Creating the bedroom of your dreams should start by improving its comfort, and there’s no better place to start than by improving the comfort of your bed. You’d be surprised at how big of a difference a small change can do, like choosing the right sheets, and, if you like to have that luxurious hotel bed feel, you should try using both flat and fitted bed sheets. Both of these are comfortable and can provide you with the needed good night’s sleep.
What Are Flat Sheets Called?
These sheets are also known as top sheets because they’re designed to lay flat on top of the bed. They were used since the 15th century and their most common use now is to be placed on top of the bed and underneath the blanket and bed cover. However, they also allow for being tucked under the bottom corners of your mattress as a bottom layer.
Usually made of the softest and most comfortable material, flat sheets can add a layer of comfort to your sleep while not compromising the bed’s appearance. Available in numerous materials, colours, and designs, you can even choose ones with patterns to jazz up the look of your bed.
In order to make your bed comfortable and unique looking, you can use the triple sheeting technique which is used in luxurious hotels. For this, you’ll need to layer your duvet between two luxury-looking flat bed sheets and a fitted sheet placed directly on the mattress as a bottom layer.
A lot of people also use a flat bed sheet for hygiene reasons, to prevent dirtying the duvet. It can be easier to clean and wash, unlike a duvet cover which cannot be washed frequently. When the weather is warmer, you can use it as a cover instead of a blanket for a cooler and more comfortable night’s sleep. And, there are those people who prefer it as a top layer instead of a duvet cover or comforter. In case you love its appearance, you can use it over fitted linen. In fact, a lot of people swear by this, saying that this trick helps flat linen to stay in place.
What Are Fitted Sheets?
Known as bottom sheets, they differ from the top ones by their four elastic corner pockets that are designed for the mattress corners. Said in simple words, they are designed to hug the perimeter of the mattress and having elastic corners makes it impossible for them to move. Staying in place is their biggest benefit and a lot of people choose them simply because of it.
They were invented in the 50s and became popular right away thanks to their ease of use. They offer great mattress protection by preventing dust build-up, and because of this, it’s believed that they can also prolong the mattress’s lifespan. As you can see, both of these sheets are important for improving the comfort of your bed. When it comes to shopping for them, you should choose ones that meet the size of your mattress.
This is important so the chosen sheets could be applied nicely without either being too loose or too tight. You should also consider their material, but in order to improve your bed’s comfort and your night’s sleep, you should invest in ones made of natural and quality materials like linen (flax), cotton or bamboo.
How to Care for Them?
Caring for them should be done with the same effort and care. Bacteria, sweat and skin cells can build up on them over time since both of them are in direct touch with your body, so regular cleaning is paramount. Dirty sheets can be hazardous and can be the main cause of skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
Those of you who are prone to allergies, in general, may also experience congestion and sneezing because of dust and bacteria. That being said, you should wash your sheets once a week and, if possible, wash them at a higher water temperature of at least 60 °C. However, if the manufacturer doesn’t allow washing them at higher temperatures, you can always use a special antibacterial washing solution.
Solutions of this kind are specially designed for clothes and bedding and have the purpose to kill bacteria and germs. However, there are some other things that you can do in order to keep your sheets as clean as possible in between washings.
- Take a shower at night instead of in the morning to prevent sweat, dirt and bacteria from entering your bed.
- Wash your face before bed and make sure to remove makeup thoroughly in order to avoid transferring it to your pillow and sheets.
- In case of wounds or open cuts, make sure to bandage them to prevent blood or fluid from coming in contact with your bedding.
- You should forget about eating and drinking in bed.
- If having a pet, avoid the habit of letting it sleep in your bed.
