The 7 bed sheet mistakes ruining your sleep – bedding experts reveal what you should do instead for restorative slumber

Buying bedding isn't as simple as it seems. There are thread counts, colors, and what feels like endless bedding materials to choose from.

What's more, if you make a mistake, it can impact your quality of life by zapping your sleep. Research has shown that poor-quality bedding can ruin your sleep, leaving you groggy, and far from ready to face the day. So, how do you dodge bedding blunders, including misunderstanding the best thread count?

We have spoken to sleep and bedding experts who have shared the top seven bed sheet mistakes to avoid, so you can pick and maintain the best bed sheets the first time, every time.

Bed sheet mistakes 

1. Thinking higher thread count is better

The biggest mistake shoppers make when choosing bed sheets is the thread count. There is a common myth that the higher the thread count, the better the quality. This isn't necessarily true. Rather, the thread count refers to the amount of yarn per square inch of fabric.

As Yusuf Ozkanli, the founder of luxury bedding brand Beddable explains, 'Essentially, a higher thread count means more yarns present in your bed sheets, and since a limited number of threads can fit into each fabric square inch, quality will depend on how thick the yarns are.'

He advises that 'the best thread count for bed sheets is 200-400 because sheets within this range are soft and durable.' The Piglet In Bed Cotton Bundle comes with a 200 thread count and a range of colors and sizes for a luxurious rest no matter your bedroom ideas or aesthetic.

2. Not considering your sleep needs

Achieving the best temperature for sleep is essential to sleeping better. While your room's ambient temperature will impact this, your bedding plays the biggest role in regulating your body temperature throughout the night. Whilst the set you have your eye on may look nice, overlooking your sleep needs could be a bed sheet mistake.

Dr. Leah Kaylor, sleep specialist and psychologist says, 'One of the biggest mistakes people make when looking for bedding is not shopping for materials that will suit their unique temperature needs.

'If your bedding is too warm, it can make it harder to fall or stay asleep, leading to restlessness, lighter sleep stages, and frequent awakenings. Excessive heat also causes discomfort and may disrupt the body’s ability to stay in deeper, restorative stages of sleep like deep and REM sleep.'

Dr. Kaylor recommends the following bed sheet types and bedding materials to avoid for each sleep preference:

• Cotton percale sheets are crisp, cool, and breathable, making them ideal for hot sleepers or warm climates.
• Egyptian cotton is considered the gold standard for luxury sheets due to its softness, breathability, and durability. They work well in both hot and cool climates but can be expensive and often requires special care and cleaning.
• Linen is a nice choice for those who live in warm climates, as it is lightweight, breathable, and has moisture-wicking properties.
• Bamboo is a great breathable fabric for hot sleepers, as they are naturally cooling, antimicrobial, and moisture-wicking.
• Eucalyptus sheets are incredibly soft and breathable for hot sleepers.
• Wool sheets are great for temperature regulation. People often don't realize it but they are naturally warm in winter and cool in summer! They are hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking, and durable. However, many people are turned off by wool due to its heaviness, high cost, and possible coarseness. Importantly, wool sheets also require specialized cleaning.
• Microfiber are not breathable and prone to trapping heat.
• Flannel sheets can trap heat which can be ideal for cold climates.

3. Not shopping for your skin type

If you have skin concerns or conditions, picking the wrong bedding can exacerbate them, leading to poor sleep. If this sounds like you, and you are wondering if you need hypoallergenic bed sheets, the answer is likely yes.

Jonathan Warren, bed expert and director of Time4Sleep says, 'It’s important to make sure you spend time considering whether your choice of bedding is right for your skin. If you’re prone to sweating at night, a cotton material may work better for you. This is because cotton is a very breathable material and allows your skin to have freedom when sleeping.

'Other options, like silk and satin, are gentler and naturally have less friction and contact with the skin, as well as being hypoallergenic. This will also make it less likely that any skincare products you’ve applied, such as night cream or oil, are less likely to get removed by your pillow material.'

4. Forgetting about the season

Chris Ailey, sleep expert and founder of Laud Sleep says, 'Bedding isn't a one size fits all purchase, and bedding options that work well in winter might feel stifling and uncomfortable in the summertime.'

