Sleep matters - we all know that. A not so good night's sleep can sometimes mean you need an extra cup of coffee or an occasional lie-in during the day to shake off the tiredness away. Well, a few sleepless nights does not bring that much worry, but chronic sleep deprivation may lead to more severe health concerns.
That is why sometimes cherishing the comfort of your bed can affect the quality of your sleep. Soft to the touch sheets hugs your body perfectly in comfort and lets you relax your tired body. That is one of the main reasons why a lot more people use bedsheets. Usually, the bedsheet is a piece of cloth that can be used either singly or in a pair as bedding placed on the mattress.
What is linen?
Linen as a fabric is a very common textile that people love for ages now. But not everyone knows much about linen. Linen is well known as all-natural fibre textile. Linen is considered a luxury textile because of its unique structure. People tend to choose linen sheets for bed because they feel luxurious, is more suitable for them, their lifestyle or home.
So, linen is a durable natural fibre derived from the flax plant. This plant has been cultivated globally and has been used to make fibre for over 6 000 years.
Usually, linen fabric is heavier than any other fabric; for example, cotton and linen are approximately more robust by 30%. The feel of linen textile is often crisper, though through time and use, like washing the fabric, linen itself becomes softer and supple to the touch. Many linen sheet makers say that the bed sheet made out of this particular material boasts longevity, lustre and lovely drape. One of the most beautiful things about linen is that the fibres are thicker than cotton fibres and a lower trend count is necessary to guarantee high quality and longevity.
One more thing why linen makers love linen for sheets is for the absorbency. The fabric can absorb up to 20% of its weight in moisture. This fabric ability - to wick moisture makes it a favourite in any household because it keeps bedrooms and the sheets on the bed cool. Linen bedding is a popular choice in warmer climates and during the summer months because of its breathability.
Linen-textured sheets give the bedding more a relaxed and inviting look. The most popular bed sheets are - linen flat sheets and linen fitted sheets.
In this article, we will introduce both types of sheets that are made out of linen.
Linen vs Cotton sheets
Line vs Cotton sheets - it was always a hot debate on which one to choose. Well, we have a few arguments why linen sheets are better than cotton sheets. Of course, both of these high-quality fabrics are excellent choices when it comes to the luxury fabric of sheets for your home. But it can be a tough decision to make; which one would work better for you? The most important thing is to learn about the differences between linen and cotton.
People who are not familiar with the materials often ask three questions before deciding on the material. We will answer the questions:
- Which fabric is more breathable - linen or cotton?
The breathability of any bedding, including the sheets, is the most important thing. The good thing about both fabrics is that they are breathable, but many people believe that linen has more edge when keeping you more relaxed in warmer temperatures or on summer nights. The incredible thing is that the fabrics are absorbable, staying cooler longer due to their superb wicking qualities.
- Does linen or cotton keep you warmer?
All the sheet makers can agree that both materials are excellent choices for cool weather. If we have to break it down for you, sheets made out of cotton will make you feel warm at first, but you can get too warm way too fast, which is not liked by everyone. But if we look closely at linen sheets, the fabric will retain the heat from your body, which will make you feel comfortable, nice and cosy. Also, linen sheets feel a bit heavier than cotton sheets, but surprisingly are about 30% stronger and offer better breathability.
- Is linen suitable for bedding?
Well, we often hear this question because people tend to believe that cotton is better than linen. Yes, we can't deny that cotton is good and it is everyone's personal choice which material to choose. But linen for bedding or bed sheets is an excellent choice, especially if you look for durability and hypoallergenic qualities.
If you are still unsure if the linen sheet is the best fit for you, here are some things we love about the linen sheets.
Moisture Wicking - linen sheets have a natural ability of moisture-wicking. Also, their breathability makes an excellent material for you because these abilities leave the sheets cool for you and in ideal sleeping conditions.
Eco-Friendly - linen materials are all-natural and made out of flaxseed. That is why linen sheets are the most environmentally friendly. Significantly of this thing, the linen sheets will last longer than most other sheets, and if by any chance you throw the linen sheets away, the material is biodegradable.
Durability - linen sheets are one of the most durable sheets you can find on the market, and with proper care, they can last for years. Read this blog to find out more why you should invest in linen bedding.
Hypoallergenic - linen sheets are recommended by healthcare professionals because of being naturally hypoallergenic. For example, if you have susceptible skin, the linen sheets are the best for you because you can use them comfortably without any issues.
Linen flat sheets - different ways to use a hug of comfort
Choosing linen bed sheets can be a task because there are two sheets to choose from flat or fitted. But not many know about linen flat sheets - where to use them and what mattress you can put flat linen sheets on.
What is a linen flat sheet? A linen flat sheet can be referred to as a top sheet. It was initially designed to be placed between you and blanket or bed covers on top of your bed. People often use flat linen sheets in their bedroom because it adds warmth and decorative purpose.
There are a few ways for you how to use linen flat sheets in your bedroom. The linen flat sheet will give you the ultimate comfort and design style. The popularity of duvets increased over the years, so flat linen sheets are now a popular choice too. It adds to the room a layer of luxury and comfort between you and your comforter.
It can surprise many people, but flat linen sheets are not only used to lay over the mattress of your bed. The linen flat sheet or, in general, linen sheets are considered as really breathable material. So, in warmer climates or during warm summer months, people use flat linen sheets as a blanket for a relaxed and comfortable night's sleep.
