offer.
Polyester
This is one of the most popular manmade materials. It’s probably not the best choice for bed sheets because it can be stiff and scratchy, but still, people buy it a lot. It’s budget-friendly and manufacturers often mix it with other threads to soften it up. Polyester is easy to clean and maintain and it’s wrinkle-resistant which is a great characteristic. Microfiber is a finely woven polyester thread that’s durable and stain resistant. Nylon is another option but not very commonly used because it can get damaged really fast. Acrylic is great for colourful sheets but it’ll require careful washing.
Types of Weaves
Yes, the material is extremely important when it comes to sheets, but how the material is woven can make a huge difference. It influences the sheet’s thickness, sturdiness and softness. There are several different weaves that manufacturers use. The first one is percale. This is a cotton-made weave with simple construction, one yarn over, and one yarn under. This creates a soft matte finish that is easy to wash and suitable for hot sleepers. But remember to remove these sheets from the dryer immediately because they’re not wrinkle-resistant.
The next weave is sateen. It uses the same method as with creating satin sheets (one under and three over) but instead of filament fibres, manufacturers use yarn. This produces smooth, silky and soft sheets you’ll be happy to sleep in. The twill weave has a pattern of over two, under two. It comes out as thick which makes it wrinkle-resistant with a nice diagonal design. The only downside is that it can shrink sometimes. Dobby weaves are made on a dobby loom and have geometric patterns around them. This is the weave with the most texture.
Thread Count
The term “thread count” describes how many threads there are in a square centimetre of fabric, both horizontally and vertically. Generally speaking, the sheet is smoother and more durable the higher the thread number is. It used to be quite important to review thread count when choosing sheets, but nowadays it’s more important to consider the overall quality. Keep in mind that there are some materials that can have fewer threads while still being long-lasting. For instance, good-quality linen sheets can have a thread count of 120, while good-quality cotton sheets require a thread count of at least 500.
Size
Before going out and buying your bed sheets, always measure what size you need. Remove all of the linen from the bed and leave just the mattress. Measure it by length, and width, and don’t forget its depth. This will give you an exact measure of how large your sheets should be. Always add 15-20cm more on each side of the sheets so you can tuck them under the mattress. This way they’ll stay in place when you twist and turn during the night.