Different Types of Bed Sheets
What’s the most comfortable space in your home? If you didn’t say your bed, that’s a problem. While you want to be able to relax in your living room and outdoor space, your bed is the most important place to assure you have a comfortable haven from everything else. You should go to bed at night knowing you’ll get a perfect night’s sleep to prepare you for the next day. And that involves more than a luxury mattress.
Your sheets are extremely important to creating the ideal sleep environment, but to assure you choose the kind of sheets that are best for you, it’s essential to first know what sort of options you have available to you. It might surprise you the variety of bedding options that are out there, especially when you realize that it’s not just different materials and thread counts. When you purchase sheets, you have to sift through material types, thread counts, cooling properties, elasticity, and more to determine what’s going to work best for you. We’ve prepared a comprehensive list of some of the most common sheet types on the market and their benefits, so you can make an informed purchase that will make your bed the most comfortable space in your home.
The Most Common Material – Cotton
Not all cotton is created equal. Therefore, you have to understand the different categories in which the quality of cotton is rated, including thread count, weave, staple length, and more. Consider that cotton comes in boles, and you have to stretch it to create the fibers used to weave threads and sheets. The result of stretch boles of cotton is staple length.
Staple Length
Staple length refers to the length of the fibers used to weave the cotton into a sheet. There are basically three lengths – short staple (typically 1-1/8 inch), long staple (at least 1-1/4 inch), and extra-long staple (between 1-3/8 and 2 inches in length). The longer the staple, the higher the quality of the cotton and the softer, more durable those sheets will be. Typical examples of cotton staples include:
• Egyptian cotton
This is the highest quality cotton available in sheets and can be quite pricey, usually made with an extra-long staple. Expect supple softness and incredible durability.
• Pima/Supima
Supima is the trademark name for American Pima cotton, which is a long staple, and while it isn’t quite as expensive as Egyptian cotton, it’s still high quality and soft. Pima is known for durability and strength.
• American Upland
If the label just says ‘100% cotton,’ this is likely the type. A short staple cotton is rougher than the costly cotton sheets you’ll find but also the most common. They are still durable but don’t offer that luxurious feel most of the time.
• MicroCotton®
This trademarked and branded cotton is made with a very fine thread in India, and it’s not only soft but also durable, made from a long staple cotton blend.
Weave
Choosing the right weave can add a level of softness as well as structural durability to lower quality cotton so that you get more of the luxurious benefits without the added cost. Some common weaves include:
• Flannel
Flannel cotton sheets are constructed with a plain or twill weave, which makes them softer and more pliant than many other weave options.
• Percale
This is also referred to as a ‘plain’ weave, and it’s commonly used for higher quality cotton that are combed and then woven tightly, giving it a softer feel and smoother finish. Because of the lightness of this type of weave, it’s also excellent for those who tend to sleep hot and need a cool sleep environment.
• Sateen
There is a specific technique employed for this weave that takes four threads over and one under. While anyone who doesn’t weave or sew may not know what that means, what you should know is that this creates a lush, silky feel while also becoming the most durable option of the three most common weaves.
• Jersey Knit
This is made of cotton – or sometimes, a cotton/synthetic blend – and is knit rather than woven. It results in a stretchy material that fits mattresses well and offers a soft, broken-in feeling.
Thread Count
In the past, people have come to assume that a higher thread count is always better. However, people learn that the number of horizontal and vertical threads in a square inch is not the only criteria that matter in determining the best sheets to purchase. In fact, with so many other aspects to the decision, thread count has become the least consequential detail in the purchase cycle. However, you want to assure that there is a high enough thread count to create a proper weave, meaning that you have the durability you require without compromising on the softness. So, when considering thread count, you may want to stay at 250 or higher, just to assure that the weave is tight enough to assure a long-lasting pleasure.
Choosing Single- or Two-Ply
If you’re thinking of paper towels and toilet tissue right now, you’ve got the right idea, except with bed sheets, it’s backward. Two-ply sheets are woven more loosely than single-ply sheets, which causes them to feel rougher to the touch and also be less durable. Therefore, you’re more likely to enjoy a single-ply sheet set, even if it has lower quality cotton than you would a two-ply set and has a higher thread count.
Other Materials to Consider
While cotton is the most popular bed sheet material by far, there are plenty of other material options to consider as well, depending on what sort of sleeper you are. Taking into consideration that new designs are constantly improving quality and also digging into the needs of the average sleeper, you might prefer one of these other choices among the materials for your bed sheets.
• Flannel
While flannel is cotton, it’s best considered separately from other cotton weaves because it’s warmer and better for cold winter nights. It traps body heat, keeping you toasty while you sleep. However, if you have night sweats or need to sleep in a cool environment, flannel may not work for you, even in the dead of winter. When looking at flannel, keep in mind that it’s not measured or rated by thread count at all. Rather, the quality of this particular cotton weave is measured in ounces per square yard, as it’s a loose weave that incorporates a technique similar to two-ply sheets without the worry of the material losing durability or strength.
• Tencel®
This branded material is made from the wood pulp of the eucalyptus tree, which is naturally anti-microbial and considered to be an environmentally friendly material. If you’re someone who likes to conserve resources, this is a great option since it requires less water, chemicals, and energy to produce than cotton while still turning out soft and comfortable. Perhaps the one downfall of Tencel is that it’s not as breathable as cotton, meaning that it tends to hold more heat rather than releasing it to keep you cooler through the night.
• Silk
There are tons of benefits to using silk sheets. This luxurious bedding material, produced by silkworms, is cool and sensuous with a lavish feel that is hard to beat. Even more important is that silk is extremely delicate, meaning that caring and maintenance can be frustrating and difficult. In addition, that means they aren’t as durable as standard cotton and several other available materials.
• Polyester
In many cases, polyester sheets feel scratchy or stiff, but a polyester blend can be quite nice. Microfiber is a type of polyester material that is more tightly woven to create a softer feel and greater strength. At the same time, microfiber tends to be stain resistant and can be an excellent solution to bedding for children.
• Linen
For years, bed sheets have been referred to as ‘linens’. The truth is- linen is its own material that is separate from others and can still be trusted as a source for comfort, durability, and breathability in bed sheets. Made from flax, which is a fiber of the Linum plant, linen is often textured by as soft, giving you almost a quilted sensation in certain weaves. It also works well, especially for children, since it’s incredibly strong and can withstand the beating of a rambunctious child.
• Bamboo – Rayon
The idea of ‘bamboo’ sheets has become popular since it sounds quite eco-friendly. It’s soft and durable, almost silky, and it sleeps quite cool with high breathability due to its light weave.
• Blends
The most common material blend is cotton and polyester, which creates an affordable option to 100% cotton that still remains breathable and smooth. However, you’ll find a number of different blends on the market today that create a compromise or even a better feel than some of the single material products on the market.
Credit:https://www.thesleepjudge.com/
