Hopefully, you are sleeping 8 hours per night. Or, at least maybe you are in bed that long. For the average person in America, that adds up to 26 years of your life spent lying on your sheets. When you think of it that way, you might understand why so many people are looking to invest in luxury bedding to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
Luxury bedding should be soft to the touch, wick moisture away from your body, keep you cool in summer and warm in winter, and be durable.
If you’re tired of purchasing scratchy sheets that start to pill after only a few months of wear, if you’re tired of waking up sweaty and uncomfortable, if you’re ready to make an investment in that 26 years, then there are a few things you should know about choosing luxury bedding.
Material, Material, Material
You may have heard that thread count is the main thing that matters but, unfortunately, manufacturers can manipulate thread count by making their threads thinner to artificially inflate count to suggest greater softness.
Furthermore, softeners and additives are sometimes used in packaging, so that sheets feel soft in the store but once they are washed become something less than what you thought you’d purchased. When it comes to quality luxury sheets, the material is what makes the difference.
Some of the most preferred luxury materials are:
Cotton
Cotton is a popular choice because it can be cost-effective, soft, and absorbent (up to 25% of its weight in moisture). True luxury cotton comes in the form of long-staple, such as Pima or Egyptian cottons, that are durable and breathable.
Silk
The smooth suppleness of silk has led to beliefs that besides being soft and elegant, it can lead to better skin and hair health because of the reduced friction. Quality silk sheets, of course, come at a cost, with even basic sets starting at over $500.
Linen
There’s a reason that many 5-star resorts opt for linen. This moisture-wicking, bacteria-resistant, durable, and soft fabric is a prime choice for creating a luxurious sleeping atmosphere.
Why Linen?
Cotton sheets may be soft, but they break down with repeated washing, and even the best sheets are likely to pill, eventually becoming uncomfortable with age. In addition, while cotton wicks moisture well, it doesn’t dispel it as easily so that it becomes a harbor for microbes that can cause odor and attract dust mites.
Silk is indeed soft, but it doesn’t breathe well and it clings to the body, so it is not the best choice for summer nights.
Linen, on the other hand, actually gets softer with each wash and is one of the most durable fabrics available, which translates to good investment over the long haul. Linen is known for its antimicrobial qualities because it wicks moisture away and releases it, making it a great choice for those with allergies to dust mites.
Linen also has unique properties that allow it to breathe in summer to keep you cool and retain warmth during the cold months. Other factors that make linen a great choice are its eco-friendly profile, both because the flax plant is easy on water supply and because the sheets themselves are 100% biodegradable; its durability, linen is 30% stronger than cotton; and its microscopic breaks that create a massaging effect on the skin.
When it comes to one-third of your life, don’t you deserve the best then? Luxury linen sheets should be soft to the touch and only get softer with age. They should drape well and offer unique texture, and if cared for, should last as an investment in your sleep.
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Guest Article:
Ivan Young is a writer from Happy Writers, Co.
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