How to pick the perfect bed sheets - From bamboo Sheets to woven Silk, what’s the difference?

Wondering how to pick the best bed sheets? Our guide to thread count, material and weaves will help you make the best choice. You spend almost one third of your life in bed – shouldn't you pay close attention to your choice of sheets? Proper bed sheets are a truly worthwhile investment. Just as the right blanket or duvet provides the perfect warmth for your cosy nest, the right sheets provide a comforting layer against your skin. Slipping into a silky set of sheets is a relatively inexpensive luxury, while cheaply made bargain bedding provides a false economy given the itchy, unpleasant sleep environment it creates. Here's what you need to know to get the sheets that suit you best. Thread count Thread count refers to the quantity of threads woven into a square inch of the sheet's fabric. Look for a minimum of 200, but no higher than 600. Less than 200 and you’re likely to get a ‘see through effect that isn’t very smooth and anything over 600 is likely to uncomfortably trap body heat. Sheets falling within the thread count sweet spot of 280 to 400 will have a smooth, soft, absorbent and breathable feel. They'll wear better and shrink less, meaning you'll replace them less often than their cheaper counterparts. Best of all, they're widely available at all price points. Material Cotton is still considered the go-to sheet-set fibre. It's comfortable year-round and easy to care for. Cotton comes in different qualities, so be prepared for some variety in pricing. Sea Island Cotton is grown only in the West Indies, parts of Georgia and the Carolinas. It's silky, white and considered by fabric aficionados to be the best Cotton in the world. Egyptian cotton is the ‘ultra’ of bed linens. It produces durable, luxuriously soft sheets. Pima or Supima cotton is American-grown and known for its high quality. 100 per cent cotton is a catchall term for non-premium cotton. Organic cotton is grown without pesticides and is a great choice for eco-friendly consumers. Sheets made of organic cotton are carried by an increasing number of shops and can be found online. Bamboo Sheets - Bamboo is a fast-growing Asian plant that can flourish without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, making it an eco-friendly fabric. The soft smooth texture is ideal for bamboo sheets. Bamboo-blend sheets (often made from 100% Bamboo, but sometimes mixed with cotton to vary the texture) are soft, breathable and easy to care for. Bamboo sheets also offer beneficial properties such as being thermal regulating, hypo allergenic and anti bacterial, making bamboo sheets the preferred choice for allergy sufferers and those with sensitive skin. Bamboo sheets tend to be quite fairly priced and range from 250 TC to 400 TC. Modal is a soft, durable fibre made from beech pulp, often blended with cotton. Try before you buy All types of cotton in varying thread counts and finished are readily available on the high street and online. If you’d like to feel bamboo fabric before purchasing a set of bamboo sheets, there are fabric swatches and Try-Before-You-Buy Bamboo packs available at 100% Bamboo Sample Request
Author: Laura Toursoulopoulos Follow us on Google+