Winter is all about warmth, but spring is here, so don’t let heavy comforters bog you down! Wool and flannel are fine by the fireplace, but there’s no way you’d want to nestle in those fabrics come April. Something lighter is definitely the perfect fix for your blooming bedroom, but where do you begin? There’s cotton, Egyptian cotton, sateen—oh my! And if you don’t know what any of that means, shopping for new spring bedding can be intimidating.
With Furniture Row’s wonderful selection of luxurious state-of-the-line sheets and comforters, you can’t go wrong with any of our products, but in order to insure you have the right set for you, we’ve broken it down to answer some of the questions you might have. After all, everyone deserves a comfortable bed!
What is thread count?
Thread count is the amount of thread used vertically and horizontally within one square inch of fabric. The lower the thread count, the more likely a set of sheets is to be softer and airy. Typically, bed sheets with a 200 to 400 thread counts are lighter than sheets with a 500 to 1,000 thread counts, which are heavier due to the extra thread.
Comforters also operate on a thread count system. Like bed sheets, a comforter’s thread count says a lot about its quality and texture. Some comforters have high thread counts so their weaves are tighter, making them stronger but also heavier. Look for lower thread counts for your spring bedding.
What are luxury bed sheets?
One common myth about bed sheets is that the word “luxury” means better. This is not the case! Luxury bed sheets normally have 500 to 1,000 thread counts, meaning that they are denser and heavier. Luxury bed sheets have a higher thread count, but depending on the material, yarn size, and weaving technique, they tend to be silkier than regular bed sheets.
Which material is right for me?
Don’t just look at thread count! The material and weave of your bedding also says a lot about its softness and quality, and certain types of fiber or fiber blends woven in a variety of ways can act differently than others. Make sure you never pick out bed sheets based on appearance alone. Color and pattern are important factors, but taking the thread count, weave, and fiber type into consideration is far more important if you are looking for the perfect set for spring.
Some common fibers and weave patterns used in bedding are:
Bamboo: If you’re allergic or sensitive to most types of fabric, bamboo is your best bet. Although bamboo is one of the strongest materials in construction, it is also used to make one of the softest fabrics in the world, and is noticeably softer than cotton. The pulp of bamboo grass is resistant to bacteria, making sheets hypoallergenic and unyielding to dust mites. Bamboo is also a more sustainable, eco-friendly option since the tree grows back very quickly.
For high-quality bamboo sheets, check out the DreamFit Premium Comfort Rich Performance Bamboo Sheets.
Cotton: Probably the most popular material in textiles, cotton has been commonly found in bedding for decades, and for good reason! Due to its breathability and moisture-resistant properties, cotton is an excellent material for keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summertime. It is smooth and soft due to shorter fibers, so you are sure to always have crisp and clean sheets.
Get the feel of crisp 100% cotton with the Choice Sheet Set and the Trellis Comforter Set or Modern Chevron Comforter Set.
Cotton Blend: Cotton mixed with polyester, another popular fabric, is a great way to insure that your sheets are as durable as they are comfortable. A cotton blend is very easy to care for, but is a little denser than pure cotton—making your sheets feel warmer.
Experience the sensation of cotton mixed with a lovely linen with the Linen Chic Comforter Set. Linen fibers woven with 100% cotton create a truly unique texture that is soft, supple, and lasting.
Egyptian Cotton: Considered the most luxurious sheet fabric, Egyptian cotton is the best in terms of quality! This type of cotton only grows along the Nile River and takes a long season to produce, so the material is made of long fibers and stronger cotton. Egyptian cotton is also supple and silky, and softens with every wash.
For silky Egyptian cotton, check out the DreamFit Preferred Egyptian Cotton 400 TC Sheets for an optimal sleeping experience.
Microfiber: Composed of very finely woven fibers, microfiber is the scientific result of weaving wood pulp, polyester, or nylon polymers. These sheets are very thin, but are strong and exceptionally smooth for a comfortable experience. Microfiber is also popular due its durability and easy cleanup. Microfiber is breathable and is a popular spring bedding choice.
For high-quality and long-lasting microfiber sheets, check out the BedWorks Midtown Microfiber Sheets and the Essentials Sheet Set.
Percale: Although it’s not a material, the word percale on your bedding is still important to note. It is a type of close weave fabric, meaning that the threads are tightly woven individually for a medium weight and firm texture. It is typically found in 200 thread count sheets made of 100% cotton or a cotton blend and washes well.
Pima Cotton: Also known as Supima cotton, this type of cotton originating from Pima, Arizona is an all-American material. You can do anything to pima cotton that you could do to regular cotton, except Supima is much sturdier so it can handle more wear and tear. Some argue that the material is even finer than Egyptian cotton!
Sateen: Sateen sheets are high-quality sheets woven in the same way as traditional satin, but unlike satin, sateen contains more common fibers found in fabrics, such as cotton. Sateen has a silky quality with a four stitches over, one stitch under pattern that makes it extremely soft to the touch.
Get sateen smooth American pima cotton with the Signature Sheet Set or the Bedworks Uptown Sateen Duvet Cover.
Satin: One common misconception about satin is that it is a fiber, but this is not the case! Satin can be woven from wool, cotton, polyester, silk and other materials. Due to a weave pattern in which the threads are caught and looped, satin is a smooth and glossy result that is bound to make you feel like royalty.
Silk: This luxurious fiber traces back more than 3,000 years and the desire for it is still stronger than ever. Silk threads are longer than any other fiber threads due to the unwound silkworm cocoon that can reach an amazing 1,600 feet! This makes silk very delicate, but surprisingly extremely strong in order to produce a light, versatile, and elegant fabric that will give you a soft and sumptuous feel.
Twill: Instead of a basic stitch, twill is a pattern of diagonal patterns in a weave and produces fabric that is more wrinkle-resistant than others. This weaving technique can also produce softer and airy sheets.
No matter what look you’re going for, there is a type of bedding that fits you! Celebrate spring by finding the right sheets and comforter to keep you feeling clean and comfortable right in time for the sunshine.
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