Having a comfy and cosy bed is essential for getting a good night’s sleep. If you plan on investing in a new set of bedding, your choice can make all the difference between a good night’s sleep and not being able to sleep. While the feeling of sliding beneath a heavy, soft duvet is incomparable, there’s a lot more to it than just tossing on a couple of pillows and a duvet.
How do you know what would work best for your sleeping habits with so many bedding options to choose from?
Blankets and Throws
Throws and blankets are both functional and stylish pieces of bedding, working as both a design feature and cosy coverings once it gets chilly. When it comes to providing warmth and comfort, high-quality throws are a terrific addition to your bed setup. Throws are available in various materials and colours, making them suitable for use throughout the whole year. Lightweight throws for beds are ideal for summer, and heavier blankets as a layering piece in the winter to keep you warm.
When shopping for bedding, the first thing you need to consider is the type of fabric it is made of. From tufted cotton chenille to knitted polyester and faux-fur materials, there is an extensive range of throws for beds you can choose from.
Cotton natural fibres provide soft, breathable, and durable fabric, even after several rounds of washings. Because this fabric does not retain air, you will remain at a comfortable temperature throughout the night. Cotton throw blankets are popular because they are soft, long-lasting, and simple to care for.
Fleece blankets are constructed of acrylic fibres and are incredibly soft, lightweight, and warm. Fleece is a warm and comfy fabric that may be worn all year. Many prefer these fleece blankets because they are one of the softest textiles available while being reasonably priced.
Faux-fur blankets have a lustrous fur-like material comprised of synthetic fibres that mimic animal fur’s silky and smooth feel. Alternative or imitation mink bed throws offer the same luxury appearance as other high-quality textiles but are less costly. If you want a stunning fake fur blanket, choose one made with alternative mink.
Pillows and Pillow Cases
When your pillow starts to get lumpy and baggy, it’s time you start looking for a new one. A good quality pillow will bounce back to its original shape, but if it remains folded in half, it’s time to replace it. While you are looking for a new one, think about the position you usually sleep in.
Side sleepers require a thick, firm cushion to keep their ears in line with their shoulders. Stomach sleepers should use a soft, thinner cushion to keep their neck in a neutral position. Back sleepers should choose a medium thickness in between that will maintain their neck upright without arching their head forward. And, if you frequently change positions during the night, look for a fluffy cushion with movable stuffing, so when you toss and turn, you will be able to find the right position.
It is recommended to use pillow protectors and clean your pillows every four to six months to extend the life of your pillows. The materials used will impact the lifetime of your new pillowcase and your comfort. Pillowcases, like sheets and quilt covers, can be constructed of various materials, both natural and synthetic. Sure, polyester textiles may feel pleasant to the touch at first, but the use of synthetic materials is what makes them feel so silky and smooth. These textiles are not only less durable, but they also prevent your skin from breathing.
Sheets
When choosing bed linens, it is advisable to begin by figuring out what kind of material you want against your skin. Most people should have at least one or two sets of cotton or sateen sheets for year-round use, but you may want to invest in flannel or linen sets depending on how warm it gets. Linen has a coarser, nubby feel and a more open weave since it comprises flax, making it perfect for temperature regulation in hot climates. However, linen is not for everyone, particularly if you favour smooth, silky textiles.
If you’re looking for more adaptable, everyday sheets and like the feel of light, crisp fabric against your skin, then cotton percale is the one for you. The light and breathable percale weave are ideal for hot sleepers, but if you like your hand to glide over luxuriously over dense, silky fabric, sateen weave is the way to go. Sateen is also made of cotton, but the weave feels softer and warmer than cotton.
When you look for quality cotton sheets, seek a higher thread count. A higher thread count indicates a more delicate and more subtle thread, which results in a softer feel, whereas a lower thread count indicates thicker, less refined threads, which results in a crisper texture. Extremely high thread counts, on the other hand, might result in sheets that are less durable and more prone to ripping or wearing thin. Thread counts of 200-300 for percale, 300-600 for sateen, and 80-120 for linen is the golden rule of high-quality fabrics.
Duvets
As our lives are becoming increasingly chaotic, more and more people understand how much their bodies deserve a welcome and comfortable environment where they will sleep and rest after a long day. So that is mostly why duvets exist. So what are some essential things to bear in mind when choosing a duvet to cosy up your bed? There are a few things to keep in mind, but filling material and tog warmth are essential considerations in your pick for starters.
When purchasing a duvet, you’ll want to know how warm it will keep you; that is what the tog rating is for. The tog rating relates to how efficiently the duvet traps warm air around you, so it keeps you warm at night. The scale runs from 1 tog to 15 togs. A 1-7 tog duvet is recommended for summer, while 10.5 tog or above is recommended for winter.
When it comes to duvet filling, there are two options: natural and synthetic. Synthetic fill duvets are filled with either hollow fibre or microfibre and are often less expensive and easy to wash. This makes them an excellent choice for families with children who need to wash their duvets more often. They are also hypoallergenic, making them appropriate for folks who are allergic to natural fibres.
When it comes to natural fillings, they are thermoregulating and excellent insulators; hence they are lighter yet warmer. Down and feathers can originate from either a duck or a goose, with the goose having greater down clusters because it is a bigger bird than the duck. When compared to other natural fillings, goose delivers the best warmth-to-weight ratio.
