Poor bed linens often take a back seat to the mattress and pillow. However, a poorly chosen bed linen can ruin your sleep experience, not to mention the design of the room.
So, if you have invested in a good pillow and mattress (because these are indeed long-term investments), you should also spend time and energy choosing the bed linen.
We've already written more about the best mattress andpillow (you can read them by clicking on the link). But now let's take a look at what a really great bed sheet looks like!
How does it feel and touch?
The mattress clearly serves a comfort function, affecting our spine and back, while the pillow is intended to provide proper support for the head. Yes, but what about the cover?
The cover affects completely different senses: it touches our skin, so it is important that it is a material that does not have a foreign feel, that you feel that it is smooth and enveloping you. The bed cover has a big impact on how you sleep at night, because a poorly chosen cover can cause you to toss and turn all night. (And then a good quality mattress and pillow will be useless.)
Different fabrics and materials have different properties, which is why they give different sensations.
Let's take a look at what woven materials are available and which ones we recommend for whom.
The material and weave of the bed sheet
According to the base material, the bed linen can be:
- 100% cotton,
- cotton-synthetic blend (polycotton),
- linen,
- silk,
- and microfiber polyester as well.
The more natural the material, the better, so we recommend 100% cotton or linen.
Cotton is great at absorbing moisture that builds up during the night, and thanks to its natural nature, it is skin-friendly and easy to clean. It also helps regulate body temperature and is well ventilated, making it a good choice in both winter and summer.
We offer three different cotton bed linens depending on their weave:
- satin,
- crepe,
- and flannel.
Satin bed sheet
Sateen weave sheets are soft, very finely woven, slightly silky, yet extremely smooth to the touch. This is why this weave is often used for luxury bedding.
Sateen sheets are typically cool to the touch and high quality, at least the 100% cotton versions.
Crepe bed linen
Crepe bed linen can be a good choice for hotels, guesthouses, and motels, for example, as it is easy to care for and does not require (or even recommended) ironing. Just pull it off, wash it, and you can go back. In addition, crepe is a cheap, durable material.
Flannel bed sheet
Flannel cotton sheets are typically recommended for the fall and winter months, as they provide a very warm feeling. They are also soft and have good moisture absorption capabilities. Due to their thick material, they are a truly durable investment.
Apart from these, there are also other products on the market
- twill,
- jacquard,
- jersey,
- percale
- and waffle weave covers.
Thread count
Thread count is intended to indicate the number of threads in a fabric, per square inch. This is not always given, but is most common in the Nordic countries of Europe and the USA.
In any case, it is good to know that the thread count greatly affects the feel and quality of the covers. Of course, the higher this number, the smoother, softer it feels.
Good quality products are available from 150 thread count upwards, but true luxury starts from 500 thread count. However, from 800 thread count onwards, the cover becomes very stiff, so it is not worth choosing such a high value.
However, it is important to mention that a high thread count does not in itself mean good quality, as it can be made of poor quality cotton, or have a high thread count but sparse coverage.
Material thickness
The thickness of the material is also a significant factor, given in gr/m2.
What is worth knowing is that the values are given for 100×100 cm pieces, and higher quality pieces start at 120 gr/m2. The higher the number, the heavier the material itself, but also the more durable it is.
By closure
We also only mention it in passing, as some people prefer buttoned bed sheets, while others prefer zippered ones.
Here in Hungary, there are 3 different types on the market:
- the buttoned one,
- the zipper,
- and the fitted sheet.
One of the most popular types in hotels is the zippered type, as it can be changed quickly and at the same time the duvet or pillow does not come off.
When is the best bed cover?
In autumn and winter, it is worth choosing crepe, but even more so flannel bed linens, while in summer, satin, which has a cooler feel, can be the winning decision.
When it comes to colors, try to choose neutral shades like white, gray, or beige, which look good with any wall and also make for a restful sleep.
- White gives a calming feeling and looks fresh,
- The beige color also has a calming effect and goes well with any wall,
- light gray ensures comfortable sleep and can be a particularly good choice for those who sweat, as it makes the room cooler,
- Warmer shades like red, orange or yellow promote a cheerful, easy awakening.
