Five Of The Most Luxurious Types Of Bed Sheets
When shopping for bedding, you will discover a wide variety of claims about thread counts and sheet set quality. But selecting the perfect luxury sheets means considering a lot more than thread count. The material that the fabric is made out of is just as important - if not more important - than the thread count to create a soft, comfortable and durable bedding product.
Thread count is simply the number of vertical and horizontal threads per square inch in a bed sheet or other bedding product. Some manufacturers falsely inflate thread counts by using thinner threads or other manufacturing tricks to artificially boost the count. This does not always make for more plush or more long-lasting bedding. And remember that selecting sheets by how they feel in the store or on the fabric sample swatch can be misleading because some manufacturers add enhancers and softeners to bedding products that simply wash out after the first laundering.
So what do you look for when selecting the perfect bedding? Look beyond thread count and consider these bedding options:
High-Quality Cotton: There are variety of high-quality cottons on the market today, but combed cotton, Egyptian cotton and Pima cotton are the best choices. These 100 percent cotton products are durable and breathable yet feel crisp and cool on the skin. Long-staple cotton is the perfect fiber for sheets because it yields very high quality soft sheets that are incredibly durable. Egyptian and pima are both certified long-staple cottons.
Cotton Percale: Percale is a smooth, flat and closely woven and combed material that is available in 100 percent cotton or a variety of blends. A durable, crisp plain weave fabric with a moderate thread count, percale is affordable and breathable, making it a popular choice. Percale thread counts are often on the lower end, but many percales feature long-staple cotton, making the finish similar to much more expensive options.
Linen: Soft, breathable, eco-friendly and cool, linen is a popular choice for bedding. Linen sheets are available in a variety of thread counts and weaves, but all linen sheets are smooth and comfortable, and the ultra-soft smoothness gets better with each trip through the laundry. Linen can be a more expensive bedding choice, as it is more expensive to manufacture. The material is difficult to weave and the fibers are fragile and require a special production process. Nevertheless, linens are a top choice among luxury bedding connoisseurs.
Silk: Sleeping on silk sheets has long been touted as not only a luxury but as a practice that is beneficial to health and well-being. Smooth and supple, silk provides a smooth sleeping surface that means less friction between your skin and the bedding material. In addition to a restful night’s sleep, this can lead to improved skin and hair health. Although somewhat of an investment, silk sheets are considered by many to be worth the cost due to these benefits.
Other alternatives: A variety of other materials are used to craft bedding, including bamboo and microfiber. Bamboo sheets are soft, naturally microbial, moisture wicking and even sustainable. Microfiber is usually made of fine-finished polyester. While affordable and soft, it is sometimes less breathable than other materials. Shop around to learn more about the unique and alternative bedding fabrics that may be a perfect fit for your sleep preferences.
The average American spends about 36 years in bed, so it is important for you to customize your sleep space with materials that match your sleep needs. The most luxurious sheets make you feel as if you are drifting off to dream at a high-end resort. Restorative sleep in a beautiful, comfortable sleep space is a luxury that anyone can create at home with a carefully-selected mattress, sheets, pillows and bed coverings. Start by selecting sheets that are perfect for you, then choose other items to enhance your place of ultimate rest.
To learn more about our luxurious bedding products, Perfetto mattress collection handcrafted in Italy and more, visit elegantstrand.com and feel the elegance.