Stephen Cardino, the home fashion director at Macy’s and a 25-year veteran of the bedding industry, weighs in on what you need to know. Is Thread Count That Important?Thread count is often used as the barometer of a sheet’s smoothness and durability. However, this measurement—which should refer to the number of threads woven into a square inch of fabric—isn’t always reliable. High thread count is a factor, but the type of cotton can be more significant. RELATED: How to Fold a Fitted Sheet What’s The Best-Quality Cotton? Top-of-the-line is 100 percent Egyptian cotton. Second best is 100 percent pima cotton, also known by the trademarked name Supima. If a label says simply, “100 percent cotton,” assume that it’s American upland cotton, a rougher, less expensive variety. Egyptian cotton’s long fibers produce sheets that are thin and sumptuous yet extremely strong and long-lasting. (The shorter fibers of upland cotton, by contrast, can poke out of the weave, leading to a coarser, weaker fabric.)
Pima cotton is also soft and less likely to pill than upland cotton. You can find a good queen set made of pima for less than $200. If you want the best, you’ll invest about $500 in an Egyptian-cotton set in percale or sateen—both clean, classic weaves. (See this round-up of luxury sheets for our favorite picks.) Best and Most Comfortable Bed Sheets Reviews 2017Being 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 WineThe Best Sheets for Making an Amazing Bed When you buy from Cuddledown, you're entering a world of superior quality, comfort and style. Try our soft cashmere blankets, lustrous sateen sheets or crisp percale sheets. Our customers love our flannel sheets and silk pillowcases, as well as our top rated bamboo towels. Shop other Cuddledown top rated products.
There's sleepwear, and then there's Cuddledown's premier nightgowns and pajamas. We select only premium quality to provide you with an unparalleled level of comfort exemplified by our Calida sleepwear collection. We are committed to making and selling the best products on the market. Our down and synthetic fill pillows, comforters and featherbeds are hand-crafted right here in Yarmouth, Maine. Allergy Relief & Sleep Solutions Here at Cuddledown, revitalizing sleep is our top priority. Our hypoallergenic mattress pads and bedding protectors are designed to provide you with the best night's sleep you have ever had. Shop an unrivaled selection of mattress pads and mattress toppers that will provide luxurious comfort while extending the life of your mattress.“Bedsheets are the most important thing in the world,” muses Bunny Williams, who has been decorating Upper East Side apartments and Connecticut country homes for over 30 years. Because if you’re going to spend one-third of your life between the sheets, shouldn’t they feel fabulous?
Here, Williams, along with some other very particular New York tastemakers — Sheila Bridges, Kai Avent-deLeon, and Aelfie Oudghiri — tells us the best sheets to buy. “The go-to sheets I choose for the majority of my projects. Clients love them for their comfort and accessibility, while I love their simple designs. There’s something uniquely versatile about them — it’s sophisticated enough for city life, but even in a country home it works perfectly against a more rustic backdrop. I never second-guess these sheets; more often than not they work for the interior I’m working on.” - Vicente Wolf, Designer “I have them on my bed right now and they are my softest sheets by far. They almost feel like flannel, but very lightweight, so they’re not as warm — just really soft and comfortable to the touch. Even though I have 20 other pairs of sheets folded in my laundry closet, I’ll take these off the bed, wash them, and put them back on.” - Sheila Bridges, founder of Sheila Bridges Design
For me, the perfect bed is a heavy duvet, a cashmere blanket, lots of pillows, and these cotton-percale white sheets. I think the scalloped edges have such a lovely shape to them and are so luxurious.” - Amanda Ross, Designer “My favorite sheets are Matouk, mostly because everything’s customizable, from the color of the threading to the monogram and the ruffles, but there’s this one embroidery that I keep coming back to. It’s this very Hollywood Regency scallop-shell pattern that’s kind of Miami-influenced too. It’s very 1940s, 1950s glam with the seashells and the scalloped edge, and I love it.” - Sasha Bikoff, founder of Sasha Bikoff New York “It’s not the world’s highest thread count, but the Egyptian cotton on these sheets has this really tight weave that makes such a difference on your skin. The sheets have this handsome pair of satin borders you can get in different colors, too. It’s a brand built on practical creativity and affordable luxury.” - Becky Shea, Designer, Homepolish
“I recently used bamboo linens for a large project and I will definitely be using them more going forward. The company is BedVoyage and the quality of the product is excellent, the feel is amazing. Bamboo is one of the strongest and hardest natural materials, and yet when you feel the fibers on these sheets it’s just incredibly soft. Softer than you’d imagine. Like, baby soft on your skin. Also, it’s extremely durable — it generally lasts about two times longer than cotton sheets — and it’s easy to clean. It’s usually more expensive, but overall quality and durability makes this the hands-down winner.” - Anishka Clarke, co-owner of Ishka Designs “I have this habit now that I like to sleep with a silk pillowcase. You don’t end up with as many pillow creases, it’s gentler on your skin, and your hair isn’t as frizzy when you wake up. Most of the silk pillowcases out there are really tacky, but I found a brand called Kumi Kookoon. They have this range of incredible colors.
I use a really deep indigo-navy and it’s a dream to sleep on. They’re so soft and I really notice the difference when I wake up. My hair is not as crazy bedhead in the morning and my skin feels better.” - Zoe Mac, founder of Zoe Mac Design “My absolute favorite sheets are the hotel classic from Frette, which are kind of like the fantasy version of Upper East Side hotel bed linens. They’re Italian-made in this Egyptian cotton that’s just the softest and butteriest fabric to laze around in. I love the chic and simple double-line embroidery, too.” - Michael Shome, Director of Photography, Architectural Digest “I really liked Snowe’s dinnerware, so I started using their sheets, too, and I’ve found that they’re really good quality and decently priced. As I got older I realized the importance of having quality sheets, and with these I finally feel like an adult. They’re cotton, which is the only material I buy now, and they’re really soft, kind of plush. They’re breathable and low-maintenance, so I don’t have to constantly clean them even though I buy an off-white color.” - Kai Avent-deLeon, owner of Sincerely, Tommy
“For the breadth of their pattern options, I always go back to Pratesi — there’s a certain level of craftsmanship and luxury to the brand. You can feel how breathable the cotton percale is, and the embroidered patterns add just the chicest unexpected touch. I think Andy Warhol’s favorite sheets were Pratesi, too. I get a huge kick out of that.” - Patrick Mele, Designer “I only buy my own bedding and I like block-printed Indian sheets. India is famous for its cotton because it’s been exporting cotton for, like, millennia and creates the most cotton in the world. Sure, people talk about Egyptian cotton, but Indian cotton is better. When you get a lot of the really soft bedding like jersey it’s because they’re going through these chemical processes where it’s washed a million times so it’s really fucking wasteful. I like my bedding to soften over time and grow with me.” - Aelfie Oudghiri, founder of home goods label Aelfie “Bedsheets are the most important thing in the whole world.