So, you’ve taken on the task of picking a new set of bedsheets. Maybe a guest is coming into town, or your four-year-old spilled grape juice on your king-size sheets. Regardless of the reason, you’ll find over 4,000 contenders for your next bed sheet set. From cotton to microfiber to silk sheets, you may be overwhelmed trying to determine what is right for you. That’s why we’re here! Our guide will help you pick the right fabric for your next sheet set, allowing you to sleep comfortably!
Cotton
Cotton is popular due to its breathability, softness, and natural feel. These sheets come in various types, including:
- American Upland: “100% cotton” typically means American Upland. This fabric type features shorter strands, making it cheaper and easier to produce.
- Egyptian: Egyptian cotton is the gold standard when it comes to cotton sheets. With longer fibers, these sheets boast superior softness and comfort (along with a higher price tag).
- Pima: Pima cotton is collected from the same cotton plant as Egyptian and also features long strands, giving it a similar softness to Egyptian cotton.
Cotton sheets are the most common because they are among the most affordable. Cotton bed sheets are long-lasting, durable, and easy to clean. The breathability of cotton makes it ideal for those who sleep hot, and its durability can vary depending on the type. However, it can be expensive, especially for higher grades like Egyptian and Pima cotton. For just about every bed option, we have a cotton option. Cotton sheets come in many different colors and patterns, making it a great choice for every style or aesthetic.
Silk Sheets
Silk is the epitome of luxury in bed sheets. It’s hypoallergenic, highly breathable, and offers excellent temperature regulation, making it great for sensitive skin. However, silk sheets are more expensive and require careful maintenance. Silk sheets are prone to staining, making it challenging to keep them looking nice for long. Despite these drawbacks, silk remains an excellent option for sleepers looking for an indulgent and comfortable experience.
Here are some of the most common silk fabrics you may see in your pursuit of the perfect sheet set:
Charmeuse
Charmeuse is not a type of silk but more of a “method” of silk. This is the most common silk fabric. Created with a traditional narrow loom, this silk weave is the type with one shiny side and one more muted. Like all silks, this one is antimicrobial and heavily absorbent. Typically, Charmeuse is hand-wash only, so caring for these bed sheets is time-consuming.
Mulberry
Shout out here to the Bombyx Mori Moth. This moth’s sole purpose is to lay enough eggs to continue producing silkworms, and then it dies. With no hope of flying, silkworms gorge themselves on a Mulberry-leaf exclusive diet, balloon up to 10,000 times their starting weight, spin a silk cocoon, and then prepare to die. What a ride.
The cocoons are then taken and unreeled. Unwoven, these silk threads are combined and crafted into the softest silk fabric on the market. It takes about 2,500 cocoons to produce one pound of silk. This natural production method explains why silk has even better-insulating properties than cotton.
Caring for these is similar to caring for Charmeuse. A fabric of this quality is not suitable for household washing machines. Hand-wringing these sheets can also damage the internal fibers, so it’s best to stick to sunshine and air drying.
Tussah
Collected from various kinds of silkworms, Tussah sits on the opposite end of the silk spectrum from Mulberry. More course, rough and natural, this silk is far more durable yet unwelcoming. With less attention paid to the curation and creation of this silk, Tussah lacks the antimicrobial properties of Mulberry silk. Because of the imperfections, Tussah is more heavily treated with chemicals to mask the problems, removing some silk’s natural insulating properties.
If you were going to risk putting any variety of silk in the washing machine, it would be this one, but even still, it’s a risk. Silk is temperamental and tends to shrink when exposed to extreme, adverse conditions or treatment.
Microfiber
Due to the tiny (some might even say micro) fibers, this polyester-based fabric is so tightly woven that it’s better suited to stand up to dirt, stains, and dust. It offers superior durability to the other fabric options on this list. The tight-woven nature also allows the sheets to retain color more effectively after repeated washings.
Like silk, microfiber is naturally antimicrobial, which means these sheets are a great way to reduce allergens in your bedroom environment. On the downside, due to their composition and despite their ability to hold color, these sheets may not last as long as 100% cotton or silk sheets. Additionally, they are not as breathable and can trap heat, making them better suited for colder climates or people who tend to sleep cold. With microfiber, you get an affordable, durable bed sheet in thousands of colors and every size imaginable, but you may have to replace them often. However, the ease of care and style options may outweigh the negatives for microfiber sheets!
A Note on Thread Count
Thread count is a count of the number of threads woven in a square inch of fabric. You may see certain sheet sets marked as “200 thread count” or “750 thread count.” This is most commonly used for cotton sheets and can signal the breathability and softness of a set of sheets. However, the ultimate authority on softness is yourself, so try not to rely on thread counts to determine what kind of sheets you want!
In conclusion, selecting the best sheets comes down to understanding the unique properties of each material and matching them to your unique preferences. If you prefer a luxurious sleeping experience, silk sheets might suit you! If you want a long-lasting, breathable option, go with cotton. Ultimately, the decision is yours!