A Guide to Choosing the Right Bed Linen

Good bed linen provides you with restful sleep. Great bed linen does this and also defines your room décor and uplifts its vibe. When you buy bed linen online, there are a lot of important factors to consider, such as – size, material, budget and the care required for it. If you keep an eye out for these few things while shopping for bed linen online, you can be sure you make the right choice for your home.  

High-quality bed linen is crucial for better sleep. You can choose several types of bed linen including Bedsheets, Pillow Covers, Dohars, Blankets, and Quilts online. Whether you are looking for single bedsheets or double bedsheets, it is time to buy bedsheets online as per your needs and preferences. Alongside, several premier bedsheet collections are available at SPACES, including Rangana, Atrium, Kalakaari Haath, etc., ensuring you choose the suitable cotton bedsheets and fitted bedsheets as per your home decor.  

In this bedsheet buying guide, let us dive deep into the importance of proper bed linen for good sleep, which many people underestimate.   

The Ultimate Bed Linen Feel  

Choosing the right bed linen is crucial for a comfortable night's slbeep. Besides your duvet, pillow, and mattress, the sheets, duvet cover, and pillow covers that come in direct contact with your skin play a significant role in how your bed feels. It's essential to consider the type of bed linen that will provide you with the best sleep experience, as various options are available.  

Different materials and weaves create distinct feelings. Optimal bed linen is crafted from high-quality natural materials and woven to superior standards. Determine whether you prefer a smooth, silky, cool, crisp, or a cosy, warm feel for your bedding. This decision will guide you in selecting the right bed linen fabric and weave that suits your preferences.  

Now that you know the importance of the feel and fabric of bed linen for good sleep, you should always consider a few factors while choosing the same.   

Key Considerations on How to Choose Bed Linen

Size:

Are you choosing bed linen for a king-size (72” X 80”)bed, a queen-size (60” x 78”) bed or a single (36” x 74”) bed? This is something that you will have to take into account.  

Thread count or GSM:

Thread count refers to the total number of threads woven into the bedsheet, pillow, or duvet cover. The higher the thread count, the softer and finer the fabric of the bed linen. Meanwhile, GSM, or the grams per square meter measurement, stands for the weight of the fabric woven into each meter of your quilts. A higher GSM indicates a plusher, more comfortable quilt.  

Breathability:

Bed linen is either printed or dyed. This makes it important to check whether the process is chemical-free and whether the bed linen is good for your skin. The material and weave of the fabric also determine how breathable it is, i.e. whether it remains cool or heats up against your skin.  

Choosing the Ideal Fabric/Fibre  

When choosing bed linen, the primary factor influencing your experience is the choice of fabric or fibre. The decision between natural fibres and synthetics greatly impacts the feel and characteristics of the bedding. The material you choose plays an important role in whether or not the bed linen is comfortable for you. Some of the common and popular materials are as follows:  

• Cotton: Lightweight, breathable, and easy to wash, cotton suits the best for families and busy households. Known for its soft comfort and versatility, it also offers incredible durability.  
• Egyptian Cotton: One of the finest cotton in the world, Egyptian cotton feels soft and light, lasts longer, stays stronger, and requires minimal ironing.  
• Supima Cotton: Premium American-grown cotton, this material has extra-long staples that give it more softness, durability and resistance to abrasion or pilling.  
• Hygro Cotton: Hollow core yarn grew through advanced technology; this cotton blooms and becomes softer after multiple washes. It also regulates body temperature, i.e. bed linen made of this material will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.  
• Linen: With higher durability than cotton, linen offers great comfort during both summer and winter with its breathability and ability to draw moisture from your body. Linen looks better and more luxurious after every wash and with its creases.  
• Flannel: This is cotton that has been combed to fluff up the fibres. It’s a very soft fabric that traps body heat and feels snuggly and warm against the skin. This is a good material for winter. This is measured in ounces per square yard instead of thread count.  
• Tencel: This is a soft fabric made of eucalyptus tree wood pulp. It is highly durable and naturally antimicrobial. Tencel is generally considered an environmentally friendly fabric, as its production requires less water, energy, and chemicals than cotton. While tencel is fairly cool, it's not quite as breathable as cotton and can feel clammy against your skin.  
• Silk: This makes for some of the most beautiful and luxurious bed linen. It’s soft, naturally hypoallergenic, lighter than cotton and very durable. It is, however, not budget-friendly. It also requires much more care than cotton and slips off the bed too easily. Silk bed linen is to be bought for pure indulgence.  
• Polyester: This man-made fabric is inexpensive, highly durable and stain-resistant. It is usually used in a blend with some other fabric. This is not as breathable as cotton and can get hot against your skin. This, however, makes it very suitable to be used as a filling for quilts and comforters.  
• Blends: Nowadays, there are lots of blended fabrics used in making bed linen, most of them using some form of cotton. They are usually inexpensive, durable and wrinkle-resistant. Cotton polyester is the most commonly used blended fabric.  

