Deciding on the topic for this “Worth the Splurge” was challenging! As I was laying in bed one morning, though, I thought – I should do it on sheets! Did you know that we spend 25-30% of our lives in bed? Wow, that’s a lot of time when you think about it! The most comfortable place in our house, then, should definitely be our beds.

Cotton Fibers and Sheets
I decided to do a little research on sheets and their materials before writing this post. Do you know that there are six types of cotton fibers used in bedding? They are Egyptian cotton, Pima cotton, Supima, Sea Island cotton, intermediate staple cotton, and short staple cotton.
Egyptian cotton has the longest staple in the world and produces fine, luxurious fabric. Pima cotton is one of the best quality cottons grown in America. It has a long-staple, and provides a luxurious, strong fiber. Supima cotton is a trademarked product that means that the item is 100% American Pima cotton. Sea Island cotton is the finest of all cottons. It’s very rare, silky, and white, with an extra-long staple. Sea Island cotton is grown in the West Indies and the islands off the Carolinas and Georgian coast. Intermediate cotton is used for bedding with up to a 230 thread count. Short staple cotton is commonly used in bedding originating from Asian countries.
Linen, Silk, Modal, and Bamboo?
Cotton is the most common fiber used in sheets. It’s all-season, easy to care for, and affordable. They also come in a variety of other materials such as silk, linen, modal, and even bamboo. Linen bedding, especially Belgian linen, is becoming really popular. The quilt and pillow shams on my bed are of Belgian linen. A set of linen sheets is high on my “wish list.” I’ve heard that they are great in the summer.

How Important Is Thread Count?
Most people think the most important factor when evaluating sheets is the thread count. Thread count is useful information, but the type of cotton fiber they’re made of is more important. Longer cotton staples are stronger and feel softer than shorter ones.
When buying sheets, it’s recommended you look for sheets made of Egyptian, Pima, or Supima, and a minimum of 200 thread count. If you’re looking at thread counts over 400, be sure to get them from a high-quality manufacturer. Less reputable manufacturers increase their thread count by piling the yarn which creates an inferior product.
My Quest For Perfect Sheets
I bought my first set of high-thread count sheets from Costco. They were a good bargain for such a high-thread count, but not really what I was looking for. They were thin and came untucked easily. My next set was from Bed, Bath, & Beyond. This set was similar to the Costco ones, though. So, my quest for the perfect sheets continued.
Save This Recipe!
Enter Pottery Barn. I’d long been a fan of theirs and owned a fair amount of Pottery Barn table linens, towels, and bedding. One day, I ordered a set of their 400 thread count sheets. At the time, they were a splurge. When they arrived, I noticed they seemed about twice as heavy as the Costco brand, even though the thread count was the same. Over time, they became softer and velvety. Although I had other sets of sheets, these quickly because my favorites, and eventually I quit rotating them. I would wash them in the morning and put them back on the bed that evening.

Loving These New Sheets
We upgrade in size to a Cal-King bed when we moved into our new house. This meant I needed to purchase all new bedding. So, I looked online to see which sheets I’d bought previously from Pottery Barn. I was really surprised to see that they were already 6 years old! Luckily, I was able to get them in the size I needed. It only took a few months of use and washing for them to feel as soft and velvety as our old ones.
UPDATED: Last year we painted our bedroom, which prompted me to change our bedding. I decided to change the bedding from ivory and white. While at Pottery Barn, I saw these sheets and bought them. Wow! They are even nicer than our 400-thread-count organic sheets. So, now we have a new favorite set of sheets.
Sweet dreams!
For tips on how to make your bed look stunning, visit here: https://www.potterybarn.com/tips-and-ideas/how-to-make-a-bed/. By the way, I am not affiliated with Pottery Barn and receive no absolutely no compensation from them.
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