Both linen and cotton make excellent bedding fabrics and share quite a few similarities — most notably their water-absorbent qualities and that refreshing, airy feeling. But there are quite a few differences as well, and being aware of them can make it easier for you to choose between the two.

A bed-sheet is a square piece of fabric that is consists of an elastic band lining that fits directly over the mattress. Another type of bed-sheet includes stitched ends without a stretchy band. You can use both the fitted bed sheet and the straight and stitched type at the same time during hot nights.

What is Cotton?

Sheet Thread Count

Blanket Cover
A blanket cover is a very lightweight decorative covering that is layered over a blanket, almost like a decorative top sheet. A blanket cover is often used on hotel beds as the outermost layer over a blanket, protecting the blanket so it won’t need frequent laundering. The fitted sheet, flat sheet, and blanket cover can be pulled off the bed and washed in a single load. Blanket covers are usually poly/cotton blends, requiring very little attentions; no ironing necessary. 

Depth of Your Mattress

Thread count, ply, weave — what do any of these things even mean? We know you want your bedroom to be a comfortable and warm space to relax and wind down for the day. But with so many types of bed sheets to choose from (and all the jargon thrown around in the industry), it’s easy to give up and purchase a shabby pair that could work okay. 

It was during the Renaissance Period when bedding as we know it today was designed. Whilst the poor continued to sleep on hay-covered platforms, the wealthy owned mattresses stuffed with down and wrapped in luxurious materials. Their four-poster beds were covered in embroidered canopies and contained pull-out trundles for maids and personal valets to sleep on. Mattresses were suspended from the bedframes using ropes or straps. They were covered by smart linen sheets and wool blankets. The beds grew more and more lavish for the most wealthy. They became so expensive they were passed down through the family for generations. Reported to spend most of his day in bed, Louis XIV became so obsessed with bedding that he bought 413 beds for the Palace of Versailles. It is understood that he held court daily from his bed.

Sateen weave sheets feel soft, slightly silky and luxuriously smooth so this weave is often used in luxury bed linen. Sateen sheets have a slightly warmer feel than percale. It’s what we use for our Egyptian cotton bed linen. Find out all you need to know in our blog sateen weave bedding.

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of these two distinct terms so that you can make well informed decisions about your bedding choices. Afterall, you can’t risk making a bad bedding choice. Who doesn’t want to crawl upto a perfectly comfortable bed after a long hectic day?

Because silk is an animal product, there are someethical questionsabout its production. Some oppose use of the material because the silkworms are generally killed to harvest the fibers.

What Is Linen?

Thread count, ply, weave — what do any of these things even mean? We know you want your bedroom to be a comfortable and warm space to relax and wind down for the day. But with so many types of bed sheets to choose from (and all the jargon thrown around in the industry), it’s easy to give up and purchase a shabby pair that could work okay. 

Cotton is probably the most common fabric used to make sheets and bed linen. Cotton is natural, breathable, biodegradable and feels great next to the skin. There are many types of cotton. The two best quality cottons are Egyptian cotton and Supima cotton.

Lulu & Georgia's Aja Tilghman says: 'Bedsheet material choice really depends on preference. Linen is a great light and airy option that is exceptionally versatile and adapts to all seasons - keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It gets softer over time while maintaining its beautiful natural elegance.  

Make sure you understand the distinction between a duvet and a duvet cover. It might not be easy to distinguish between the two primary components of a duvet set while shopping without prior knowledge. Keep in mind that the duvet is the fluffy blanket contained within the set, and the duvet cover is the warm shell surrounding the duvet. For a complete duvet set, you'll need both.