The average person spends nearly 30 years asleep during their lifetime. This is probably more than you will ever spend on any other activity in your life. You should not hesitate to buy high quality sheets or splurging on a luxurious duvet since you will use it more than anything else you own.
But what constitutes good sheets? You can find countless articles telling you the top 10 best sheets to buy but no one really summarizes what constitutes a high-quality bed linen. I will do my best to break it down based on my own experience buying and researching for the best sheets.
Generally if you are spending $300-$400 on sheets from a high-quality, reputable linen maker, you can assume they will be a good quality. If you are not willing to spend several hundreds of dollars on a set of sheets, however, you probably need to know what you are looking for. A lot of the times you can tell the difference between fabrics just by touching them. This is a sure way to know that you're getting what you pay for, however, most of us now purchase many of our home goods online.
Important considerations you should weigh before deciding which sheets you would like to purchase include who will be using them and in what climate. Some people naturally radiate body heat while they're sleeping while others are naturally cold sleepers. When it is cold, you want sheets that retain more heat. When it is warm, vice versa.
If you are purchasing sheets for someone with a high sleeping temperature or for a warm climate, you may want to explore sheets made of a breathable fabric and then layer blankets and comforters. Percale cotton is generally very breathable, as are bamboo or Tencel sheets. I am a bamboo sheet gal, myself.
If you are purchasing sheets for someone with a low sleeping temperature or for a cold climate, you may want to explore sheets made of denser fabrics in addition to your blankets and comforters. Sateen cotton is a wonderful option and retains warmth better than other fabric options.
Regardless of what you are looking for make sure that you are either looking for a long staple cotton or fiber. Long or extra-long staple generally indicates whether the thread is a high quality. As far as thread count goes, the higher the thread count does not necessarily mean the higher the quality. Be on the lookout for inexpensive sheets labeled with high thread counts as this is likely more a marketing gimmick rather than an indicator of quality. High thread count simply means the threads woven into the fabric are very thin and thus you will have more threads within a given space. A good way to determine what a good thread count is by looking at the thread count used by high-quality linen brands such as Matouk. You are not going to find 1000 thread count sheets on their website.
Percale Cotton
Percale cotton is known to be a very breathable and high quality and ages well with washing. It is generally easy to find good quality percale at a reasonable price. Long-staple options are a little more expensive but worth the price. The only downside is percale is prone to wrinkling, however, the wrinkling will usually calm down after consistent use and washing.
Egyptian Cotton
Egyptian cotton is breathable and high quality and long lasting. It is a type of extra-long staple cotton and is typically quite expensive. It also typically has a high thread count, although that is not always a good indicator of its quality. Keep in mind that good Egyptian cotton is going to be expensive. If you buy something that is not, then you are not going to get the same product. It is like going to Memphis to see the pyramid, its nice but not quite like seeing the pyramids in Egypt.
Bamboo Lyocell or Tencel
Bamboo fabric is very breathable and has antimicrobial qualities which prevent bacteria growth due to moisture. This also prevents odor from clinging to the fabric which is just more sanitary. This fabric is very soft and has more movement than cotton. It will wrinkle, however, so it may require some ironing.
Bamboo sheets are not the best option for warmth in winter, so make sure to keep that in mind if you are using them in your guest room. You may want to make sure you layer the bed with plenty of blankets and a duvet cover.
Bamboo sheets are generally more expensive than your basic cotton sheets but less expensive than the best long staple or extra-long cotton with a soft, luxurious feel. In my opinion, bamboo sheets are the best value for the cost following percale cotton. It is also considered a sustainable bedding option.
High quality sheets made out of bamboo can last a very long time but remember that not all sheets are made the same. If you are purchasing the thirty-dollar bamboo sheets off Amazon, you will not likely not have the same experience as someone who spends a couple hundred dollars on their bamboo sheets.
Sateen Cotton
Sateen cotton is probably the least fussy fabric. It is less prone to wrinkling than other fabrics and comes in wrinkle-free options. High quality, extra-long, sateen cotton is often called Suprima cotton. It has a beautiful, soft, silky feel. It is a wonderful option if you are a cold sleeper. If you are a warm sleeper but love the ease of sateen, a good resolution for this is to only purchase your fitted and top sheets and a breathable fabric and get a wrinkle-free sateen cotton duvet cover or heavy cotton coverlet to rest on top.
I hope this helps you explore the world of bedding and consider your options. There are some other options that you may want to consider that I did not discuss such as silk or linen bedding. I personally love having a silk pillowcase on my pillows but I have never really considered silk sheets. As for linen, I have a linen tablecloth and that is all the linen I want to iron.
As with any bedding you buy, make sure to look at care instructions to make sure they last a long time. Bedding is an investment so treat it with care and enjoy it!
Let me know your favorite kind or brand of sheets in the comments below!
As always,
Alli
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