As the freezing winter nights begin to draw in, it is in bed when most of us begin to feel the big chill. And if this Christmas time is as chilly as last then we’re facing icy toes and tossing and turning all night, getting up in the small hours to source a blanket to put on.
Ask yourself honestly; when was the last time you bought brand-new bed sheets? Many people keep their bedding for years on end, slowly wearing them down in the wash and ruining their warmth and softness. What you thought were good bed sheets 5 years ago might not be anymore.
Maybe you’ve been putting off buying new bedding. Coming to loggerheads in a shop with a partner over prospective sheets or the mumbo jumbo about thread counts and various types of cotton may have put you off. But you spend almost a third of your life between the sheets; surely you deserve some great bedding after a long, hard day? High-quality bed sheets are definitely worth investing in, they will provide a good night’s sleep and durability. And choosing from the wealth of styles and materials on the market might not be as confusing as you first thought.
Cotton is the most common bedding material. There are various types of cotton of different finishes and qualities. 100% cotton is a general term used to describe cotton of a non-premium quality. Organic cotton is an eco-friendly alternative to regular cotton, as it won’t have been produced using fertilizers or pesticides.
Egyptian Cotton has been the most sought after bedding for years because of its luxurious soft feel and its durability. But just 8% of worldwide cotton produced is from the same species as the plant used to make Egyptian Cotton. The long fibres in this cotton make yarns that are smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller yarn means that there will be more threads per square inch, creating a durable fabric which is light in weight and breathes well. Egyptian Cotton can be purchased in a sateen finish which gives a subtle gloss to the fabric.
Silk sheets have a strong shine to them and a delicate feel. They are very pricey however, and not as warm as Egyptian Cotton sheets. Mulberry silk is where the silk worms which spin the silk are fed a diet of Mulberry leaves, which creates a much softer feeling material. Satin sheets offer the same sheen as silk but are less costly and less durable. They are also quite cool to touch however, so unless you have a very warm home both of them are ideally suitable for summer use.
Modal is a tough fabric produced from beech pulp blended with cotton. There are also bamboo bed sheets, which blend the fast-growing Asian plant with cotton for an eco-friendly bedding.
In cotton sheets the thread count shows how many threads have been used to create fifty four inches. A greater thread-count usually indicates a more luxurious and smoother feeling fabric. Greater thread counts are typically warmer, and experts recommend looking for sheets of no fewer than a 200 thread count.
Crisp new bed sheets are the ideal Christmas present for that person who has everything. They are the home furnishing used the most, yet least often replaced. Or what about treating yourself this Christmas? Bedsheets are the present nobody ever receives yet we all need. Snuggling down in some high-thread count Egyptian Cotton bed sheets makes a great way to stay warm this winter.