There is a lot of information online about what makes good bedding. Dig into it, however, and you’ll see that most advice comes from the bedding brands themselves, making it tricky to sort facts from marketing hype.
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To cut through the noise, we asked independent experts to help demystify some of the most common bedding questions, from decoding thread count to unpacking bamboo’s sustainability credentials. We heard from technical textile consultant Beverley Carter and textile expert and fashion consultant Sarah Denise Cordery. We also consulted sleep gurus James Wilson, AKA the Sleep Geek, and Max Kirsten, known as the Sleep Coach, to find out what has worked for their clients. For a beauty professional’s take on the benefits of silk bedding, we turned to skincare specialist Dr Kemi Fabusiwa.
For those more subjective queries – the flat v fitted sheet debate, or whether to go Oxford with your pillowcases – we consulted interior design professionals for an insiders’ take. Thirteen of them also shared their favourite bedding brands with the Filter.
The consensus is that no one material is “best” – it’s about what’s right for the individual. “It makes sense to go for breathable, thermoregulating materials that prevent overheating and feel nice on your skin,” says Kirsten. His preference is cotton or bamboo, but some of our interior designers swore by linen.
Cotton is the most common bedding material, and all our experts recommend that if you do plump for it, look for the 100% sort for maximum comfort and breathability, particularly if you’re a hot sleeper. A few factors will affect how cotton feels: the quality of the threads used, the ply (the number of single threads twisted together), the type of weave and the treatment of the cotton. Then there is the thorny issue of thread count to unpick.
“If you took a magnifying glass to one square inch of fabric, then counted the number of threads going vertically and horizontally, that would give you the thread count,” says Cordery. “It’s like the muscle of the fabric; the more thread you’ve got there, the heavier and smoother the material will be.”
Generally, you’ll see bedding marketed from 200 thread count up to 1,000-plus. But these claims can be misleading, says Cordery, since quality is dependent on the use of single-ply threads. She explains that some companies cheat the system by using two-ply (or even three- or four-ply) instead. “These are shorter threads and aren’t as high quality; they’re twisted together, which means the thread count will be doubled, but the fabric won’t be as strong.” So, a two-ply 300-thread-count product could be marketed as 600 and may feel slightly thicker but, Cordery warns, could bobble more easily – and no one wants bobbly sheets.
How can you tell if the threads are one-ply or not? With difficulty, as it’s not information we found readily available from brands. Cordery recommends feeling the fabric and checking if it starts to bobble when rubbed if you’re buying in-store. If the thread count is suspiciously high and the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. After all, says Cordery, “it’s very difficult to get 1,000 threads in a square inch of fabric unless it’s a very fine thread.”
Expect to pay £100-160 for a double high-thread-count sheet from mid-range retailers. In contrast, we found sheets marketed as 1,500 thread count for less than £20 on Temu and AliExpress.
And even if bedding is single-ply, 100% cotton and the thread count claims are legitimate, Wilson says a high thread count may not be the best solution for everyone: “Some people claim a higher thread count makes the cotton less breathable and can make you hotter in bed.” And if affordability and easy care are the top priorities, there are plenty of good-quality cotton-rich blends around, which will be cheaper than pure counterparts, quicker to dry and crease less easily.
Egyptian cotton has benefited from very effective marketing in recent years, but not all bedding carrying the name is equal. The thing to look for is “long-staple” cotton. Giza cotton, a variety grown only in the Nile valley, is known for its long, fine fibres and is touted as the most premium. “There are fewer breaks in the thread and that translates to a soft, long-lasting fabric that ages very well.”
That’s not to say other countries can’t grow long-staple cotton fibres – Pima cotton, for example, which grows in Peru and the south-west of the US – but all our experts concur that 100%, one-ply Giza Egyptian cotton is extremely high quality and can reach those high thread counts without the material feeling too thick or rigid. As you would expect, the price tag reflects this.
