It's a strange disconnect. Even though most of us are fine spending the necessary cash on a great pair of shoes or a well-made jacket, we often neglect our sheets—an item we use everyday. Our sheets are so deeply personal, so much so we share them with the people we have sex with. And speaking of such occasions, you really don't want to be the guy with ratty sheets when you have an overnight guest.
Perhaps you've even considered buying some quality bedding. When you're doing laundry, for example, and you try to remember how long you've had these particular linens. Can't remember? Then you're due for a new set. Trust us, you'll sleep better because of it. Oh, and forget about thread count. Most experts we've talked with agree that it's essentially a marketing ploy. Quality 250-thread-count sheets can be a lot softer than cheap 900-thread-count sets, which often feel like sandpaper. Forget the numbers and just go with what feels good. Herewith, sheet sets that are as cool as the other side of the pillow.
Want it soft and smooth?
Go with sateen.
Sateen sheets are extremely soft with a slight sheen—smooth and silky without actually being made with silk or giving off that sleazy bachelor pad vibe. Brooklinen's made a name for themselves by offering a range of colors and patterns, cut from a quality long-staple cotton sateen, for a reasonable price.
Luxe Core sateen sheet set,
from $129 by Brooklinen
Going for a
high-end hotel feel?
Make it pima cotton.
Peru Pima is a brand that manufactures bedding for such hotel chains as Marriott and Westin,and they also sell for affordable prices via Amazon. Their pima cotton sheets are constructed with a single ply sateen weave for a soft, smooth feel. But the big sell here is that these are built to balance body temperature by absorbing and releasing heat.
Peruvian Pima cotton sheet set,
from $74.99 by Peru Pima
Want it
light and breathable?
Go with linen.
Linen sheets are ideal for warm weather or particularly hot sleepers because it stands up nicely to humidity and is naturally moisture-wicking. Upstate's linen sheets are spun and woven on traditional looms in Portugal and come in shades of navy or smoke grey if you want something a little sexier than standard white. If you haven't slept in linen sheets before, the texture isn't as smooth as standard cotton, but this stonewashed set gets even softer with every wash.
Stonewashed linen sheet set,
from $258 by Upstate
Like the lightness, but not linen's texture?
Go hybrid.
If you're not a fan of the relaxed, rumpled texture of linen but still want a lightweight and breathable set of sheets, this is set from Casper is tailor-made for you. This set is made from a lightweight hybrid twill with a "smooth, feathery feel." And like all Casper products, the company offers a 100-night trial, so if you don't like them, you can send them back for a full refund, no questions ask.
Weightless cotton sheet set,
from $75 by Casper
Like it crisp and cool?
Try percale.
When it comes to sheets, percale is generally recognized as the gold standard. The word "percale" refers to the namesake tight weave used to produce the sheet and not the material it's made from. This set, from luxury Portuguese linen brand Amalia, is made from 100% certified Giza Egyptian cotton that is as durable as it is smooth (meaning it will stand up to plenty of washings). Its resilience also means that it will stay crisp and cool to the touch all night long.
Percale sheet set,
from $390 by Amalia Home
FYI
Avoid wrinkles by taking your sheets out of the dryer while they're still warm (and the slightest bit damp). Then, put them back on the bed immediately. Trust us, it's almost as good as ironing.