Secrets of Choosing the Best Bed Linens

What makes you put your alarm on snooze again and again? What helps you sleep comfortably all night? Bed linens play an essential part in our lives, not only do they make our bedrooms look aesthetically pleasing, they also make us feel unperturbed, chilled out and completely at home. If bed linens are so vital in our lives we must not skimp on their quality when purchasing them. High-quality bedding is a life investment that pays off well, over a long period of time. Be it bed skirts queen, bedspreads, bed sheets or pillow covers, we need to pay heed to each one of them, so that they all work together to make us sleep in the most inviting and luxurious setting.

The definition of comfort is diverse for different people, some prefer crisp and cool white sheets, some like to wrap themselves in sateen and silk and others love the feel of 100% linen. Due to this flexibility in choice we have an array of fabrics that suits the needs of everyone. But to choose the right fabric for our needs, we need to know about the different fabrics and also the quality, fiber content, finish, design, weave and thread count. Although it may seem like a challenging task but trust me, the feel of your favorite bed linen will make your nights dreamy and days less daunting. In this article you’ll find the answers to all your questions with secrets that help you choose the best linen pillowcases and bed linens.

When you go out to buy your bed linens from stores you will not only find a huge assortment of fabrics but you will also come across a diverse price range. Starting from $70 and going up to $1000 set, you may want to be sure that you’re getting the value for your money. The first thing is the fabric that makes all the difference so let’s dive right in.

Fabrics

Different fabrics offer different finishes and levels of comforts to the buyers. Some popular and most common fabrics that are well-reputed in the world of bed linens are cotton, linen, silk and polyester. Cotton has much versatility in itself but they all feel light weight, breathable and soft and on top of all this they are durable and long lasting. Linen fabric offers the highest levels of durability, has temperature regulating fibers and feels soft and luxurious against the skin. Next fabric defines luxury and royalty, silk is the epitome extravagance. Has a soft feather-like feel to it, is lighter than its other counterparts and for this reason has a higher price range. The last one is the most pocket-friendly fabric as it’s a man-made fabric. Nevertheless it’s durable and satin- resistant but not as breathable and soft as others.

Thread Count

One you have chosen the fabric of your bed linen, you can further evaluate the quality by its thread count.  Although after much debate and a minefield of information gathered on thread count, experts have confirmed that thread count isn’t a benchmark of quality anymore. In fact the yarn or the natural fibers of the fabric is the most important factor to be taken under consideration. The finer the yarn is, the longer the fibers are, and the superior the quality is. Thread count is basically the number of threads per square inch of fabric. A thumb rule to assess the best thread count is between 200 and 800 threads per square inch.

 But as mentioned earlier this is a redundant and old-school way of assessing the quality. To prove that we can see that the best quality cotton, the Egyptian cotton has a thread count of 400 but it’s the most supreme quality in cotton. Keep in mind that bed linens that come with a higher thread count have a denser feel to them which makes them suitable for colder months and they also come with a hefty price tag. Stick anywhere between 500-600 thread count and you’ll most likely love the feel of the bed linens, be it bed skirt queen or linen pillowcases.

Weave

Weave plays an important part in determining the softness of the sheet and how the bed linen will feel against our skin. There’re a number of weaves that determine the quality of the bed linen like percale, sateen, twill, flannel, jacquard, and jersey. A standard weave has the same number of vertical and horizontal yarns and isn’t even mentioned on the packaging.

Percale weave gives the bed linens a crisp feel and the thread count is over 180 to be stated as percale weave. This weaving style means to go over and under the weft and aim for a straight weave. The fibers are tightly woven together to create a fine, smooth and rich texture.

Sateen weave is used for a buttery soft and smooth finish. Although it’s not that durable as the vertically facing warp threads pass over 2-4 horizontally facing weft threads, before they’re intertwined again. This is also the reason behind the different sides of sateen fabric. The thread count of sateen is somewhere between 260-600 threads.

Twill weave is a special diagonal weave which creates a luscious and durable feel just like denim. It drapes beautifully and has a good thread count as well.

Jacquard weave allows the warp threads to be picked up individually. This lets a slightly raised area that you can feel under the skin of your hand. Intricate and convoluted patterns can be done by this weaving technique.

Knowing your weaves will help you choose wisely!

Washing Care  

When choosing your bed linens also be mindful of the washing instructions. Don’t go for a bed linen that doesn’t suit your washing routine. Buying expensive bed linens often come with a long list of washing instructions that limit their usage and also doesn’t let the buyer enjoy the luxury fully. Go for something that is right up your alley in all the aspects mentioned above to have the best possible sleep.

Summary  

Hopefully with this article you’re now more knowledgeable and well-informed about bed linens and bed skirts queen. Next time you want to buy a bed linen, don’t just look for the thread count and also give attention to the natural fibers, weaving style and washing care.