The weave type also affects the feel of cotton and influences the thread count. You’ll see cotton bedding categorised as sateen or percale. “A sateen weave is more densely packed together, so it will feel silky and have a lustre to it,” says Cordery. It will have a higher thread count and feel thicker and warmer than percale. A percale weave has more space between the threads and a cool, crisp feel. It may feel more lightweight and breathable and will dry quicker, but it also creases more easily than sateen.
You should be able to find clear information about a brand’s sustainability credentials on its website. Cordery recommends looking for the likes of the Better Cotton mark, an international sustainability initiative, and Oeko-tex certification, which ensures products haven’t been manufactured using harmful chemicals. If it’s organic cotton, look for the Gots, Global Organic Textile Standard, which certifies that the production process is environmentally and socially responsible.
Some of our interiors experts swear by linen. Katherine Ormerod, author of Your Not Forever Home, loves it all year round, finding it cool in summer and “cocooning and warm” in winter. Banjo Beale, an Australian-born, Scotland-based interior designer and author of Wild Isle Style, is definitive: “Once you go linen you never go back.” He also praised the material for its breathability.
For others, cotton can’t be beaten. Charlotte Tilbury from Penrose Tilbury interior design doesn’t budge from high-thread-count bedding: “It has a comforting weight to it and drapes beautifully.” Interior designer Eva Sonaike says the “soft” and “luxurious” feel of cotton against the skin is unsurpassed by any other material.
Both linen and cotton are natural fabrics derived from plants, but what are the technical differences? “Cotton is harvested from the soft tufts of fibre that form after the cotton plant’s flowers die off,” says Carter. “They’re cleaned, combed and spun to yarn.” Linen, meanwhile, is derived from the flax plant. “It comes from the long fibres within the stems. For them to be usable, they’re steeped in water – retted – until the outer surface rots away and the fibre within separates.” The result is a looser weave that’s rougher to the touch than cotton and has that lived-in wrinkled appearance.
Both are durable and breathable, but linen has the edge here; it’s stronger and more breathable thanks to the looser weave. Plus, it’s particularly hypoallergenic. “Moisture breeds bacteria and linen wicks moisture away from your skin more effectively than cotton,” says Cordery. These qualities make it good for hot sleepers.
On the downside, linen is usually more expensive due to the more labour-intensive production process and because it doesn’t grow as widely as cotton. Some people may find it coarse, but it softens over time with washing.
Bamboo bedding has a soft, silky texture with significant hypoallergenic qualities; it’s effective at wicking away moisture and is antibacterial and antifungal. Wilson and Kirsten both report that bamboo works for their clients for whom temperature is an issue and those with skin conditions such as eczema. Carter reminds us that bamboo is a “quick-growing renewable material”, which is often why it’s trumpeted as a sustainable choice.
However, all our experts flag the use of potentially environmentally harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process. Price-wise, 100% bamboo sheets can be more expensive than some cotton versions, but are more affordable than, say, high-thread-count Egyptian cotton. Pure linen also tends to be pricier than bamboo.
For a similar silky, soft fabric that is kinder to the environment, Cordery recommends lyocell (sold as Tencel). It’s derived from wood pulp and is made in a closed-loop process, which recycles most of the water used in production, stopping harmful solvents leaking out into the environment. You may see bedding made with bamboo and Tencel blended with other textiles, such as cotton, so check the sustainability of those if that’s important to you.
Silk is another material that’s garnered attention in recent years for its perceived skin and hair benefits. “Silk fibres are smooth and known to cause less friction on your skin and hair while you sleep,” says skincare specialist Fabusiwa, adding that using a silk pillowcase can reduce hair breakage and frizz from her experience. Silk doesn’t absorb as much moisture as cotton, so it can theoretically leave skin feeling more hydrated. “This means your expensive night cream stays on your face, where it belongs … I’m not saying silk is a miracle cure but in my opinion, it’s a worthwhile investment if you’re looking to give your hair and skin a little extra TLC.”
As a starter for 10, always read the item’s care instructions.
Many experts said they wash their bed linen at 40C or the eco-standard 30C. However, Cordery recommends being extra careful with more delicate fabrics, such as bamboo: “Opt for a cold, gentle wash so it lasts as long as possible.” More durable cottons, she says, can be washed at up to 60C, particularly if you’re a hot sleeper and sweat a lot.
