Being that we spend about one-third of our lives asleep, it makes sense to invest in bedding that's not only comfortable, but stands the test of time. But with so many options out there — thread count, fabric make-up, patterns, solids — the decision process can be overwhelming. We got DwellStudio founder and all around bedding expert Christiane Lemieux's tips to help simply the process.1. Thread CountThread count isn't an indication of quality anymore. Unless it's an amazing and very expensive fabric, a high thread count is just a numbers game: many companies cheat the numbers with double twist yarns in a cheaper fabric. "Personally, I prefer a 400 single pick percale sheet because of the crisp, cool feel. But if you like a soft, warm, bed, a great stretchy jersey sheet might be your thing, and that's not about thread count at all," Lemieux says.2. MaterialThe type of material you choose for your sheets has everything to do with personal preference. Think about it: it's what you're wearing eight hours a day.
Cotton: The best quality (and most expensive) is 100% Egyptian, which has extra-long-staple fibers that produce sumptuous, yet extremely durable sheets.Pima or Supima cotton: A medium-to-extra-long staple fibers material, is known for its softness and sheen and is a little more affordable than Egyptian cotton.Linen: Ideal for hot climates, linen sheets are some of the most expensive out there, but will last for decades.For an already worn-in look and feel, "I love all the enzyme-washed linens on the market right now," Lemieux says. "They're soft and durable, and improve with age."Poly-blend sheets: Easy and resistant to wrinkles.3. WeaveThe way sheets are woven have a direct impact on how they feel. Lemieux's fave, percale, is lightweight and tightly woven, which results in crisp, cool, bedding, while microfiber's super-tight, dense weave makes it wrinkle-resistant, extra-soft, and resistant to water. Some other weaves to consider: ultra-soft and lustrous sateen, and flannel, with a nappy texture perfect for cooler climates.4.
PatternLike any other element in the bedroom, sheets play a part in the overall design. "I always advise a small, medium, and large scale mix of patterns in the same color family," Lemieux says. "It's an easy way to start experimenting with prints."5. SeasonalityHow many sheet sets you need is totally up to you and how often you like to change things up. But remember, sheets that may seem summery can work all year. Just add a coverlet, blanket, and throw to make your bed cozier for the fall and winter months.-------------Plus:Beautiful Designer Living Rooms >> 10 Pink Rooms You'll Love >> 12 Iconic Colors from Around the World >> 8 Great Color Combinations >> Chic Decor Finds in Cobalt Blue >> The Key to Great Design Is All in Your Head Pink Is the Missing Piece From Red, White and Blue Decor 10 Retro Design Trends That Are Making Your Home Worth Less 2017 Is the Year You're Going to Want to Replace Your Floor Every Room in Your House Needs a "Stiletto" Moment, Says This Designer
Grass Cloth Is the Neutral Background Your Walls Need A Pink Ceiling Was the Only Thing Shot Down for This Colorful Apartment It Took 6 Weeks and 5 Workers to Paint This Super-Shiny Living Room 10 Fool-Proof Tricks for Creating Your Dream Closet This Designer's Trick for Upbeat Rooms Involves a Bottle of WineI agree that it will always be a personal preference but i will vote for bamboo every time. So do many of our customers. There had been some negative information about bamboo fiber a few years ago due to the cotton industries lobbying and also due to it was a new technology then and have lots of room for improvement. Most bamboo fibe r on the market are so called "bamboo rayon" or "bamboo viscose", which has been criticised that the process involve certain chemicals that might not be totally eco friendly. Last year, my company Ettitude start to use this new technology to produce bamboo fiber using the "Tencel/Lyocell" process, The lyocell process differs from the viscose/rayon process mainly in that the chemicals used in the viscose process are replaced by an organic solution, N-Methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO).
Together with the water used in the production, the solution is recycled and reused in a closed loop system. Thus, there are no residues of harmful chemicals and water consumption is reduced significantly. We had an article explained more detail exactly what's the difference between rayon, modal and lyocell. We are the first company in the world offer 100% bamboo lyocell bed sheets. Bed sheets made by bamboo lyocell fabric i would say is better than most Egyptian cotton out there, even the organic ones and cost way less than organic cotton sheets. Some of our customers comment "Wasn't too sure about them at first because they're only 300 odd thread but hey make my 1300 Egyptian cotton sheets feel like sandpaper. Best sleep of my life." Bamboo lyocell fabric is as soft as silk because of it's satin wave, it has been called as the "vegan silk" since no silk worm need to be killed to create such silky softness. Another reason agains cotton is that it's such a "thirsty" crop, even organic cotton it still needs much more water to grow.
