So you’re looking to purchase a brand new set of soft and comfortable linens. There’s a hundred different brands in a dozen different materials, and the labels are kind of confusing. Where do you start? Fret not. We’ve got you covered. Here’s a few tips that’ll help you crack the code and get cracking at picking up quality linens. You’ll feel like you’re sleeping in the clouds if you pick the right set. Here are a few things to look out for:

Thread count

Thread count refers to the number of individual threads to be found in each square inch of the sheet. The higher the thread count, the finer the fabric. Keep in mind, however, that a higher thread count alone does not make for a better sheet. It just means the fibers are thin. Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to stay away from sheets with suspiciously high thread counts. They’re not always what they’re cracked up to be, and chances are the differences between a 400 and, say, a 1000 thread count sheet set are subtle enough as to not be readily noticed by anyone that isn’t a fabric aficionado.

Type of fabric

Sheets come in plenty of different fabrics. Most are made of either cotton, flannel, rayon, linen, silk or satin. Cotton sheets are the most durable and prevalent. Flannel sheets are thick and are not favorable for warmer temperatures. Linen tends to be more breathable, and as such, drier and cooler. Silk and satin are very soft and luxurious, but they require frequent dry cleaning, which can get tedious and worse, expensive. Which material you eventually decide on will inevitably be a matter of personal preference.

Percentages

Packaging and advertising can sometimes be tricky. A sheet that tells you it’s “made with” cotton without stating percentages may contain less than 100% of the fabric advertised. Cotton blends exist as well, and a lot of the time they contain some percentage of other materials like polyester, for instance. While polyester maintains the appearance of being crisp, whatever time you save in maintenance is made up for in the relative coarseness of the material.

You should be mindful of all these factors when deciding on linens, but don’t forget about the biggest weapon in your sheet hunting arsenal: your hands. Touch test wherever possible. Make certain that what you’re getting is right and comfortable to you. Your fingers don’t lie, and no amount of numbers and statistics can hide the actual feel of the material. Happy hunting.

Tags: Charles P. Rogers, linens, prima cotton, Thrwad Count

Charles P. Rogers recently got a nod in Erin Loechner’s prestigious Design for Life blog. A couple weeks back Erin posted a whimsical list of her ten unbreakable house rules of design. It’s a great list, chock full of great advice for maintaining a comfy and warm living environment in your home. Tucked away in the number five rule (“Only white linens are allowed on the bed”) is a link to our 400 thread count Prima cotton bedding ensemble. Thanks, Erin! We love you too!

Post below (enjoy!):
http://www.designformankind.com/2010/07/house-rules/

Tags: Design for Life, home, Interior Design, Lifestyle, prima cotton, sheets

As we wrote about earlier this month, our new 400 thread count Prima stripe sheet and Prima stripe duvet and sham sets are now available for order on our web site. Our best price for a luxurious, soft set of 100% Prima cotton bedding will be available in limited quantities, so make sure you place your order while sufficient quantities are on hand. We believe if you experience the comfort and value of our exclusive cotton bedding you will become a customer for life.

Tags: beddings, duvet, prima cotton, prima stripe, sham ensembles, sham shets, sheets