How to Choose Bed Linen

Ensuring that you select the right bedding is important, not only for your comfort, but for your health. After all, we spend a good part of our life asleep, so you might as well enjoy it, right? The main factors to consider when choosing the bedding set that’s right for you are the thread count, weave and the type of fabric, discover more.

Thread Count

This is the number that’s written on the front of sheet packages. These numbers range between 180 and 300 and tell you the amount of threads in the fabric per square inch. Higher thread counts give the sheets a more softer and luxurious feel.

But expect to pay for this luxury. Some of the higher thread count sheets can cost hundreds of dollars. But be careful what you pay for; just because you drop $500 on a pair of high thread count sheets doesn’t mean you’ll be sleeping easy. It’s also important to take the weave of the bedsheets into consideration.

Weave

The weave is how the threads of the fabric are spun together. The two most popular types of weave used in bedding are percale and sateen. Percale is a simple weave that is used when making cotton sheets. Sateen weaves are formed by weaving four threads over and one thread under.

Because more threads in these type of sheets are exposed, sateens aren’t as long lasting as percale and other weaves, but some sheet connoisseurs swear by them and are more than willing to put up with the hassle of replacing the sheets frequently.

Fabrics

The majority of sheets are made from cotton, silk, satin or blends of synthetic fibers. Here’s the rundown on some of the most popular choices:

1. Silk is the ultimate indulgence in sheets. Unfortunately, they tend to wear out quickly and are hard to get clean. In addition to the thread count, silk sheets have another measurement called the momme weight. What the momme tells you is the weight of the silk in the sheets. Most silk bedding sheets have a momme weight of between 12 and 19. You need to purchase sheets with a momme of at least 12, otherwise they won’t last very long.
2. Cotton has been the go-to sheet for a number of years. These are best suited in warmer climates where you want to keep yourself cool at night. Cotton breathes easily and it’s a snap to clean.
3. Flannel sheets can be made from cotton, wool or a mixture of both. These sheets tend to be thicker than cotton or silk sheets. They’re best suited for colder climates where you need to keep toasty warm at night.

As you can see, sheets come in a variety of weaves and fabrics for you to try. If you’ve never experimented with your bedding choices, be bold and try something new. Choosing the right bedding for your own particular likes and dislikes will help you rest easy at night.