Finishing Touches for a Luxurious Feel  

Attention to the finer points can elevate the luxurious feel of your bedding.  

• Fitted Sheets:

Ensure a snug fit with deep-fitted sheets tailored to your mattress's depth. Experience optimal fit with a continuous elastic hem. Facilitate easy orientation with labelled foot indicators.   

• Duvet Covers:

Enjoy convenience with large, user-friendly buttons on Egyptian cotton covers and elegant oversized mother-of-pearl buttons on Linen covers. Opt for hassle-free use by avoiding tie fastenings, which proved cumbersome and prone to breakage in our experimentation. Maintain easy sheet orientation with labelled foot indicators.   

• Pillow Covers:

Achieve a new and trendy appearance by engaging with premium cushion covers online. Utilizing pillow covers brings multiple benefits that improve your bedroom's comfort and visual appeal. These protective accessories shield your pillows from dust, dirt, germs, and allergens, creating a healthier sleep environment. Moreover, they prolong the lifespan of your pillows by safeguarding them against moisture, sweat, and bodily fluids.  

Weaves  

The weave of your bed linen also contributes to its softness, comfort, and looks. The two most common forms of weaving are mentioned below -.  

• Sateen weave: It makes bed linen smooth with a subtle sheen. Due to its unique weaving pattern, it produces a satiny and sumptuous finish.  
• Percale weave: It offers the crisp feel you get in your shirts with a matte finish. The simple weaving method gives the bed linen an even texture for better comfort.  
• Flannel weave: It comprises a napped finish on one or both sides, creating the "fuzzy" and soft feel that is characteristic of this fabric. Flannel sheets are ideal for winter because the fuzzy weave holds in body heat and creates a warm, fluffy and cosy feel.  
• Jersey weave: It includes a knit fabric rather than woven. It’s knit in the same way as t-shirts are. These are soft and comfortable but can shrink.  
• Jacquard weave: It is a more elaborate form containing a slightly raised area of embroidery which can be felt under the hand. This is used to weave the designs into the bedsheets.  
• Microfiber weave: It is a tighter weave made up of man-made fibre. The thick weave makes the bed linen water-resistant and hypoallergenic. This is especially good for people with allergies and sensitive skin.  
• Damask weave: It is intricately detailed to make the woven pattern visible on both sides. This is generally used to create bed linen, which is reversible and decorative.  

Styles, Colors & Pattern  

When selecting styles and colours for your bedroom, prioritize choices that contribute to a tranquil atmosphere, promoting relaxation during restful moments. The selection of bed linen styles and colours should harmonize with the overall aesthetic of your bedroom. Some of the most popular patterns in bed linen at SPACES are floral, geometric, stripes, ethnic and abstract. If you’re feeling more adventurous, however, you could always go in for designs based on a theme or inspired by artworks or world observations. Solid colour bed linen is also very elegant and goes with any kind of room décor. 

