You may already know your sleep personality (I’ll take a crisp percale over a silky sateen any day!), but if you’re not sure, the questions below can help guide you. From there, check out our bed sheet recommendations below, arranged by personality type.
Do you often wake up hot or sweating in the middle of the night?Close your eyes and think of adjectives that describe your favorite bedding. What words come to mind? (Is it “smooth” or “soft” or “lightweight” or “comforting” or “velvety”?)Do you switch out your bedding between winter and summer? (Your sleep personality may shift with the seasons.)On a scale from crisp to silky, how do you like your bed sheets to feel?Do you want your sheets to feel ultra-soft from day one, or are you okay with the process of breaking them in?
Your dream bedding: When we think of the quintessential cotton bed sheet, it’s likely percale we’re dreaming of. It’s known for being light and breathable, so it will keep you cool, even through the hottest nights of summer. Percale is smooth to the touch, but not as buttery as sateen. And while it’s crisp, it’s not as robust and durable as linen. In terms of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, percale lands right in the middle, it’s “just right.” To buy: $200 per sheet set, snowe.com. Your dream bedding: A tighter weave of cotton than percale, sateen is exceptionally smooth to the touch. But because they’re crafted from 100 percent cotton, they’re still breathable. These will give your bed that five-star hotel vibe. To buy: $240 per set, brooklinen.com. Your dream bedding: While brand new linen can feel almost too crisp, it will get softer with age and after several washes, and is known for its durability. Linen is often recommended for summer bedding, because the looser cotton weave makes linen breathable. To buy: $419 for full sheet set, parachutehome.com. To buy: $30, amazon.com. Your dream bedding: Cotton jersey sheets are a popular choice for college dorms, but who says you can’t stick with this comforting bedding as an adult? Jersey is soft to the touch and comforting to snuggle up in. Bonus: This set is incredibly affordable. To buy: From $35, amazon.com. Your dream bedding: Made from unbleached organic cotton and natural indigo dye, this Japanese sheet set is naturally antibacterial and contains no chemicals. It was also recently approved by the National Eczema Association. Plus, it’s the perfect balance of soft and crisp. To buy: aizomebedding.com. Your dream bedding: Opt for flannel, which is thicker and warmer than other bed sheets. Plus, this set is brushed on both sides for extra softness. To buy: $129 for sheet set, llbean.com.
