Everyone is different
Some people sleep cold at night while others sleep hot. Some love soft sheets, while one person's crisp is another person's scratchy.
Finding sheets you'll love means forgetting the myths and understanding that everyone is different. Just because everyone says that high-thread count sateen sheets are the best, doesn't make it so. In fact, if you're a hot sleeper, high thread-count sateen sheets are the worst type of sheet you could buy! To understand why let's start by looking at a good night's sleep.
Sleep is complicated
We all know what it's like to toss and turn during hot summer months. Temperature plays a huge part in a good night's sleep because your body must reach and maintain a slightly lower temperature for sleep. Too hot and you'll be awake all night but too cold, and you'll also struggle to sleep. Each person has a perfect temperature zone we'll call this the Goldilocks zone.
That's why 'experts' often talk about fine-quality sheets that breathe. Sheets that breathe help your body maintain that slightly lower temperature during the night. But I'm cold at night I hear you say. Well, this brings us to our first personal preference and one that will significantly affect the type of sheets you should buy.
Are you generally hot or cold at night?
Most people know if they're hot or cold at night, but some haven't given it much thought. If you often sleep with a foot hanging out of bed, you're a hot sleeper. If you usually spend the night curled up in the fetal position, you're a cold sleeper!
This is a critical preference to understand about yourself so give it some thought if unsure. Also, your temperature may change depending on season, and that's OK. Many people buy winter and summer sheets for that reason. Just try to be aware of your general temperature. And because the temperature is critical to sleep, we'll summarise the information into checklists throughout this guide; one for hot sleepers and one for cold sleepers.
Hot and cold sleepers in the same bed
OK, but I sleep cold while my partner sleeps hot, what do we do? An excellent question and the answer is layers. Both of you will find your perfect temperature by adjusting the number of layers on your side of the bed. The trick is to ensure the base layer (the sheet) is not too hot, or the hot sleeper will never get comfortable.
Men tend to sleep hotter (until Women reach a certain age) and we encounter many men who hate their partners' sheets, and that's usually down to the sheet recipe trapping too much heat. We've also met many people who don't care if their partner is hot at night! Each to their own, this guide isn't about relationship advice. But starting with a sheet that's comfortable for the warmest person, then using layers for the coldest, is generally the easiest way for everyone to find their Goldilocks temperature.
Duvets, too hot or too cold
Although this guide is about sheets, we encounter an increasing number of people moving away from duvets because duvets only provide a single hot layer. This leaves the hottest sleeper with little option but to toss the duvet off, only to find themselves cold 20 minutes later. People moving away from duvets are doing so because they're finding it hard to reach that Goldilocks temperature. By removing their duvet inners and combining their duvet covers with blankets and throws, people use the layers to gain incremental temperature control during the night.
NEXT: PART 3 WHAT ARE SHEETS MADE FROM?
Our sheets
- Most popular: The classic Hotel Sheet. Cool, crisp, open, fine but strong. The 100% cotton sheet used in European hotels.
- Highest quality: The Egyptian Hotel Sheet. The same cool and crisp recipe as our Classic hotel sheet but made from ultra fine, ultra strong, long-staple Egyptian cotton. DNA tested to verify authenticity.
- Use and wash sheets for up to 60 nights and return if not happy. Returns are donated so must be washed, conditions apply.
- For a wider-range of opinions about our sheets, see reviews from genuine customers.
