Key comfort points:
- Cotton sheets will help keep you cool and are easy to wash and dry.
- If you move around a lot while sleeping, invest in a duvet a size larger than your bed for extra coverage.
- A box stitch duvet will have a criss-cross pattern which means it has small compartments to keep filling evenly distributed.
Research indicates that humans need at least 6 - and up to 9 - hours of sleep a night to function well. A relaxing environment leads to better sleep, so make sure those hours really count by choosing great bedding.
Washing your sheets
Considering the number of skin cells we shed in bed, there are millions of good reasons to wash bedding regularly, and a full guide to cleaning your mattress and washing bed sheets can be found here. While regular washing to get rid of dirt and microscopic dust mites is important for hygiene, the type of bedding chosen can affect comfort.
Don’t forget your
Types of sheets
Sheets can be made from manmade materials such as polyester, or natural
Polyester and poly/cotton
Polyester is easy to care for, holds
Cotton
This natural
- Percale: This is a popular, tightly woven sheet that is smooth and has the same matte finish on both sides.
- Sateen: Frequently heavier and more tightly woven than percale, this finish has more sheen, gives cotton a silkier feel and is considered more luxurious.
- Thread count: This refers to the number of threads – vertical and horizontal – found in a square inch of
sheet fabric. Often an indicator of quality, a higher thread count generally means the sheets are more luxurious and durable, althoughfibre type and weave also contribute to quality. Finerfibres tend to feel softer. - Egyptian cotton: This material is popular for quality bedding, as its long
fibres mean sheets last well and feel soft, often becoming even softer with repeated washing. - Supima: This trademark is applied to premium, US-grown cotton of the long-fibred Pima variety. It is valued for its silky feel and durability.
Linen
A natural fabric made from flax, linen offers breathability, which helps with staying cool in summer and
Silk
This is the ultra-luxe option, valued for its smooth texture and breathability. Made by silkworms, this natural
Duvets and tog ratings
The tog rating of a duvet refers to its thermal insulation – or how warm it is. The scale starts at 1 (coolest), going up to 15 (warmest). In
The weight of a duvet is linked to its filling. Duvet fillings can range from feathers and down, to a range of natural and synthetic substances that can be treated to reduce