Before you purchase bedding know what your options are. Between the hype and real descriptions you'll find innovations and time proven solutions for your sleeping comfort.Understanding Bed Linens

Too often we make a decision on bedding without understanding bed linens. I know I've been guilty of it, as I'm sure you have. I like challenges and I'm certain that that is why I liked selling bedding. Way too long ago, when I started selling draperies, the workrooms also offered bedding, consequently I also started selling bedding.

My understanding of bed linens has been a long road. From selling custom ensembles, retailing for department stores and now presenting bed linens online. Bedding is something that we live with a lot. Bedding is not something that needs to be selected in person. There is no way we are going to be able to experience a good nights sleep by visiting a store. We are better off putting to use our knowledge of what we wear in relation to understanding bed linens. I know when a shirt is made of polyester and not cotton or silk. You can discern the difference in bed linens in a like manner.

Often we make our selection of bed linens based on the decor of our room. This is an important consideration, but it is under the covers that we sleep. What do we need to know to experience the best nights sleep we can? I'll attempt to offer solid recommendations in this article. The considerations are many and that's where the challenge comes into play.

• Starting out you'll need:
• A bed (mattress )
• Sheets
• A blanket (cover)
• Pillows

That should do it. If only it were that simple. Personally I am willing to sacrifice good sheets and covers for a great mattress. But that's another article. Assuming that you have a mattress you're comfortable with let's look at the be bed linen and cover considerations.

To start let's clarify that "linen" used here is a generic term as well as a specific term in relation to bedding. Specifically linen is a fiber produced from the flax plant. Fibers are materials that can be made into a tread for fabric. This article will discuss fibers, fabrics and fillings used in bedding. Threads commonly used for bedding are made out of cotton, wool, synthetics (petroleum based), cellulose fibers, silk and occasionally linen or a combination of the fore-mentioned.

Fibers and fillings commonly used in bedding today may be synthetic, natural or a combination of both. Concern over our environment, health and comfort offers us many more choices in bedding than were available just a short time ago.

Expect to pay more for these considerations:

• Products that are produced respectful of the environment.
• Products that offer benefits obtained without chemicals
• Products manufactured in high labor locals
• Products that are graded superior
• Products that are labor intensive
• Custom Services

Know what you're paying for.

Now for the considerations involved in understanding bed linens:

Decorating Theme Considerations:

• Selecting linen to work with your theme.:

• Variety is readily available in lower thread count cotton blends and polyester or cotton filled comforters.
• Themes are attractive but the publics whim changes often. Most themed bedding is produced in easy to care for materials in lower to medium quality brackets.
• These "Bed in Bag" ensembles, colorful, sheets, quilts and comforters are an easy cost conscious way to dress up a bed.

• Defining a theme with quality bed linens takes a bit more work.

• You will find the best selection of quality bedding in whites, solid colors and some subtle patterns that have passed the test of timeless design.
• A theme can be reinforced with a limited selection of duvet covers. An almost unlimited selection of pillow shams and pillows can be used.
• "Designer" and "Trademark" collections offer many attractive options for those seeking cost conscious quality bedding.

• Custom bed linens and covers offer another option.

• There are many fabrics of high quality that can be used to make sheets, bed accessories and covers.
• You will not have the variety of themes available in the lower end lines.
• The variety available is much greater than what you will find in the quality bed linen category.
• In fact custom designs usually use the quality pillows and comforters and add a custom cover of your selection.

How the construction of bed linen affects a nights sleep:

• Does the material on your bed wick moisture away from the body?
• Most natural fabrics and fibers do, synthetics do not.
• Some combinations of natural fibers and synthetics provide comfortable solutions.
• You'll generally find this combination in mattress padding.

• The weave and construction of a fabric contributes to the feel of your bed covering.
• Not all threads are created equal. A cotton thread using long fibers such as Egyptian cotton will feel softer than another cotton thread.
• A higher quality thread may feel better than a standard thread, even if fewer threads per inch (TC) are woven into the fabric.
• Going back to the reference of what you like to wear, use this as a gauge when selecting sheets and coverings.