For instance, the steps you take to keep warm in bed in winter will backfire on you when sleeping in the heat of summer.

Chris continues, 'Overlooking any seasonal adjustments in our bedding can lead to restless nights due to discomfort from being too hot or too cold, so consider switching out your bedding when the seasons change.

'In the warmer months, lightweight materials like percale cotton or bamboo are great for keeping cool, whereas in the winter, flannel sheets or a duvet with a higher tog rating can provide the warmth many of us yearn for.'

You should also consider the season when choosing the color of your bed sheets. Whether you choose light or dark bed sheets will make you feel hotter, or colder as you sleep. Light bed sheets in shades such as white or pale blue are the freshest choice and will feel cool to the touch. Dark bedding, on the other hand, will feel hotter, especially if warmed by the sun.

5. Ignoring certifications and bedding standards

Lots of bedding brands may market their bed sheets as 'luxury', but the key to quality bedding is whether it has any certifications.

Don't be fooled into thinking bedding is the best because it's made of Egyptian cotton, for example. It's not always a guarantee of quality, and there are other places that also produce great sheets.

Yusuf Ozkanli, bedding designer, says you should look for 'cotton that comes from Portugal, for example. Portugal is one of the best manufacturers of cotton, where local families run generational mills that meet high production standards.'

When buying bedding, ensure it has an Oeko-Tex certification, such as Brooklinen's Luxe Sateen Hardcore Sheet Bundle. This ensures the fabrics are made without any harmful chemicals, like dyes and bleaches. Generally, polyester bedding won't hold these certifications – hence polyester is considered the worst bed sheet material to choose.

6. Choosing the wrong size

It may sound simple, but making sure your bedding fits properly is essential to a comfy bed. Many brands may label their bedding as a certain size, either being, twin, queen, king, Cali-king, but it's important to check the measurements. Just as clothes sizing can sometimes be off, bed sheet sizes may differ depending on the retailer, and there are additional sizes to the spectrum that you may get confused with, like Twin XL and full sizes. The general bed sheet sizes are as follows:

Twin: 38 x 75 inches
Twin XL: 38 x 80 inches
Full: 53 x 75 inches
Queen: 60 x 80 inches
King: 76 x 80 inches
Californian King: 72 x 84 inches

Another key measurement to consider is depth of your fitted sheet. Mattresses come in different depths, and your fitted sheet should fit snugly underneath the mattress. If you have a sheet that is too short, you'll struggle to keep all four corners down; too long and you'll experience sagging and excess material. Not only will this be uncomfortable but it will also look unpleasant.

7. Improper care

The mistakes don't stop once you have settled on a set and brought it home. How you store and wash bed sheets can make all the difference in their longevity and their comfort.

Chris Ailey says, 'Bedding requires a proper care and maintenance routine to keep its quality and longevity. Overwashing, for example, can degrade the fabric and shorten its lifespan, especially for more delicate materials such as silk.

'How often you wash your bedding should balance hygiene and preservation, so washing weekly or bi-weekly is typically a good rule of thumb.

'Improper storage of your bedding is another common issue we face, as bedding stored in damp or poorly ventilated spaces can develop odors or even mold. One thing people who always store bed linen properly always do is store it in breathable bags or dry containers, and you can even add lavender sachets or silica packs to help keep them fresh and in top condition when they’re not in use.'

FAQs

Should you size up when buying bed sheets?

Generally, the bed sheet size specified should match up to your mattress size. If you have a queen bed, for example, you should opt for queen-size bed sheets. However, if you have a deep mattress and the sheets you want aren't available in a deep-depth size, sizing up will allow for extra depth and help them stay on.

This is okay for a flat sheet as you can fold the corners and tuck in for a flat surface, but bear in mind, for a fitted sheet to stay on, it's important to get the correct sizing.

Avoiding these seven bed sheet mistakes means you won't have to compromise on a good night's sleep for factors that are very much in your control. Second to choosing the right bedding, you should know how to wash your bed sheets properly, as there's no point in buying the best set to only ruin them in the wash.

The sleep slip-ups don't stop with your sheets. There are several bed-making mistakes that could affect your sleep too.