Bedding jargon buster − all the words you need to know before you buy bedding

Sometimes, when I read back over my old articles, it's like I'm speaking another language. If you've ever tried shopping for bedding, whether in-store or online, you'll remember reading about baffle-box constructions, fill power and thread count. That's before we get to the acronyms: GSM, GOTS, et cetera.

So, to break down the bedding buzzwords, I've compiled a glossary of all the terminology I use on a daily basis, arranged A to Z for ease of access. Whether you want to learn more about particular materials or methods of manufacture, I've got you covered.

As the resident Sleep Editor at Homes & Gardens, I spend my days window-shopping the best places to buy bedding, and I spend my nights testing sheets, duvets, and pillows from the comfort of my own bed. I've learned to speak the language of the bedding industry: let me teach you.

Bedding jargon buster – my expert A to Z

From Supima cotton to Merino wool, these are all the words you need to know before you shop the bedding sales. Where relevant, I've linked out to more detailed explainers on each of these topics, so that you can better understand the bedding industry.

• Baffle-box construction: a method of making comforters. A thin strip of fabric (a 'baffle') is stitched between the top and bottom layers of the comforter to create small fabric pockets (or 'boxes'). Instead of slipping and sliding inside the comforter, creating lumps, bumps, and cold patches, the fill is confined to the baffle-boxes for a more even look and feel.
• Bamboo: one of the most popular bed sheet types. Naturally moisture-wicking and antimicrobial to bust the bacteria that breed in hot, sticky environments, bamboo is a great option for hot sleepers and eco-conscious shoppers.
• Bed skirt: a decorative piece of fabric that flows from the top of the bed down to the floor. A great way to disguise box springs or bed frame legs, and keep dust from building up under the bed. Also known as a valance or a dust ruffle.
• Bedspread: a type of bed cover that drapes over the bed and drops down to the floor. A finishing decorative touch and an extra layer of warmth.

• Comforter: a thick, quilted bed covering, filled with down or down alternative and wrapped in a fabric shell. The difference between a comforter and a duvet is that a duvet comprises two parts – the insert and the cover − whereas a comforter is one integrated piece.
• Cotton percale: a crisp, cool weave, the sort you tend to find in high-end hotels. Woven one-thread-over, one-thread-under, cotton percale is breathable and durable, able to withstand cycles in the washing machine, but it doesn't feel as smooth as cotton sateen.
• Cotton sateen: a smooth, silky weave. Woven three-threads-over, one-thread-under, cotton sateen is a tight weave, designed to retain heat. Less suitable for hot sleepers but ideal for winter weather. All those exposed threads catch the light to create a lustrous sheen.
• Coverlet: a lightweight decorative bed covering, thinner than a quilt or comforter. Ideal for hot sleepers and summer nights, or as an additional layer during cooler months.

• Down: the soft, fluffy undercoating on ducks and geese, used as fill for comforters and duvets. Naturally adapted for insulation, so ideal for cold sleepers and winter weather. Plenty of natural loft for a nice, puffy bedspread.
• Duvet: a thick bed covering, filled with down or down alternative. Designed to be used with a separate, removable fabric cover: the duvet case. When it comes to duvets vs comforters, duvets are warmer and weightier, and often more expensive.
• Egyptian cotton: a species of cotton plant, also known as Gossypium Barbadense, which grows exclusively in the fertile soil of the River Nile. Egyptian cotton is made from long, strong, fine fibers which create luxurious sheets.
• Eucalyptus: a popular material for bed sheets. Naturally moisture-wicking and hypoallergenic with a soft, silky texture. Often processed into Tencel.

• Fill power: a number that indicates the quality of down, measured in cubic inches per ounce. The more space down takes up inside a duvet or comforter, the higher the fill power, which indicates greater loft and insulating efficiency. The best warm comforter would have a high fill power, while the best cooling comforter would have a lower fill power.
• Fitted sheet: a sheet that covers the top and sides of a mattress. Often comes with elasticated corners for a secure fit. Also known as a bottom sheet.
• Flat sheet: a rectangular sheet that layers on top of a fitted sheet and beneath a comforter or duvet. An additional layer for warmth or decoration. Also known as a top sheet.
• Flax: a flowering plant used to make linen. Flax fibers are entirely hollow, which makes linen ultra-breathable.

• GSM: a measurement of the weight of a fabric. Stands for 'grams per square meter'. The higher the GSM, the thicker and denser the fabric. The best cooling sheets are lightweight, with a lower GSM, while the best warm bed sheets would have a higher GSM.
• Housewife pillowcase: simply sewn with a straight edge that fits neatly around a pillow. Often features an internal flap to keep the pillow inside the case. Also known as a standard pillowcase.
• Linen: a popular material for bedding. Woven from the strong, hollow fibers of the flax plant, linen is breathable and durable. Word to the wise: even the best linen sheets are prone to wrinkling, but I'd encourage you to embrace the creases as part of linen's natural charm.
• Mattress pad: a cross between a mattress protector and a mattress topper. A thin, padded layer that goes on top of a mattress to guard against sweat, spills, and stains and enhance the look and feel of your mattress.

• Nurse's tuck: a bed-making technique by which the flat sheet is diagonally folded and tightly tucked beneath the mattress, creating a smooth surface. Also known as 'hospital corners' or 'military corners'. If you want to learn how to make a bed the right way, it's worth learning how to do a nurse's tuck.
• Oxford pillowcase: features a fabric border or wide-stitched hem around the edge to make a pillow look larger and fluffier.
• Pillow protector: a removable cover that wraps around a pillow and goes inside a pillowcase. Designed to extend the life of your pillow and protect it from spills, stains, dust, dirt, and dander.
• Sham: a pillowcase used for decorative purposes, rather than practical ones. Often embroidered and open at the back, rather than the end.

• Supima cotton: a brand name for Pima cotton, which is sown and grown in the USA. Supima cotton has extra-long fibers, which hold color well and make strong, soft sheets. Supima cotton is pill-resistant and naturally moisture-wicking, so it's a good option for hot sleepers.
• Tencel: a semi-synthetic fabric made from eucalyptus wood pulp. Thermoregulating and moisture-wicking, with a smooth and silky finish, Tencel is another good option for hot sleepers. The best Tencel sheets feel truly cold to the touch.
• Thread count: a measurement of the number of threads in one square inch of fabric. The sum of warp threads (which run vertically) and weft threads (which run horizontally). Try not to set too much store by the best thread count: often, high thread counts are the results of two-ply or multi-ply yarns, which feel thin and flimsy.
• Tog rating: a measurement of the warmth of a duvet or comforter on a relative scale of 1 to 15. Stands for 'Thermal Overall Grade'. If you want to work out 'what duvet tog do I need?', you should consider your sleep style and the turn of the seasons.

• Quilt: a multi-layered bed covering, comprising a decorative top layer, a durable back layer, and an insulating middle layer (filled with cotton, wool, synthetic fibers, or similar).
• Wool: a fiber that comes from the fleece of sheep, goats, alpacas, or similar. Often used in pillows or comforters as a natural moisture-wicker.
• Weave: the way in which threads and fibers are interlaced to create fabric. The weave pattern is made up of vertical warp threads and horizontal weft threads.

Once you've bought the best bedding, it might be time to make the ultimate upgrade: a new mattress. Don't be caught out by unfamiliar terminology: just use our mattress jargon buster to break down the buzzwords.