Our interiors experts are overwhelmingly in favour of fitted sheets with elasticated sides to help them stay in place. If you have a particularly chunky mattress and topper, look for deeper options (usually about 40cm). Jessica Horton, interior designer and founder of Deorling, is a rare flat-sheet fan: “I prefer them for versatility and ease of tucking,” she says. Others said that while fitted is their go-to, they like to have a flat one to hand for warmer summer nights.
Generally in the UK, we see two types of pillowcase: Oxford, which has an extra fabric border of about 5-10cm wide, and standard, which fits snugly around the pillow. (Note that a standard case is sometimes called a “housewife pillowcase” when it has an inside flap on the end. The name comes from the Housewives Cooperative of Bolton, which developed the flap solution in the late 19th century to help pillows stay in place.)
Tilbury is an Oxford advocate. “It’s like a little frame around the humble pillow, which adds a real elegance to the bed setup.” Athina Bluff of Topology Interiors is in the anti camp: “That flappy border is just impractical for styling.” Others use a combination of both.
NHS guidance says a single pillow is preferable to support the head and neck and help with spine alignment while sleeping. All our designers said they opt for two pillows when the bed is made up – a hotel-style combination of one firm and one soft was a popular choice – although if you are prone to aches and pains, maybe emulate the cohort who admitted that the second was just decorative and cast aside at night.
If you bought your mattress in the UK and buy your bedding from here, sizes will correspond to your mattress size (single, double, king and super king). However, continental Europe, US and Australia, among others, have different standard sizes, so always check the size guide if buying from an overseas-based brand.
This was a divisive issue. Beale, a sizer-upper, takes an innovative approach: “Nothing upsets me more than a duvet that doesn’t dangle over the edge, so I always supersize … two duvets inside the cover for that sumptuous look.” Others said they liked the draped effect of a larger duvet, while some dismissed it. “A double on a single makes me feel weird,” says Tilbury.
Bluff applies her super-sizing to pillows instead. She opts for super-king pillows on a king bed. At 55 x 90cm, they’re longer than a standard king. “It fills the space between pillows, giving a plush, well-styled look.”
“This is very individual,” says Wilson. “Some people have a light duvet all year round as they sleep hot, while others will swap through the seasons as they feel the cold more. If you do feel the cold, Kirsten points out that switching to a higher-tog duvet in winter “can help you feel snug without resorting to keeping the heating high, which can lead to overheating – and higher bills.” Wilson is an advocate of separate duvets for couples with different temperature preferences.
Most of the designers we spoke to swapped duvets in winter and summer. Horton opts for a 4.5 tog duvet in summer and a 13.5 tog duvet in winter for extra warmth and cosiness. Ormerod, meanwhile, said she sticks with a mid-level one all year round due to lack of storage space.
Our bed linen guide covers the key things to think about when choosing the right bedding, the best sheets, types of duvet covers and pillowcase style. Consider the feel, fabric, weave, thread count, sizes, styles, accreditations, packaging and how to care for your bed linen.
The best bedding should feel wonderful, enhance the look and feel of your bedroom, and most importantly help you to sleep well. If you invest in the best quality bed linen, you will discover that it really can improve your sleep.
We've demystified bed linen jargon to help you choose the best bed linen that's right for you:
Along with your duvet, pillow and mattress, the bed linen that you choose will have a big impact on how your bed feels and how you sleep. As your sheets, duvet cover and pillowcase are against your skin every night, it’s important to think about what kind of bed linen will give you the best night's sleep. There are, after all, many bed linen types.
Different fabrics and weaves have different characteristics and therefore have a different feel. The best bed linen is made with the highest quality natural materials and woven to the highest standards.
Decide whether you like your bedding to feel smooth and silky, cool and crisp, or cosy and warm. This will help you choose which bed linen fabric and weave will suit you best.
The biggest impact on your bed linen will be the fabric or fibre used. Do you want to go for natural fibres or synthetic? Different fabrics all have their own unique feel and characteristics.