• Thread count (TC) refers to the thread per inch of fabric. Generally the higher the TC the better feel the fabric has.
• Fillings in pillows and covers affect the feel of your bedding

• White down and synthetics feel different but neither will poke you through their coverings.
• Feathers, lower quality down, wool and some wood fibers on the other hand may be irritating.

• Your nights sleep may be affected by comforter construction and insulating properties of fill.
• For more on this see the Comforter Construction section.

By now I hope that you realize some of the things that you should look for and expect in bed linens. At first glance it may seem like there are unlimited possibilities. When you really look at the options it becomes apparent that there are distinct differences in what you'll find depending on your personal requirements.

Some bedding is not meant to last a good long time. A child is not going to like his/her nursery bedding when they are twelve. A quest room does not really require an expensive bed ensemble. You just want a great looking room that's comfortable. On the other hand where you spend a third of your time, in bed, it may be important to have the best you can afford.

I want to cut through some of the confusing terms that you may find when looking at bedding descriptions. These are by no means compete or necessarily everyones opinions or understanding. These are my conclusions and reflections on what I believe to be so.

Bedding terms, confusion, uses, benefits and reference:

• Mattress Pad
• A covering placed over a mattress to protect it.
• May also be used to provide a softer sleeping surface when it contains batting or fill.
• Protection from "accidents" requires a film barrier (plastic).
• Look for newer products that have breathable membranes that eliminate moisture from getting to the mattress. They will have cotton surfaces and keep dust mites from reaching your mattress as well.

• Sheets and Fabric Covers
• A cloth covering placed over the mattress.
• A sheet is cleaned to prevent dirt and dust mites from getting into your mattress and covers.
• Sheets come in a large selection of designs and colors.
• Easy care sheets may be synthetic or natural fibers treated with chemicals to minimize ironing.
• The most common sheets are cotton. Other fabrics may include polyester, linen, rayon, hemp, silk and bamboo.
• Those concerned about chemicals used in fabrics should conduct their own research as the views are varied and often personal.
• A good article on the chemicals used in cotton fabric production can be found at Lotus Organics.
• Duvet cover and comforter cover are terms that refer to a separate casing that a comforter slips into. They are made from sheet fabric material.
• Shell fabric and comforter cover refer to the covering that is holds the quilt or comforter fill in place.
• Typically down comforters will have a white shell.
• Polyester comforters will often have a colored or themed cover.

• Lower Thread Counts, (TC) feel coarser than high TC fabrics. This can be offset by the quality of the thread and the exact weave.
• Synthetic fabrics (polyester) and some treated natural fabrics will not absorb moisture.
• Darker fabrics absorb less moisture than light colors.

• Blankets, Quilts, Comforters and Bedspreads

• Blankets typically go over the top sheet and provide an insulated cover to keep you warm.
• Quilts and comforters act as blankets.
• Thermal properties of quilts and comforters can be regulated by adding or removing blankets.
• Comforters can also be purchased with different thermal properties for different seasons.
• Quilts are generally covers with pieced fabric shells sewn through a batting of cotton or polyester to an underside fabric.
• Comforters are most often a down, feather or polyester filling between two layers of fabric.
• Quilts and comforters are meant to cover the mattress and extend about two inches below the bottom edge.
• Bedspreads are not meant to provide thermal warmth but rather a decorative treatment.

Comforter Construction Demystified

Comforters use primarily two filling materials, polyester and feather products. You'll begin to notice some comforters and "feather" beds using a wood product as well.

Polyester used in comforters can be filament or fiberfill, both of which allow for some redistribution to fill the chamber they are in. Another form of polyester used may be a batting material which does not move readily. Most polyester used in quilts will be a batting material.

Down, because of its superior insulating properties is used extensively in comforters. You may be aware that there are different grades of down. One way of grading down is to take one ounce of down, compress it and measure how much space it fills up when it is released. More information on comforter construction will be added shortly.