When shopping for bed linen, it can be overwhelming trying to decipher the many different types of bed sheets on the market today. Is there really a difference, for example, between cotton bed sheets and linen bed sheets? Which bed linens are the highest quality?

The main way that bed sheets are categorized is by the fiber and weave of the bed linen. The types of fiber that bed sheets are commonly made from are satin, silk, jersey, cotton, and cotton blends. The simplest type of cotton bed sheet is the cotton plain weave. This type of bed linen has a simple over and under pattern of single cotton threads woven together. The thread count is what defines the quality of plain weave cotton bed sheets. The thread count is the total number of vertical and horizontal fiber threads per square inch of sheet fabric. The higher the thread count, the better the sheet.

There are several other types of cotton bed sheets. Combed cotton is a type of bed sheet where the manufacturer combs the fibers and removes all the shorter threads. Combed cotton is smoother than plain weave. Cotton sateen is a type of bed sheet where the horizontal fibers are woven over four of the vertical fibers. This creates a polished look to the bed sheets.

Linen bed sheets are made from the fibers of the flax plant. Some cotton blends used in bed sheets are blended with polyester, which is a strong, flexible synthetic fiber. Silk sheets are often considered the ultimate in luxury, and they are smooth and cool to the touch. Choosing the right type of bed sheets is a matter of trying different fabrics until you find the one that feels the most comfortable to you!