Choose The Best Bed Sheets: Your Guide To Sheet Materials & Fibres

When creating a bedspread, the gorgeous blankets and stylish pillows are the most exciting things to pick - there are so many beautiful patterns and styles to choose from when creating your dream bedroom. But when it comes to sleeping comfortably, the bed sheets are what you need to take extra care with when deciding on!

Your choice of sheet material can greatly impact your sleep, as the range of materials that sheets can be created from varies greatly. If you often find yourself uncomfortably hot when you sleep, you will need a different set of sheets than someone who really feels the cold.

At KOO we are proud to offer you a comprehensive range of bed sheet sets to suit your sleeping conditions and needs, and we've compiled this guide to help you choose the right bed sheets every time. Read on to discover our bed sheet material comparisons and which bed sheets are the best for you!

Quick Links

• Why do bed sheet materials matter?
• Best bed sheet materials for summer
• Best bed sheet materials for winter
• Best bed sheets for allergies
• Best bed sheets for sensitive skin

Why Do Bed Sheet Materials Matter?

While they're not thick and fluffy like a doona, your bed sheets play a vital role in keeping you at the optimal temperature for comfortable sleep. Generally, you want to be somewhere between 17 and 20°C for easy sleep, and the right bed sheets will help you achieve just that.

The perfect bed sheets will not only help you sleep, but they can also prevent skin irritation in sensitive people, prevent allergies from flaring up and keep sweaty sleepers dry and comfortable. Finding out the best bed sheet materials for your needs can be tricky, but our bed sheet fabric types guide is here to help.

Best Bed Sheet Material For Summer

For the hot, balmy nights of an Australian summer, you will need the right sheets to keep you cool and dry all night long. There's nothing worse than tossing and turning at night when you're too hot and unable to sleep - this can be caused by the weather, a poorly ventilated room or maybe you're just a naturally hot sleeper! When it comes to the best bed sheet material for summer you have plenty of options - for a cool sleep, try choosing quality sheets made out of the following materials:

• Cotton - this versatile material is the go-to choice for many when it comes to sheets, and is a smart choice for summer bedding. Cotton sheets are breathable, allowing air to circulate through them and helping prevent sweating. If you do start to perspire, they can absorb and wick away moisture, plus they help transfer heat from your body into the air. Look for a lower thread count in your summer bedding to promote airflow and for a lighter sheet.
• Linen - this classy material is often featured in hotels and villas, as it looks fabulous and retains all the benefits of cotton sheets. Linen bed sheets are moisture-wicking, moisture-absorbing and slightly more breathable than cotton. They do feel heavier and stiffer than cotton sheets, but linen will become wonderfully soft after a few washes.
• Bamboo - made from processed bamboo fibres, these sheets are fantastic for summer nights and hot sleepers! They're breathable, smooth and drape closely to your body, plus they have antibacterial properties and absorb moisture from your skin, leaving you sweat-free!
• Polyester - while natural materials are the best option for hot nights due to their breathability, synthetic materials like polyester are a smart choice if you find yourself sweating quite heavily overnight. Durable polyester sheets are better at wicking away moisture from your body than other sheets and allow sweat to evaporate away from your skin. They do trap warmth, so only use them if you can handle the heat!

Best Bed Sheets For Winter

When it is cold at night, many people tend to pile on the layers to stay warm - thick pyjamas, multiple blankets and maybe a quilt or two! But unless you love the weighted pressure of many layers of bedding, sleeping under this much weight can be stifling and uncomfortable. Instead, why not reach for a cosy, insulating set of sheets? To stay warm without sweating or stifling yourself, choose the best bed sheets for winter made out of any of these materials:

