Contrary to popular belief, a high thread count does not necessarily equal a good quality bed sheet.
How bedlinen looks and feels is determined by two other factors: the type, quality and thickness of the base thread used; and the way the threads are woven on the loom.
The thinner the yarn, the softer the sheet too.
2 Count the thread count
Ask if the thread count quoted is per square inch or per 10 sq cm - which is a bigger area - so you won't be misled into thinking the sheet is denser (and better) than it really is. For example, 500TC per 10 sq cm is equivalent to 323TC per sq inch. Some brands, like Hallmark, list both so you won't get confused.
3 Cotton percale, cotton jacquard, cotton sateen and pure linen - what's the difference?
Cotton percale is made from high-quality cotton and is crisp and cool to touch. Percale launders well, is long-lasting and durable. For high quality, look for a 200 thread per square inch count.
Cotton jacquard has an alternating matt-sateen pattern in the fabric - typically a stripe, check or floral - and this provides texture and style.
Cotton sateen is generally made from a finer thread than percale, so sheets have a higher thread count (because the threads are thinner) with an elegant sheen that feels luxuriously soft and smooth. But sateen is less hardy than percale. Look for at least 300 threads per square inch.
Pure linen is renowned for its crispness, coolness and breathability. Threads are heavier and more loosely woven than cotton percale, and soften to a beautiful, light sheen with laundering and age. It is more expensive than cotton and requires more careful laundering, but is very long-lasting.
4 Like underwear, white is best
Cotton is naturally white, so white is naturally best, say bedlinen connoisseurs. Dyes add a waxen feel to the sheets, which make them less soft to the touch.
If you think plain white sheets are too stark or boring, opt to dress the bed up with throws, which are decorative blankets you, well, throw over your bed. They can be wool, fur or quilted satin - think of them as overcoats for beds.
5 Wash sheets properly to make them last longer
Whang Sung Lin of Fabulous Linens is adamant that sheets must be machine-washed in warm water so they will get softer through the ages. Whites should be washed in hot water.
If well taken care of, quality bedlinen can last you up to 40 years, he says.
So an $8,000 set of hand-embroidered sheets from France that retails at his shop actually works out to be good value when you realise that the price divided by 40 years is $200 a year.
