Selecting Bed Sheets

Sleeping in bed is the most rejuvenating part of a person's life. So a comfortable bed and bedding that complements the overall bedroom décor is a must. Since bed sheets are the most visible part of a bed, high quality bed sheets can make quite a difference to the visual appeal and comfort level of the room. Here are a few tips on choosing the right kind of bedsheets:

While most of the mattresses come in standard sizes such as 'King-sized', 'Queen-sized' and 'Full-sized', the customized mattresses with pillow tops and other accessories attached to them can make them larger and wider and will need larger bedsheets than the standard ones available in the market. Thus, it is better to measure the bed and the mattress size that you use beforehand, so that the bedsheets you buy are of appropriate sizes.


Thread count per inch or TPI is an important factor to be considered while buying a bed sheet. Bedsheets with higher TPI (more than 250) are softer, more comfortable and last longer. The bedsheets having lower than 200 TPI are not recommended for daily use.


Cotton bedsheets are the most popular ones though one can use flannel and cotton mixed fabrics as bedsheets depending on our taste.


On the high end of fashion and comfort level, satins and silks with their soft feel on skin win almost every romantic heart.


Colors and designs of the bedsheets should match the overall theme and color scheme of the room, though it can have a deeper hue than the color of the walls.


Pale colors suit summer season while fall bedroom décor can accommodate more bright and bold colors.

The Importance of Bed Sheets to a Good Night's Sleep

Like pillows, sheets are especially overlooked when considering factors that contribute to a good nights sleep. But they are very important, they are your night “jacket”, providing warmth, insulation and comfort.

Bed sheets come in two main types: fitted or flat.


The fitted sheet, which lies directly on the mattress has four corners sewn with elastic, to hold the sheet on the bed.


A flat sheet (also called a top sheet) generally goes on the top of the fitted and is simply a piece of cloth with a hem.



The quality of a sheet is marking by its thread count- the number of threads per square inch of material, with the higher the count the softer the sheet. 200 plus is recommended.

Sheets also come in a variety of fabrics

Cotton Sheets

There are many different types of cotton, varying in quality, measured by the length of their staple (the longer the staple, the higher quality the cotton).

The best cotton type has to be Egyptian. Egyptian cotton is obviously produced in Egypt, grown on the Nile river valley.

High thread count Egyptian cotton sheets are a luxury everyone should experience if possible. They are silky soft, breathable and durable, making for a heavenly nights sleep. Cotton sheets tend to crease a lot when washing and can be a real battle to iron.

I get around this by putting them on the bed straight of the clothesline or out of the drier. Stretching them over the bed like this flattens them out in no time.


Flannel Sheets

While I am a great lover or Egyptian cotton in the summer, there’s nothing better then crawling into bed on a cold wintery night between soft, fluffy and luxuriously warm flannel sheets.

I use the same down duvet all year round and just switch to flannel sheets in the winter- shows how warm they are! Most high-quality flannel sheets are made from a wool and cotton blend.

The wool provides warmth and the cotton that ultra soft fluffy feeling. While flannel sheets are very warm, they are often not very breathable. People who find this a problem and better to go for the higher quality cotton with a warmer winter duvet.

Satin Sheets

I’m not a fan myself, but some people love the silky feel of satin or sateen sheets. They are great in the summer as are always nice and cool.

They also breathe very well and are very light, so you feel as though you are sleeping with nothing on you. Some people find sateen a bit scratchy and slippery, so once again, be sure to buy the highest thread count you can afford. Sateen sheets also have a beautiful sheen, so look great.

Be sure to buy sheets the right size for your bed, as there is nothing worse then the "creeping sheet", working its way off the bed in the middle of the night.

So that’s an overview of the main types of sheets. They are, of course, personal preference, but remember we spend just under half our life in bed, so be sure you’re comfortable!

Find the Perfect Pillow for your Bedroom

Ensuring you have a good nights sleep is an easy way to increase your physical and mental health and have you bouncing out of bed in the morning ready to face the day.
Many people realise the quality of their bed is important feature of a good nights sleep, but not many think of their pillow.
Like a bed, I cannot tell you which one is best for you, as we all like them different. So instead, here is a summary of the different types of pillows to aid you in your choice.

Types of Pillows

Latex Pillows

Latex pillows are the firmest of pillows, so if you like a soft, squishy pillow steer away. They often come moulded to a certain shape for added neck support and to reduce points of pressure.
So if you suffer from neck and back pain, it may be a good idea to investigate one of these. Latex pillows should all be hypo-allergenic, as it is almost impossible for dust mites and mildew to live in them, ensuring a healthy, clean nights sleep.
Latex pillows hold their shape very well so look good in pillowcases as well as being comfortable. Some latex is designed to be porous so air will flow through the pillow, increasing circulation and comfort.

Wool Pillows

Are a long lasting, healthy pillow that are also wonderful for allergy suffers. While I like a relatively firm pillow, when buying wool I always choose a softer fill then normal as it can be rock hard if tightly packed.
But in saying that, wool pillows do hold their shape very well. Wool pillows are very well ventilated and their circulatory qualities ensure your body temperature is regulated throughout the night, meaning they are great for people who experience night sweats or wake up uncomfortably hot during the night.
Cotton Pillows
Cotton pillows have similar hypo-allergenic and ventilation qualities to wool pillows but are much softer. They also compress quickly so are good for people who like flat pillows or who scrunch theirs up into all sorts of shapes.

Down or Feather Pillows


Down or Feather Pillows are as divine as down duvets - soft, comfortable, breathable and available in a range of firmnesses. They can come as down or feathers alone, or a combination, but down is the softest.

Down and feather pillows are easily molded to find a comfortable shape, but watch out for the cheaper ones as the feathers can often be left with sharp bits on them which may inadvertently stick you in the neck. The only negative is many people are allergic to this type of pillow, mainly due to the dust left in the feathers during processing. However, there are new hypo-allergenic fills coming on the market that offer the same sensation as down but with more allergy friendly qualities.

Dacron Pillows

Dacron pillows are filled with a synthetic fibre that doesn’t offer many good qualities apart from price. They aren’t very comfortable as the fibre has a tendency to bunch up in areas and leave you with a bald patch.
As they are synthetic, they also don’t have much ventilation and airflow. Dacron pillows are not recommended for sleeping on but are great for cushions and ornamental pillows as they can go into the washing machine should they catch a stray cup of tea.

That brings me to an important point on pillow care.
Always use a quality pillowcase, as these protect the pillow from the oils and dirt on your skin and are easy to wash.

Fluffing pillows daily (or as often as you remember) will help them keep their shape longer and break up any lumps of fibre that can form.
With the exception of Dacron, don’t wash your pillows in the washing machine.
Spot cleaning for small areas or dry cleaning is recommended.
So there you have it, a variety of pillows for all different people. Take a little bit of my advice, and a little bit of your own preferences and you should have no trouble choosing the perfect pillow for you.