Consider opting for a neutral colour palette when you buy blankets online or other bed linens for your bedding, ensuring versatility that complements various bedroom designs. It's essential to avoid colours that clash or overly busy patterns, as they may lead to irritation and visual fatigue.  

To infuse joy into your sleep haven without compromising sleep quality, incorporate splashes of vibrant colour or patterns through throws or cushions. This allows you to wake up each morning with a refreshed sense of readiness to face the day.  

The choice of bed linen colour is highly individual, with neutral tones like white and cream being popular for bedsheets online. Similarly, favoured colours for duvet covers and Dohars online encompass various shades of white, grey, pink, and green.  

Accreditations to Seek  

When selecting bed linen, it's essential to navigate through marketing jargon like 'luxe' and 'hotel quality' and focus on tangible factors such as the source and quality of fabrics and the manufacturing process. Please pay attention to certifications found on product labels and packaging to make informed choices. For instance, when opting for Egyptian cotton, ensure it bears a 100% certified authentic Egyptian cotton accreditation to guarantee the promised quality. This way, you can cut through the clutter and make decisions based on substantiated standards rather than vague marketing terms.  

Wash Care Guidelines for Your Bed Linens  

Choosing easy-to-wash bed linen doesn’t mean it isn’t require any care while washing. Look out for the wash care instructions, such as whether to wash the ones with similar colours separately or whether to tumble dry your linen at low heat.  

To maintain the quality of your Egyptian cotton bed linen:  

• Wash your bed linen at 40°C before the first use and then weekly, or opt for a more eco-friendly approach.  
• Tumble dry on low heat or air dry in the sunshine to preserve the brightness of whites.  
• Use Wool Dryer Balls to naturally reduce drying time and wrinkles.  
• Iron the linen when damp on a high steam setting.  

For optimal care of your linen bedding:  

• Wash separately with mild detergent at 40°C, or choose a greener option.  
• Avoid using bleach or fabric softener.  
• Tumble dry at a lower heat, utilizing Wool Dryer Balls for natural efficiency.  
• If desired, iron the linen when damp, ensuring it does not scorch it, or make the bed with slightly damp bedding to reduce wrinkles without ironing.  

A useful tip: Keep your linen set organized by storing it inside one of the pillowcases to easily locate matching pieces.  

Show some love to your SPACES bed linen, and it will reciprocate!  

Frequently Asked Questions  

• Which fabric is best for bedsheets?  

The best fabric for bed sheets depends on personal preference, but popular choices include Egyptian cotton for its softness and durability and linen for its breathability and natural appeal.  

• How do you choose bed linen? 

Consider factors like size, thread count (or GSM), breathability, and fabric type (e.g., cotton, Egyptian cotton, linen). Pay attention to weave styles (sateen, percale, flannel), and choose colours and patterns that complement your bedroom's aesthetic.  

• What is the best bedding?  

The best bedding varies based on individual preferences, but high-quality options often include Egyptian cotton sheets, linen for breathability, and quilts or dohars for added warmth.  

• What is the best type of bed linen?  

The best type of bed linen depends on your needs. Egyptian cotton offers luxury, and linen provides breathability and blends or polyester can be durable and budget-friendly.  

• What are the best bedsheets?  

If you are wondering how to choose quality bedsheets, consider materials like Egyptian cotton, Supima cotton, or linen. SPACES offers an exquisite collection of bedsheets to choose from – Ranagana, Atrium, Kalakaari Haath, etc. Also, consider factors such as thread count, weave, and personal comfort preferences.  

• How do I choose the right linen?  

To choose the right linen, consider factors like fabric type (cotton, Egyptian cotton, linen), weave style (sateen, percale), and personal preferences for comfort and aesthetics. Look for certifications and follow care guidelines for optimal longevity.  

• How do I choose fabric for bed linen?

When choosing fabric for bed linen, consider factors like cotton for comfort, Egyptian cotton for luxury, linen for breathability, and polyester for durability. Pay attention to weave styles, thread count, and personal preferences.