Cotton is probably the most common fabric used to make sheets and bed linen. Cotton is natural, breathable, biodegradable and feels great next to the skin. There are many types of cotton. The two best quality cottons are Egyptian cotton and Supima cotton.
Egyptian cotton is recognised as the finest cotton for bed linen the world over and it’s our favourite! Bed linen made from Egyptian cotton is strong, light and breathable. One of the great benefits of Egyptian cotton is that the feel improves with use and with each wash.
Egyptian cotton comes from a different plant (Gossypium Barbadense) to regular cotton, which is why it has different and superior properties. Egyptian cotton has extra long fibres which produce thread or yarns that are thinner and smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. This means that the threads can be woven into a luxurious durable fabric that no other cotton can match.
Bed linen described as 'luxe' or 'hotel quality' is not necessarily made from Egyptian cotton. Look for the symbol of Egyptian cotton authenticity on the care label or packaging. Read more in our guide What is Egyptian cotton?
Supima or Pima cotton was created in the USA to compete with Egyptian cotton. It is grown in the USA. Like Egyptian cotton, it is made from a long staple fibre which gives the cotton its premium properties.
Brushed cotton is made from loosely spun cotton. It has been carefully brushed to create a soft and fuzzy raised texture, which holds in your body heat, resulting in a fabric that's warm and cosy, but still breathable.
Brushed cotton can also be called flannel or flannelette, though there is a difference. A brushed cotton fabric is only brushed on the face side. Flannel or Flannelette fabric is brushed on both sides.
Polycotton sheets or 'easy care' sheets are made with a blend of man-made polyester (a type of plastic) and cotton. Polycotton bed linen is generally cheap to buy and easy to care for. It dries quickly and doesn't require much ironing.
It doesn't have the luxury top-quality feel that other fabrics have. It is also not as breathable as a natural fibre like cotton and linen, so not a great choice if you suffer from night sweats or if you are a hot sleeper.
As polyester is made from a petrochemical, it's not biodegradable like natural untreated fabrics. It can also shed plastic microfibres when washed which can end up in our rivers and seas.
Linen is made from the natural long, hollow fibres of the flax plant, which is spun into yarn. Flax is mainly grown in Europe. The secret to linen is to choose French or Belgian flax which is generally regarded as the highest quality. Our linen bedding range is made from French flax.
Linen has natural breathability and insulation properties and therefore, offers excellent temperature regulation all year round. The fabric is very strong and durable, which means that linen bedding is really long-lasting.
Linen fibres are naturally eco-friendly, renewable and biodegradable; as well as being antimicrobial, which can help if you have an allergy or skin condition.
Whilst linen may not initially feel as soft as cotton, it does get softer with each wash. Choose pre-washed - garment washed or stone washed - linen if you want that softer feel straight away. Discover more: All about linen bedding: the essential guide.
Scooms linen has been garment washed in small batches to relax the fibres, resulting in linen that is soft, supple and luxuriously light. Amazingly comfortable from night one!
Silk sheets feel really smooth and luxurious against the skin. Silk bedding is made from the cocoons of silk spun by silkworms. As with other natural fibres, silk is breathable and wicks moisture away from your skin to help keep you cool as you sleep. Like linen, silk has anti-bacterial properties. Find out more here: Are silk pillowcases good for your skin?
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Bedding Fabrics. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
It is also said that silk has beauty benefits. The naturally occurring proteins and oils in silk help care for your skin. Silk tends to draw less moisture away from your skin, while the smoothness of the fabric means that there is very little friction to pull at the skin and hair while you sleep. Which should lead to a smoother complexion and less tangled hair! Learn more: Are silk pillowcases good for hair?
Our silk pillowcases are made from the best quality 100% Mulberry silk. As silk is naturally temperature regulating, a silk pillow can be an excellent sleeping aid all year round. See our Silk pillowcase guide.
Mulberry silk eye masks prevent unwanted light from disrupting your sleep while skin-friendly properties help protect against frown lines and eye creases.
How to wash silk bedding - Our silk pillowcases and eye masks are easily machine washable on the delicate setting.
