Confused by thread count? Don’t know your percale from your Egyptian cotton? Our guide to buying bed linen will soon have you picking out the loveliest linens for your bedroom.
What is thread count?
The thread count is used to describe the number of threads in a square inch of fabric. The higher the thread count, the finer and smoother the fabric to touch. As a general rule, the higher the thread count, the more superior the quality of your bed linen. Standard cottons will be around 110 thread count, while higher quality starts at 200. Anything above 200 is considered a much more luxurious quality. We still believe that fabulous bedding starts at 300 thread count, however, to confuse matters, all thread counts are not equal. You want to check quality, high thread count which is made of longer fibres is better than a combination of shorter, cheaper fibres—this is why our range starts at 300 thread count and goes up to 1000.
Which fabric should I choose?
Egyptian Cotton: This term relates to the fibre used to make the fabric. Egypt is renowned for growing cotton with particularly long fibres that allows them to be spun unto very fine, soft yet durable yarns, making Egyptian cotton into one of the finest. It is now also found in many regions of the world.
Cotton Sateen: This relates to the weave used to turn the fibre (Egyptian Cotton) into fabric. Through an overlay of yarns on the surface, a sateen weave creates a fabric that has a lustrous, smooth surface that is irresistibly soft against your skin. This weave can also have a slight sheen.
Cotton Percale: This term also refers to the weave of the cotton fibres. Percale weave has a more matte look as it is a flat weave. When made in a good quality thread count (300 thread count cotton and above, for example) it has the unusual quality of improving with age. Percale is a high quality combed cotton. Combing removes any rougher poor quality fibres and gives bed linen a lovely smooth finish.
What bed linen components are available?
Our pillowcases come in the classic Housewife style, which has no border and fits exactly to the edge of the pillow. Our bespoke pillow cases are available in an Oxford style which has an additional border around the edge and mitred corners for a stylish look.
Duvet covers have a traditional French ‘tail’ or ‘bottleneck’ end fold rather than button closure, which gets tucked in at the bottom for ease of bed making and so that you don’t lose your covers at night.
Fitted sheets have elasticised corners to keep your sheet secure through the night. Josephine Home fitted sheets all have a depth of 30cm. If your mattress is deeper, choose a flat sheet and fold in the corners to secure it in place. A flat sheet is also used as a top sheet and is essential if making your bed with blankets. Make sure your flat sheet has the right side facing down so that when you turn it back at the top of the bed, the right side is facing up.
What size should I choose?
Pillowcases
Standard
50 x 70cm
Continental Square
65 x 65cm
Provides great support while reading in bed.
King
50 x 90cm
For all beds of 6ft and above.
Duvet Covers
Single
140 x 200cm
Double
200 x 200cm
King
230 x 220cm
Super King
260 x 220cm
Emperor
280 x 235cm
Caesar
280cm
Fitted Sheets
All fitted sheets have the same depth of 30cm.
Single
90 x 190cm
Double
140 x 190cm
King
150 x 200cm
Super King
180 x 200cm
Emperor
200x 200cm
Caesar
280cm
Flat Sheets
Single
170 x 280cm
King/Double
270 x 300cm
Super King/Emperor
300 x 320cm
Top Sheets
Single
170 x 280cm
Double/King
270 x 300cm
Super King/Emperor
300 x 320cm
How should I care for my bed linen?
For generations, laundering, whitening and darning bed linen were vital rituals in the cycle of life associated with fine linen. Today, a few simple rules will ensure you get the best out of your bed linen.
Firstly, wash at the lowest temperature (40-60 degrees) without filling the drum too tightly as water must be able to circulate to ensure a thorough wash. Soft water also makes a huge difference to the feel of your linen, so it is really worth investing in a water softener if you live in a hard water area.
Secondly, always iron sheets while they are still slightly damp for an easy glide and a perfect finish.
Finally, store well away from any dust – ideally in a separate linen cupboard, or drawer, perhaps adding an evocative scent to infuse the linen. The result will be long lasting, crisply ironed, freshly scented linen, which will make it a treat to get into bed every night. Given that we spend up to a third of our lives in bed, it just has to be worth it.
Shop our bed linen range