Bed Linen Buying Guide

 

Do you remember the most comfortable bed you ever slept in? How the sheets felt against your skin, waking refreshed and energised?  Our bed linen buying guide will help you recreate that experience in your own home.

The bedroom is a sanctuary for busy people. Considering the hours one spends in bed a night is approximately the same time spent at work it´s often overlooked how important your choice of bedding is. A good set should transform your day-to-day life by ensuring the best nights sleep.

The catch - you need to know what you´re looking for - you need a bed linen buying guide! The DEIA Living team have a few tips that will be of help when you´re next browsing for the perfect set....

 

WHAT FABRIC DO YOU PREFER?

The material you choose for your bed linen is based on personal preference and how you intend to use the sheets. If you're looking for a crisp feel then a percale from 200 - 500 threads will be more to your taste keeping in mind a 200 thread count percale can be soft and light where as a 500 thread count percale will be soft and dense.

If you prefer a smoother finish a 300 to 600 cotton sateen may be your penchant.  On the other hand if you´re more concerned about durability a percale is recommended over a sateen of the same thread count as it has a denser weave.

The DEIA Living range comes in thread counts between 280 – 600 threads.

 

COTTON

Cotton is the most important non-food commodity in the world and not surprisingly it is the most widely used fibre for making bed linen. Hairs from the tropical cotton plant are spun into yarn, then cloth.

Here in our bed linen buying guide you will discover the general rule of thumb is the longer the staple of cotton, the finer the yarn, hence the smoother, softer and stronger the bed linen.

Good quality cotton is long lasting, low maintenance and renowned for its natural breathability keeping you warm during cold seasons and cool in summer.  Real Egyptian cotton is grown in Egypt in very specific climate conditions and is carefully washed and combed. It is deemed one of the finest cottons because it grows with an unusually long staple and is therefore highly sort after.

To avoid disappointment when investing in Egyptian Cotton bed linen DEIA Living recommends double checking the product you buy specifies 100% Egyptian cotton.

Related: Is Egyptian Cotton Worth It?

PERCALE

Percale is a type of plain weave - one thread over, one thread under where the cotton yarn is given a combed treatment. This type of finish allows air to pass through, giving it a powdery coolness and breathability, an ideal material for the warmer months as it lets your skin breath easily.

SATEEN

Sateen is an elegant weave of four threads over, one thread under. This weave places more threads on the surface of the cloth resulting in a smoother feel than percale.

Keep in mind sateen is not to be confused with satin which has a shiny finish and is made from either silk or synthetic fabrics. Sateen is a material that holds a little more warmth than it´s percale cousin. It is still extremely breathable however might be more suited to cooler climates and winter months.

OUR BED LINEN PRODUCTS

PILLOW CASES

A standard pillowcase is an edge-to-edge pillowcase that fits to the contours of your pillow and has no detail around the edge. It is usually the pillow used to sleep on.

A king pillow is a bigger version of the standard pillow for larger beds or layering and comes with and without an oxford border, we also have an extra wide pillow case which is 1 case for a pillow for 2 people. 

A European pillow is a square sized pillow common in continental Europe. Generally, it has an extra border beyond the seamed edge and can be used for a layering effect.

BOTTOM SHEET - FITTED OR FLAT?

Our fitted sheets have elastic all the way around the perimeter to keep the sheet secure in your sleep. They have a 40 cm lip so will be deep enough to perfectly fit your mattress. However, your mattress is extra deep we recommend using a flat sheet and folding the corners under.

TOP SHEET

A top sheet also know as a flat sheet is needed if you use blankets instead of a duvet. They are also nice to use with a duvet to give a tailored look and to reduce the frequency of washing of your duvet cover.

DUVET COVERS

All DEIA Living duvet covers come with an oxford border and are closed buy buttons to make sure the duvet stays put!

FAQs

In general we would recommend a percale for a tropical humid climate like those found in the northern states of Australia. A fine 300 or 400 thread count percale will give extra breathability in comparison to sateen. In saying this however it comes down to personal preference and the quality of the material. If it´s a thick bad quality percale then a lighter sateen would be a better option. In reality all our materials are of a standard and quality that they could be used in any climate.

The general rule of thumb is if you use a flat sheet with your quilt cover or duvet cover then you can wash the cover every second wash. In saying this however if you move a lot during your sleep and come in significant contact with the quilt cover we would suggest regular weekly washing.

Any thread count above 200 threads is considered a high thread count. We stock bed linen from 280 to 600 threads and believe anything above a 600 thread count isn´t necessary if a sound quality bed linen product. In many instances the higher the thread count can mean a thicker material which ends in a product which isn´t breathable and of lower quality.

Keep in mind if the price of the bedding doesn't increase as the thread count increases then you´re probably not getting the quality described. Like with a fine wine, you get what you pay for.

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