How To Pick A Good Sheet
Like many things in life, choosing the right sheets has become quite complicated and navigating the many variants, textures and price points might leave us even more confused. Therefore we want to help you get it right and make the best choice for you so that you experience what a great pair of sheets can do for you.
Cotton makes up the majority of sheeting and many hotels use pure cotton to ensure a quality experience. Cotton is popular for bedding because its natural properties draw moisture away from the body so you sleep allowing your body to control its own temperature better. We lose a significant amount of moisture at night especially in summertime and you don’t want to wake drowned in it!
Other benefits of cotton are;
- Easy care washing.
- Durable – if chosen wisely.
- Long lasting – you should expect many years of use from good quality sheets.
- Cool, soft and smooth feel.
Not all cottons are created equal, nor is thread count a measure of quality. If you want to get the best, most durable sheets for your money you have to take a number of factors into account.
1 – Staple
The staple is the length of the cotton fibres. In general the longer the staple or fibre length, the softer and more durable the sheeting. Egyptian cotton in particular, has long staple fibres due to the conditions from growing on the Nile delta. However a lot of ‘Egyptian cotton’ sheets available today have only limited amounts of genuine Egyptian cotton threads and are often interwoven with cheaper threads making them less durable. Genuine Egyptian cotton will have correct labelling and command a higher price.
2 – Thread Count
Thread count is the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch of fabric. A thread count of at least 250 is ideal while the more durable sheeting is around 300-400 thread count. Higher thread counts do not necessarily mean better quality as manufacturers can inflate the number of thread count by using multiple thin yarns twisted together. This does not improve the fabric in fact it can lead to pilling, stretching, wrinkling and fast wear due to the threads being to fine to hold much tension. Industry experts say that an ideal sheet is a combed cotton percale of 300 – 400 TC range.
3 – Weave
The fibre and thread matter when choosing a good sheet but so does the weave.
Percale - A standard weave which is strong and even, one thread over the other. If you like crisp sheets go with the percale. Percale weave makes the sheet tighter and crisper. Less inclined to wrinkle badly and holds its shape and texture well wash after wash.
Sateen - If you like soft and smooth, choose sateen. Sateen sheets have more vertical than horizontal fibres, resulting in a soft sheen, but are more likely to pill and tear over time.
Jacquard or Damask – Patterned weaves are more expensive but also durable. However some jacquards can pill if they are sateen finished.
Jersey – Jersey is a knitted fabric and is very breathable because of the knit rather than weave. They are a great option for warmer winter sheets, but if you like the cool crispness of cotton, these are not for you.
4 – Style and Fit
Always buy the right size for your bed. Sizes can vary a lot from country to country. If you have a pillow top or deep mattress, request a deeper depth fitted sheet. Casablanca offers an extra depth fitted sheet that is made right here in New Zealand to fit our beds. The header on a flat sheet should feature a deep fold, or attached header which gives more weight and substance at the top. Some sheets have beautiful detailing at the top which becomes a feature on the bed when folded back.
Bedding is one of the most utilized items in your home, it is well worth the investment in quality bedding to ensure and healthy restful sleep. Buying quality now saves you more money in the long run.
5 - Pure Linen
Linen also has moisture wicking properties like cotton and are a great alternative to cotton especially in tropical climates however please note they do require more care in use and laundering. Like cotton, Linen sheets were once only available as a premium product sourced from Europe and Ireland. A lot of the world’s linen fibre is now finished in China and India leading to Pure linen becoming much more affordable and accessible. However there are a myriad of qualities with many of them leading clients to shy away from Linen in the future due to poor finishes, easy tearing, and generally not understanding how to manage linen. Linen is much more prone to wrinkling and stretching and is a very different experience in bed to good quality cotton. However some of the higher grade linens are much the same as they have always been and remain sought after.
At The Linen Store we have an extensive range of good quality sheets for just about every taste. Our sales staff are trained to help you find the best possible bedding for your comfort and enjoyment and satisfaction. We welcome any enquiries so feel free to email your questions to us.