As well as the fabric, the weave that your bed linen fabric is made with will also affect the feel. Fabrics are woven from threads or yarns. These can be woven together in different ways to change how your sheets feel. Sateen and Percale weaves are the top choice for good quality cotton bed linen.
These are the main types of bed linen weaves:
Sateen weave sheets feel soft, slightly silky and luxuriously smooth so this weave is often used in luxury bed linen. Sateen sheets have a slightly warmer feel than percale. It’s what we use for our Egyptian cotton bed linen. Find out all you need to know in our blog sateen weave bedding.
Percale is a tightly woven weave so percale sheets tend to feel crisp and cool. Percale fabric can be woven with pure cotton or with a blend of cotton and polyester.
A twill weave creates bed linen with a diagonal pattern that has a distinctive textured herringbone appearance. Twill bed linen is known for being supple with a great drape (the way it hangs).
Joseph Jacquard invented this weaving technique in . A special loom is used to weave a pattern directly into the fabric.
The yarns are woven so that they form a honeycomb grid structure with recessed squares. This creates a fabric that is 3 dimensional and highly textured.
Jersey bed sheets use the same type of knit cotton or cotton mix as the humble t-shirt! They are soft and stretchy but not particularly durable.
A satin sheet may be made of silk but is generally made from synthetic fibres which are woven or knitted tightly together. This synthetic fabric has a silky, smooth finish and is inexpensive. However, it is not very durable, can snag easily and feel hot and sweaty to sleep in.
This synthetic fibre creates a soft, durable and wrinkle resistant fabric. Although, as it is quite a dense fabric, it may feel a bit warm and sweaty in hot weather.
Great sheets are determined by the quality of the fabric, the weave and the thread count in cotton or GSM in linen or Momme in silk. A high measurement won’t make up for poor quality fabric but it can go a long way to contributing to fantastic bedding.
Cotton thread count - Thread count is the measurement used in cotton materials. It refers to the number of threads woven together per square inch of material. The more threads woven together means a higher thread count. The right thread count can make a difference to the smoothness, quality and feel of your sheets.
Thread counts for bedding typically range from 200 to 800, though 1,000 and higher thread counts do exist. Thread count is not however, the most important indicator of quality bedding, more important is the quality of the cotton threads that the bedding is weaved from. You can have high thread count sheets made from poor quality cotton.
Choose 200 thread count and above - anything less will wear badly, rip and develop holes! Be wary of really high thread counts over 800 which can produce very stiff sheets and duvet covers that are not very comfortable to sleep on and are really hard to iron! We picked 600 thread count for our Egyptian cotton bed linen. Want to learn more - What is thread count?
Linen GSM - Linen is measured in GSM (grams per meter) and typically ranges from 100gsm to 200gsm. We use 150 GSM for our linen bedding range. We found lower GSM too thin and higher GSM too heavy and rough to the touch.
Silk momme - As silk fibres are much thinner in diameter than cotton, momme is used instead of thread count. Momme describes silk’s weight and density. The higher the momm, the more strands of silk per 100 yards of fabric, which means that the silk will be higher quality and more durable. Momme measurements range from 11-momme to 25-momme, with 22-Momme the ideal measurement for the best quality silk bedding or clothing.
It's often the little details or finishing touches that can help make your bedding feel luxurious. After all, it's the thought that counts! So we have added several special details to our Scooms bed linen.
Sheets -
Duvet covers -
Pillowcases -
Packaging - Each of our bed linen products, our duvet covers, fitted sheets, flat sheets and pillowcases pairs are all delivered in a matching linen or Egyptian cotton bag without any plastic wrapping.
The styles and colours you pick for your bedroom should serve to enhance the relaxing and peaceful ambience of the room where you rest and sleep. Your bed linen styles and colours should complement the overall design of your bedroom.
You may therefore want to choose a neutral colour palette for your bedding that will match any bedroom style. Colours which clash or are overly busy can irritate and cause vision fatigue.