• Flannelette - these sheets are made from cotton that has been brushed to create a fuzzy texture, making them super cosy and a delight to snuggle into. Flannelette sheets are thick and durable, insulating you against the cold and keeping you warm by trapping and retaining your body heat. They also wick moisture away from your body to keep you dry.
• Fleece - this synthetic knit fabric is stretchy, thick and soft, perfect for insulating you on those cold winter nights. It will keep you warmer than flannelette, but doesn't regulate your temperature - you will get hot and stay hot!
• Linen - avoid night sweats with linen, a breathable fabric that wicks moisture away from your body. Paired with a warm duvet, linen sheets are great for thermoregulating your body and keeping you at the optimal sleeping temperature.
• Cotton - similar to linen, cotton sheets wick moisture away from your body for sweat-free sleep. They are lighter and softer than linen and are great for pairing with layers to create a warm nest of sheets and blankets.
• Silk - while initially cool to the touch, silk bed sheets are actually a really clever choice for winter. They have a tight weave that keeps the heat in but also wicks moisture away from your body to prevent you from waking up in a clammy sweat. They are incredibly soft and drape closely to your body, keeping you covered and cosy all night!

Best Bed Sheets For Allergies

Have you ever jumped into bed and immediately started sneezing and coughing? It is possible your bed might be activating your allergies! Common allergens like dust and skin cells tend to gather in your mattress and pillow, which in turn creates a haven for dust mites - and it is these little critters that can really set off the allergies in sensitive people. Tips like showering before bed, using a mattress protector and pillow protector and frequently washing your bedding can all help with this, but did you know your bed sheet fabric type can also help keep your allergies at bay? Here are which bed sheets are the best if you're struggling with your allergies at night:

• Bamboo - these soft sheets are hypoallergenic and soft, promoting airflow and reducing moisture in your bed, which dust mites and bacteria need to survive. These durable sheets are odour resistant and easy to care for.
• Silk - cool to the touch, these sheets are created from fibres produced by silkworms for their protective cocoons, so they're naturally designed to keep pests like dust mites out! They wick moisture away from your body, discouraging the growth of dust mites, bacteria and other allergens in your bed.
• Cotton - this breathable material will keep air circulating in your bed and prevent any dampness from building up. Look for organic cotton that is free from harsh chemicals and dyes.
• Linen - this hypoallergenic bed sheet fabric will help discourage the growth of bacteria, mould and mildew in your bed thanks to its airflow-encouraging fibres.

You may have noticed a pattern here - sheets with moisture-wicking properties and breathability are key to preventing allergic reactions as you sleep. This trait is found more often in natural animal and plant-based fibres rather than synthetic ones, so be careful to look for this when choosing sheets and avoid fabric blends if possible.

Best Bed Sheets For Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin or an aggravated skin condition, you may find your bed sheets can set them off, causing you to itch and peel at night when you're trying to sleep. Things like dyes and chemicals can irritate sensitive skin, so it is important to look for organically-made sheets when possible and stick to natural or pastel colours in your bed sheet materials. But which bed sheets are the best? Good sheet materials to look for include:

• Organic cotton - when made without dyes and chemicals, organic cotton is a wonderful choice for people with sensitive skin. Naturally soft, organic cotton sheets wick moisture away from your skin and are light and smooth, perfect for skin that is easily irritated. Pick a sateen weave if possible, as it is extra smooth and cool on delicate skin.
• Silk - if you have dry skin-related problems, silk sheets will be a blessing! The smooth, cool surface of a silk sheet will soothe even the most sensitive of skin and its hypoallergenic properties ensure irritants won't form easily. Silk sheets preserve the natural oils on your skin and hair rather than rubbing them off, helping your body stay moisturised as you rest.
• Bamboo - if your skin is irritated by the build-up of dust mites and germs in the bed, the antimicrobial and hypoallergenic properties of bamboo sheets will help you sleep easy. They are soft and breathable, ensuring your sweat doesn't stick around to make you clammy and itchy overnight.

Find The Perfect Bed Sheets At KOO

We hope this bed sheet material comparison has helped you decide on what KOO bed sheets are best for you! You'll be able to get the perfect night's sleep with any of KOO's high-quality bed sheets. Find our range of bed sheets online, as well as sheet sets, bed linen and everything else you need to create a bedroom you can be proud of!