The fiber yield per acre from the bamboo used in lyocell is up to ten times higher than that of cotton. Also, cotton needs up to 10-20 times more water than required for lyocell fibers. We are having a water crisis now, so growing more bamboo and turing that into fabric is much more water sufficient and better for the environment. The only drawback might be since it's a very soft and fine fabric, you need to give it a bit additional care when you wash and dry them, cold wash, line dry or tumble dry low is best for them also a very eco friendly way, save you electricities! And no bleach and fabric softener as those are full of chemicals and will damage your sheet and your health. If have to use, use the eco friendly, non toxic option. Because of that, bamboo sheets might not be suitable for commercial hotel use and they wash their sheets in high temperature and tumble dry them all the time, bamboo sheets won't last too long under those harsh conditions.A good way to make sure if you are buying the right sheets is to ask for fabric swatch if the company offer such service, then you get to see and feel the fabric yourself and make an informed decision especially if you are buying online not in a shop that you can see and touch on site.
And buy from reputable brand that have lots of positive customer reviews.The answer to your question is that it is subjective - the best sheets are ones that feel best to you and we all have different preferences. Generally bamboo fibre sheets are silkier in feel to cotton sheets so if that’s your preference then that’s what you should choose. If you prefer a cooler, crisp feel you might want to look at Egyptian Cotton percale, or a sateen if you want something a bit silkier but not as much as bamboo. Having said that, if you’re after quality Egyptian Cotton sheets, there are a couple of things you can look for to make sure you are buying good quality cotton sheets.First, do not focus on thread count as this is not a measure of quality. The factors which contribute to quality are the fibre, yarn and fabric finishing, among others.The starting fibre ideally will be a long-staple cotton such as Egyptian Cotton. The long fibres are strong, supple and result in sheets which are softer and don’t pill.
Very fine, single-ply yarns can be spun from long-staple cotton, the best sheets are made from single-ply yarns.Plied yarns are ones where several threads are twisted together into one yarn. This is typically done when poor quality, shorter and weaker cotton fibres are used in order to strengthen the yarn, but this results in bulk and coarse thread, and heavy/dense sheets. Additionally, some manufacturers misleadingly count each ply as a separate thread, inflating thread counts far beyond reality. In fact, a very high thread count can be an indicator of lesser quality!Fabric finishing is also a very important step and you’ll find manufacturers of the best bedding will guard their finishing process secrets closely. Quality sheets are singed and mercerised to promote strength, lustre and resist pilling, whereas lesser quality sheets may not be.The weave of the fabric will be important to how the sheets feel. You can have a Percale weave (one horizontal thread for one vertical), or a Sateen weave (four over, one under).
Percale is tightly woven, more durable and has a cool, crisp hand and matte finish. Sateen is more lustrous and silky, with a higher thread count and usually a finer yarn. It is a bit denser and warmer but as durable as Percale. Neither is better than the other, it’s down to what you personally prefer.At my company The Good Sheet we offer pure long-staple Egyptian Cotton Percale sheets, with plans to introduce a Sateen range. We only use single-ply yarns and our fabrics are Oeko-Tex certified.Both Bamboo and Egyptian cotton sheets have a lot to offer in terms of comfort and variety. It can often come down to a personal preference but bamboo sheets are definitely marketed as having a lot of natural and special characteristics like moisture wicking and antibacterial properties.Bamboo sheets tend to be lightweight and luxurious feeling without needing to have a high thread count like Egyptian Cotton. This can also make bamboo sheets more appealing because they tend to be more affordable than Egyptian Cotton sheets.
In terms of which is better for the environment, it all comes down to the manufacturing processes.Because bamboo is an eco-friendly plant that is sustainable and requires no pesticides, we often think that bedding made from the plant is better for the environment. However, the actual process of removing plant fibers and creating thread and fabric can be filled with chemicals which can hurt the environment.The FTC also warns consumers that there is no proof that the natural antibacterial and anti-deodorizing qualities found in bamboo plants make their way into bamboo sheets. Not everyone agrees with this claim.Cotton manufacturing may harm the environment, too. Conventional cotton is said to be one of the world’s “dirtiest” crops because of its high use of pesticides, including several that are considered hazardous to our health.There is a new process for manufacturing plants like bamboo and cotton called Tencel/Lyocell. This process is considered more environmentally friendly, while still yielding very soft fabric.
There are a lot of different types of cotton and bamboo sheets on the market. In order to really figure out which one is best for you, it’s worth not only feeling the softness of each set of sheets but seeing how transparent the manufacturers are about their process.The best set of either type of sheets - in terms of what is best for the environment and our health - will most likely be organic and made by a company that prioritizes the environment.Otherwise, the best type of either sheet will be the one that is most comfortable to you and meets your personal needs.I've read a lot on bamboo bed sheets and the general consensus seems to be that because of how heavily processed bamboo is to be turned into yarn, it no longer retains any of it's natural properties. It's truly more of a synthetic fibre (companies must label products as Rayon from Bamboo), which means it does not breathe as well as a natural fibre. This is a pretty good article about it: FTC Charges Companies with ‘Bamboo-zling’ Consumers with False Product ClaimsHaving worked in the field of bamboo bedding for over 5 years, I've seen a lot of positive improvements in the industry and also learned some of the negative information you're seeing out there is outdated and or just plain false.