Using splashes of strong colour or pattern through throws or cushions can add a sense of happiness to your sleep sanctuary without affecting your sleep and help you to feel ready to take on the world when you wake up in the morning.
Bed linen colour is a very personal choice. The most popular colours for bed sheets are neutral colours like white and cream, while popular duvet cover and pillowcase colours include white, grey, pink and green in various shades.
White bedding - Creates a fresh, calming feel and always looks new rather than dated. Perfect for that luxury hotel bed feel at home.
Cream & beige bedding - These neutral colours are soothing and easy to match to most colour schemes.
Light & warm grey bedding - These cooler colours can help make you feel cooler at night, giving you a more comfortable sleep.
Pink, red, yellow & orange bedding - Warmer shades can promote a healthy nervous system. Pops of pink, red, yellow or orange in your bedroom can ensure that you wake up happy, cheerful and refreshed.
Green bedding - Earth toned greens like forest green, moss, and sage can provide a serene background, for walls and bed linens.
Blue bedding - Induces a sense of calm, contentment and peacefulness. Studies have shown that blue shades can reduce your heart rate and lower your blood pressure, as well as helping you to sleep more soundly.
Black bedding - The colour of a dark night, black may help lull you to sleep. However, it won't make it easy to get up in the morning! It can be an easy colour to match with any colour scheme and could be deemed a rather sexy bedding colour!
Patterned bedding - Keep patterned linens simple, with minimal neutral or earth tone colours that will blend well with the rest of the colours in your bedroom. If your pattern is too busy or too loud, it will clash with the any other patterns you have, curtains, rugs, throws, etc.
See our blog for our Bedroom styling tips.
It important to get the right size bedding for your bed.
Here are the Scooms duvet cover, sheets and pillowcase sizes:
View our size guide for international bedding and duvet sizes.
When choosing bed linen, it’s important to cut through the clutter. Phrases such as 'luxe' and 'hotel quality' are marketing terms that don’t really mean anything. What is important is the source and quality of the fabrics and how the bedding is made.
Check for these certifications on the product labels and packaging.
A lot of bedding comes wrapped in single use plastic packaging. Look for bed linen that comes in plastic free or reduced amounts of packaging, which will be more environmentally friendly.
All Scooms bed linen products are shipped in reusable cotton or linen bags and recyclable FSC certified cardboard boxes.
To wash or not to wash your bed linen before use? Well it's a personal choice but we recommend that you do. Your bedding will feel softer and refreshed. Both our bedding ranges, Egyptian cotton and Linen will improve and become softer with each wash.
To keep your Scooms Egyptian cotton bed linen in tip top condition:
To keep your Scooms linen bedding in tip top condition:
A handy tip: To keep your linen set together and ensure that the matching pieces are always easy to find, store them inside one of the pillowcases.
Love your Scooms bed linen and it will love you!
If you are looking to buy bed sheets near you, buying online from Scooms is a really easy and quick way to buy! You can review all the product details from the comfort of home. No need to travel anywhere or have to carry home heavy bags of bedding.
Order by 3pm, Monday to Friday, for free next day delivery on bedding orders over £50. We also offer a 60 night trial, so if your sheets aren't right for you, simply return them for a full refund. What could be easier? If you need to talk to an expert, call Emily or Jonathan on 020 or us at .
When you buy bed linen - sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases - the main things to consider are the feel, fabric, weave, thread count, sizes, styles, accreditations, packaging and care.
The best bed linen for you will be the bedding that gives you the best night's sleep. Decide whether you like your bedding to feel smooth and silky, cool and crisp, or cosy and warm. This will help you choose which bed linen fabric and weave will suit you best.
The best type of bed linen is made with the highest quality natural materials and woven to the highest standards. Egyptian cotton is recognised as the finest cotton for bed linen. Bed linen made from Egyptian cotton is strong, light and breathable, and the feel improves with use and with each wash.
Cotton is the most popular fabric for sheets and bed linen as it is natural, breathable and feels great next to the skin. The best bed sheets are Egyptian cotton sheets and Supima cotton sheets.
Want more information on Bedding fabric manufacturer? Feel free to contact us.