What are filament fibers? Some of the most common ones used for satin are silk, nylon, and polyester. Traditionally, satin was only made with silk but modern materials like nylon and polyester are now used, too. Staple fibers include materials like cotton and rayon, which are used for sateen.

Thread count is another important factor, but not in the way it is popularly conceived. The common knowledge about thread count is that higher is always better, but that’s not always true. In fact, brands selling sheets with astronomically high thread counts in the thousands are usually fudging the numbers with double-ply threads or other sly methods.

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.

And finally, brushed cotton is for those looking for something in the middle in terms of cooling/heat-retaining qualities. To turn cotton into brushed cotton, the fabric undergoes a couple of extra treatments that result in the softest flannel-like bedlinen. While both percale and sateen sheets may take a few washes to become more supple and soft, a new set of brushed cotton bedding feels like you’ve slept in it forever. It is a great year-round option because it won’t warm or cool you down excessively.

For more affordable options, expensive cotton fabrics are often blended with lower-quality variants to manage costs. Check the label for the cotton composition before purchasing to ensure you know exactly what you’re getting.

Bolster Pillow