How to Pick the Best Bed Sheets

I love a good bed with all the perfect accoutrements, including a featherbed, feather comforter, and great sheets. Soft, airy sheets are key to a good night's sleep, and will soothe even the most worried mind. Get the thought out of your mind that you have to settle for cheap Wal-mart sheets, you deserve better. This doesn't mean that you have to spend an arm and a leg though, there are many great sheets out there that are reasonably priced. Below I have broken down sheet type by material. Within each material there is a lot of variation in quality, and some materials are inherently softer than others. Browse through the options and pick out your favorite, and don't be afraid to treat yourself to some decent bedding!

If you are trying to be more green, feel free to stop by my Hub "Why Choose Eco-Friendly Sheets".

Cotton is the most common material used to make sheets, and is often the cheapest option. The most important factor when buying cotton sheets is thread count. These two words will determine whether your sheets feel like a gunny sack or a cloud. The lower the thread count is on your sheets, the scratchier they will be. The threads in lower thread count sheets are larger and more widely spaced. Thus, you feel the tiny bumps in the weaving and the largeness of the threads. The lowest thread count sheets are about 200. The higher the thread count goes however, the finer the threads and the softer the sheets. A decent set of sheets that won't set you back too much cost wise will have about a 400 thread count. I find these sheets perfectly soft, and they grow more comfortable with washing. Cotton sheets are my summer sheets because they breathe well and are light and cool.

Flannel sheets are a variation on cotton sheets except they are fuzzier and much warmer. Flannel sheets come in many fun prints, but also come in solid colors as well. With flannel thread count is less of an issue, but you still want quality sheets. Don't buy sheets where the fluff is too loose, this will result in annoying pills after washing which make the sheets bumpy. Flannel is great because it is very warm for winter bedding. I love cuddling up with cocoa, a book, and a snowy January night in some good flannel sheets.

Beech sheets are made from beech wood in a cellulose based process that's similar to the production process of rayon. The resulting fabric is called "modal", but is marketed as beech sheets. Modal is a very fluid and silky fabric, and is extremely soft to the touch. Beech sheets are also very reasonable price wise, a queen size set won't run you more than $40. Because it's not quite as breathable as cotton I use beech sheets as my spring sheets, when it's not freezing anymore, but the nights can still get cold.

The ultimate in luxury sheets, silk is heaven for any sheet lover. I personally have never been able to afford silk sheets, but I have felt them before, and the feeling is incomparable. It's like being in a sensous cocoon that caresses your whole body. Silk can be cool to the touch, but can also warm up with your body heat. If you have enough extra cash to buy a set of silk sheets, consider yourself a very lucky person.

Keep an eye out for other products breaking on to the market as well. I have a set of sheets that are microfiber, and they are basically like the microfiber fuzzy blankets you can buy at the store. They do a great job of keeping us warm in the dead of winter (-10 degrees). Find out what you like and stick with it, and don't compromise! Save your money for a few weeks, and you'll have what you want.

Still want to "pimp" your bed? (I should have my own TV show). Try visiting my Hub "How to Make a Firm Mattress Softer" to spend your nights in a fluffy cloud.