BookmarkDreaming Of Luxurious Bed Linens
Everyone has their ultimate dream when it comes to their bedroom: Is yours a Parisian country suite done in soft yellow and blue? What about a white oasis filled with crisp sheets, white fluffy pillows and a thick feather duvet? The first step to achieving any dream bedroom is luxurious bed linens. Luckily, most dreams can come true for less than a fortune spent.
The first consideration regarding bed linens is easy: fiber. There is an array of fabric content types on the market today, and we'll first offer you a short tutorial on some of the most popular fabrics available.
Egyptian Cotton is softer than any cotton, less linty and the most durable
Pima Cotton is soft, strong and durable and is a derivative of Egyptian cotton
Modal is a natural fiber made of 100 percent beechwood fibers and is exceptionally soft, absorbant and quick drying
Lyocell is a natural tree fiber that simulates silk or suede
Polyester is the most popular choice and the synthetic fiber resists stretching, shrinking, mildew, abrasion and wrinkling while also washing and drying easily
Silk is a sexy, smooth fiber, but also requires the most maintenance and usually has to be dry cleaned
Other fibers on the market today include jersey knit (popular with college students), flannel and sateen or satin.
The importance of thread count and maintenance
Thread count is the number of horizontal and vertical threads in a piece of cloth per square inch, and it can range widely, from around 150 to more than 1,000. It is the clearest way to tell the thickness and softness of a bed linen. The higher the thread count number, the higher the quality, and the higher the price. But the good news is that once you get above 500, all things begin to feel pretty similar. Higher thread counts equate to thinner sheets, which sometimes aren't as durable. Also, if you're buying flannel, expect a low thread count: flannel is thick!
Most sheets are simple to care for. Each piece of bed linen comes with specific washing instructions and if you stick to those, well, you're good to go. Other helpful hints: You can remove wrinkles from linens by throwing a damp cloth in the dryer with them. If you love a particular pattern of a set that's extremely expensive, indulge in the top sheet and pillowcases and add a coordinating solid sheet that's cheaper.