The most obvious thing to consider is the depth of your mattress. If you don’t know it, you can’t buy a properly sized fitted sheet. A very thick mattress, with a depth of 40cm or more, needs a deep-pocketed fitted sheet.
Depth aside, there are plenty of other things to think about. How soft do you want your sheets to be? What texture should they have? What should they be made from? And what colours or patterns will suit the rest of your bedroom décor?
Thread Count
Thread count is one of the most important things to check when buying any sheet, fitted sheets especially. Some people don’t use a flat sheet (top sheet) at all, which means the fitted sheet (bottom sheet) sets the standard for the softness and comfort of the bed. As a general rule, the higher the thread count, the better the sheet. Choose the highest thread count your budget allows to find the best fitted sheet.
Texture
High-quality sheets are usually woven in one of two textures: percale or sateen.
Percale is a closely woven plain-weave fabric with a thread count of about 200 or higher, and it’s noticeably tighter than the standard weave used for sheets. It’s medium weight, firm and smooth with no gloss, and it washes very well.
Sateen has a smooth, silky surface to the touch. It also doesn’t scatter light, which increases its shine. The weave is more susceptible to wear than other weaves, so if you prefer the sheen and feel of silky sheets, sateen is the one for you. Sateen sheets are also generally thicker than other sheets, because the weave has more fibres per inch. The texture is finer, but sateen is also more likely to be expensive than percale.
Materials
The material a sheet is made from greatly affects how durable and soft it feels. People who tend to sweat a bit in their sleep will likely find cotton sheets with a high thread count more comfortable. Cotton disperses body heat quickly, which makes for a more temperate night’s sleep, and it’s also breathable, soft, absorbent and durable. However, cotton sheets crease more easily than polyester/cotton blends.
Colours or Patterns
White is the most popular colour for sheets, but you can now find them in just about any colour you like. Whether you want a fitted sheet that matches your bedspread, quilt cover or comforter, or simply want to sleep on your favourite colour, you should have no trouble finding the right one. You can even find patterned fitted sheets to add visual texture to a room.
