Human beings are bound to be asleep for a third of their lives. Understandably, sleep can easily be taken for granted since nothing much happens during those times. However, wakefulness can be a lot more fulfilling when people are able to sleep well every night.
This can typically be achieved by having better sleep hygiene. Aside from getting an appropriate mattress, another way to achieve maximum comfort is by using high-quality bed sheets. It may seem superficial at first, but having good sheets usually makes all the difference.
Shopping for Sheets: Factors to Consider
It’s easy to dismiss bedsheets as nothing more than protective covers or decorative details in a bedroom. After all, if sheets are doing a good job of bringing out your personality through your bed, then what else do they really need to do? Won’t sleep just come naturally when you’re already tired or ready to relax after a long, tiring day?
The thing is, how the sheets feel matter as much as how they look. In fact, Boll and Branch reviews suggest that you prioritize the following factors when shopping for sheets:
- Take Note of the Material or Fabric
This will dictate how comfortable your sheets will feel against your skin. It also determines how durable the sheets will be in the long run. These are the most common materials or fabrics that you’ll come across:
- Cotton: When it comes to cotton sheets, the best and usually the most expensive is the 100% Egyptian variety.
- Pima (or Supima®) Cotton: Usually known for its comfortability, it’s usually the go-to for people who are looking for a more affordable cotton option.
- Linen: Durable and appropriate for hot climates.
- Polyblend: Easy to maintain and relatively wrinkle-resistant.
Choosing sheets based on material is mostly a matter of personal preference. In any case, pick the option that proves to be the best one over time.
- Feel the Sheet’s Softness
If you are buying sheets in person and not from an online shop, it’s important that you test how soft they feel before buying. How they feel when they’re brand new can tell you how they’re going to feel after you’ve washed them.
Most sheets are going to get softer after every wash, so if the sheets you’re holding are already soft out of the box, then you can expect it to maintain its softness in the long run.
- Ask for the Thread Count
Thread count is the number of vertical and horizontal threads that a sheet has per square inch. Typically, the rule is that a higher thread count means better quality, but that’s no longer necessarily the case.
For example, a sheet with a high thread count that is made from cheaper fabric is still not going to be as good as a sheet with low thread count yet is made from high-quality fabric. This means that a sheet that is made of combed cotton with a thread count of 300 to 400 will still be a better product than a cheap sheet that claims to have 1,000 thread count.
- Consider the Climate in Your Area
Changing your bedding is one of the simplest ways to modify your bedroom’s look and ambiance. Hence, to have a comfortable sleep every night, it’s important that you cover up your mattress according to the season.
Some sheets like linen are better off for summer months or hot climates because they don’t absorb much heat. Meanwhile, wool and flannel are great for cold climates because they keep the sleeper as warm as possible.
Check the Company’s Sustainability Practices
If you’re following the “green movement”, then you should also consider getting your bedsheets from a company that has ethical and sustainable practices. Boll and Brand products are a good example. They’re a great choice for people who care about the environment and fair working conditions but don’t want to give up the kind of comfort that can only come from high-end and meticulously crafted products.
You may also be interested to know how such companies care for their plants. For instance, many of these eco-friendly businesses don’t use pesticides on their cotton plants. Instead, they use insect-repellent marigold plants to get rid of harmful pests.
Sleep Soundly with the Right Bed Sheets
Bedsheets are more than just protective covers for your mattress. Although that is their primary purpose, it should also help you have better sleep cycles.
The wrong sheet can easily throw off your sleeping patterns because of the discomfort that they cause. Hence, if good sleep is among your top priorities, make sure that you only buy the sheets that best match your needs.
