How To Buy The Best Bed Linen – 4 Useful Tips *

AD | So, it’s time to buy new bed sheets – but where to start? From cotton and silk to bamboo and linen, there are so many fabrics to choose from. And that’s not even taking into account thread count and weaves. Unless you’re a bedding expert, you could end up feeling quite overwhelmed! Buying the best bed linen can be an expensive exercise, so it’s worth taking the time to ensure you’re choosing the best linen for your needs.

Choosing A Fabric – What Is The Best Bed Linen Material?

These days, there’s no shortage when it comes to choice of fabric, and working out what kind of material you want is a great place to start when buying new bedding. Familiarising yourself with all the options will save you time and money in the long run, and help you choose the best bed sheets that are good quality, durable, and look and feel great.

Cotton

Cotton is still the most popular choice when it comes to sheets, but even within the broad category of cotton, there are still so many options to choose from.

At the top of the market is Egyptian cotton and Pima cotton (Supima if it’s made in America), whose long fibres make for gloriously soft fabric that’s also super durable. Upland cotton is a cheaper option (and usually used in anything marked 100% cotton), although you’ll find it may pill over time and likely won’t last as long, especially when used as a flat sheet or fitted sheet on your bed.

Meanwhile, organic cotton – which is produced using less energy and water, and no pesticides – is better for the environment and human skin, and is also said to be softer and more breathable than regular cotton. Of course, the downside is Fair Trade certified 100% organic cotton is more expensive than your regular Upland cotton.

Linen

An increasingly popular sustainable choice, linen has really taken off in recent years. Whilst it’s often on the more expensive side, it has the advantage of lasting a long time due to the strength of its fibres. Linen has plenty of other benefits, including being extremely breathable (making it a good choice for warmer climates), as well as naturally bacterial resistant. For the best quality, look out for 100% linen that’s grown in France or Belgium.

Bamboo

Bamboo is another environmentally sustainable option, which requires no pesticides and much less water than cotton. Bamboo has many of the same qualities as linen, although you’ll find where linen is cooler, bamboo is softer. One thing to note is that you’ll never find 100% bamboo bedding, it needs to be mixed with another fibre (often viscose or Lyocell).

Eucalyptus

Much like bamboo and linen, eucalyptus is another sustainable material gaining popularity – although out of the three, it’s considered the most environmentally friendly. Known as Lyocell or TENCEL, these fibres are made from the wood of eucalyptus trees, and you’ll find them soft and breathable. Due to its relative newness, there may be less eucalyptus sheet options to choose from.

Silk

Many people opt for silk because it feels so incredibly luxurious. Another breathable material that’s naturally temperature regulating, unfortunately, it does have a high environmental impact compared to some of the others. Tussah silk and cultivated Mulberry silk are the two main types, with the second being the smoother, higher-quality option. Keep in mind too that silk does require more care when it comes to washing.

Understanding Thread Count

Once you’ve decided on fabric, the next thing to consider is thread count. This refers to the number of threads used in one square inch of fabric, and is used as an indicator of softness and quality. It’s different for every fabric, although a higher thread count tends to mean ultrasoft sheet sets. Here are the ranges you should stick to:

• Cotton: somewhere between 200-400, and no lower than 180 (Egyptian and Pima usually sit at the higher end of that range).
• Bamboo: somewhere between 250-350 will be just as soft as cotton with a 400 thread count.
• Linen: as linen is naturally so much thicker than other fabrics, a thread count of 80-150 is considered ideal.
• Silk: uses a different measure entirely, and you can gauge its quality by checking the momme count, which usually ranges between 12-19, with 25 being the absolute top of the line for the very best quality silk bed linen sheets.

What About Weaves?

As if you didn’t have enough to think about, the way fabric is woven together also influences the look and feel of sheets. The two most common weaves are cotton percale sheets and luxe sateen sheets. Percale often creates smooth and crisp bed sheets that are lighter and more durable (think hotel sheets), whereas sateen is softer and heavier, often better for colder months. Less common options are twill or flannel sheets, which are better suited to Winter.

Consider Seasonality

With all of that in mind, one last factor that can help narrow down the best bed linen for your needs is climate and season. Consider whether you’re buying bedding for Summer or Winter, or you could invest in something you can use all year round. Of course, the benefit of more summery bedding is you can always add an extra top sheet or blanket to snuggle under when it comes to those colder months.

While you don’t have to be an expert on all things bedding, being familiar with these basic factors will give you the confidence to go out and choose the best bed linen for your needs. And one last tip: don’t forget a mattress protector either. Then you can lie back, relax, and enjoy the comfort of your new sheets and a good night’s sleep!

What did you think of these tips on choosing and buying the best bed linen for your needs? Have you got a favourite fabric or thread count? Do you prefer separate Summer and Winter bed linens or something you use all year round (with an extra blanket when it’s cold)? Have you got any bedding buying tips to share?

* This is a collaborative post – please see my Disclaimer.