Of course, the most traditional way to use flat linen sheets - over your mattress. It is a common way to use a flat sheet instead of a fitted sheet over your bed. But most people sometimes do not know how to put them on correctly. It is simple. When using a flat sheet over your mattress, it should fit perfectly. The linen flat sheet should be larger than your mattress. The flat sheet is tucked between the bed and the box sides. Also, the most fantastic thing about flat sheets is that you can use them as a top sheet or second sheet, between the bottom flat or fitted sheet and the duvet. Using the flat linen sheet as the top sheet will add a little bit more cosiness.
There is another way for you on how to style a flat linen sheet. We all have days when we do not want to make the bed. So, let's embrace this look. You can put the flat sheet over your mattress and do not tuck in. The untucked flat sheet will provide a cosy, natural and more relaxed look for your bedroom. If you are looking for more tips, check this blog: How to style your bedding.
Linen fitted sheets - loved by many, even the smallest ones
Another type of linen sheet that became more popular over the years is the fitted linen sheet.
A fitted sheet is a piece of material with elasticated corners. This type of linen sheet is designed to allow the corner of the sheet to fit tightly around the mattress, which means that when you move around in the bed, the sheet will stay where it is. The linen sheets help keep the mattress clean and protected, which is essential because it is difficult to wash them. The sizing of the linen fitted sheet differs from the twin-sized bed mattress to a king-sized bed mattress. So, it is a great variety to choose from for any mattress that you have.
Well, linen fitted sheets are for everyone. So it is natural that many parents choose linen fitted sheets for their kid's beds for a few reasons. Naturally, your kids spend a lot of time in their beds. Therefore it is essential to choose breathable and comfortable bedding, especially sheets. We agree that design, the colour of the sheets, has many factors, but those are not the only reasons to choose linen sheets. Also, the linen fitted sheets are suitable for the kids because of the movements won't come undone in the night's sleep.
Related: Linen Bedsheets for kids
One of the factors is that linen as a material is known for being naturally anti-bacterial. So you do not have to worry about the bacteria that are living on your children's sheets. It is beneficial if your kid is suffering from allergies. Linen sheets create a microclimate for the skin and maintain natural pH levels. If you want to learn more about linen for kids, check this blog: Why linen is suitable for kids.
We always hear that it is hard to fold the fitted linen sheets because of their elastic band around them. So, we decided as linen experts to show you the best way to fold the fitted sheets with this video:
Flat sheets vs Fitted sheets – what‘s the difference?
We introduced you to the linen flat sheets and linen fitted sheets, but which one is the most suitable for you. So, we are going to give you a few pros and cons of these sheets.
Fitted sheets pros and cons
Pros:
- Protection - the main benefit of fitted sheets is that they will help protect your mattress from general wear and tear. Also, it helps to reduce the chance of allergens like dust mites and others from getting embedded in the material.
- Not complicated maintenance - of course, it depends on the materials that you choose from your fitted sheet. For example, if you choose the linen fitted sheet, it is effortless to maintain you should follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Comfortable surface to sleep on - this depends on the size of the fitted sheet and if it matches the mattress. The surface should be smooth and comfortable to lay on. You must purchase the correct size fitted sheet for your bed; you need at least 2 or 3 in (8 cm) deeper sheets than your mattress.
Cons:
- Difficult to put on - do not get us wrong, fitted sheets are great, but they can be challenging to put on if you do not have the right size of the sheet for your mattress.
- Hard to fold - we agree that a lot of people have difficulty folding the fitted sheet. But we have a solution for you - here's a video showing how to fold the fitted sheet.
Flat sheets pros and cons:
Pros:
- It is easier to fit and fold - if we compare it with the fitted sheet, it is effortless to fold and hold the flat sheet. Because the flat sheet does not have an elastic band, all you have to do is tuck the edges between the mattress and the bed frame.
- Temperature regulation - the benefit of this is that you can use a flat sheet in warmer climates or on a warm summer night as a comforter.
- Protection - similar to the fitted sheet not only protects your mattress but also protects your skin from irritation, mainly if you use flat sheets made out of linen. Linen is known for its anti-allergic factors.
Cons:
- Tangling - some people do not like flat sheets because these types of sheets twist with your body, arms or legs, and it can be uncomfortable, especially if you are a light sleeper.
- Bunching - well, it is similar to the tangling, but if you have a flat sheet, they tend to bunch up during the night if you move around a lot.
We hope that this helped you to decide on which type of line sheet to choose. Once you have decided, you need to remember that you won't be alone when you sleep at night. Microscopic dust collects around your sheets and is everywhere. That is why you need to take care of it properly. We know that it seems a bit unfamiliar fact on how to clean linen sheets; read our linen care guide here you will find helpful tips and tricks to keep your linen looking great for years.
Summary
Well, how to choose the perfect sheets for you, there is no correct formula for this. All you have to do is to see which one you feel most comfortable and relaxed.
If you have to think about the placement: the fitted sheets are better for a bottom and flat sheet you can use as a comforter on warm summer nights.
Our love for linen encourages us to create more. Check out our full Linen Bedding collection for more bedding options, such as pillowcases, duvet covers or bedding sets.
FAQ
- What is the best material for sheets?
Linen is well known as all-natural fibre textile. The linen material used for sheets has many advantages that can up your night's sleep: breathability, durability, temperature regulation, etc.
- What is a linen fitted sheet?
Linen fitted sheet is a piece of material with elasticated corners. This type of linen sheet is designed to allow the corner of the sheet to fit tightly around the mattress.