Do you realize that you spend a third of your life in bed? That’s a long time, and knowing that, wouldn’t it make sense to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible while you’re there? We’ve all slept on sheets that are scratchy or so thin you can almost see through them. But a good night’s sleep requires a certain level of comfort that you simply can’t have with poor quality sheets.
Is it time for you to buy new ones?
Size Matters
If you’re in your twenties, you’ll remember when beds only came in standard sizes. You may have had a twin, a double, a queen, or a king. But with today’s mattress improvements, you could have a king-size bed, but standard king-size sheets don’t necessarily fit it. Why? Because mattress manufacturers have made huge improvements to mattresses, including things like pillow pleats and extra thickness.
Knowing this, you will have to be careful when purchasing your sheets, otherwise you may end up with sheets that don’t roll up at the edges, but keep slipping.
Each pack of sheets will provide the exact measurements of the sheets, so it is important that you pay attention to them. Measure your mattress before you go shopping to be prepared to make a decision. In other words, if you have a queen-size bed that has a pillow on both sides of the mattress, you may have to buy king-size sheets!
Number of threads
Have you ever had the privilege of sinking into a soft bed and wondering how on earth it was so comfortable? Was it a new type of fabric softener? A perfectly worn mattress? In all likelihood, it was the sheets!
The thread count is what will determine how soft your sheets are; the higher the thread count, the more comfortable your sheets will be. Sometimes called TPI, this factor measures how many threads are used per square inch of fabric. They can range from around 150 to thousands. In general, you should always avoid sheets that have a count below 200 because they won’t feel good on your skin, but they will feel scratchy and uncomfortable. If you buy sheets with more than 250 thread count, you should sleep pretty well.
material
The type of fabric you select when buying your sheets will have a huge impact on your comfort level. And with so many materials available, you need to think carefully about what kind of sleep experience you want. The most popular choices are cotton, flannel, and silks and satins.
Cotton is by far the most popular because it is comfortable in the winter and cool in the summer (although you have to warm it up first in the winter). There is something special about sinking into bed with high-quality cotton sheets! In addition to being comfortable, manufacturers tend to produce them in more styles and colors (than other types of sheets) to meet consumer demand.
A winter isn’t complete without warm flannel sheets. Most people use flannel sheets exclusively in the cold months, because they will get “sweaty” in the warm months. In addition, many manufacturers have begun to produce flannel comforters and blankets that match the patterns on the sheets.
Finally, a pair of silk or satin sheets is considered the ultimate in luxury. They are silky smooth and will keep you from sweating in the summer. You can literally slip into bed and, if you have a satin or silk pillowcase, lay your head back in pure luxury. The only downside to satin and silk sheets is that they tend to slip off the bed if not placed correctly.
And you? Are you a cotton or silk person? Do you want a frivolous thread count, or is 250 enough? Think carefully about your options before buying sheets and then enjoy your choice!