What Is Thread Count?
By the Staff at Home Bedroom Decor
When it comes to bedding, the name of the game is the higher thread count sheets have, the better. So, you might be wondering what thread count is and what it might have to do with luxury bedding. Well, the answer is simple and we’ll get to that in just a moment. Before we do that, let’s discuss what kinds of bedding and sheets there are. The materials used for bedding are quite varied. While cotton sheets are certainly the most common, they may not be the most luxurious, depending upon thread count. Then, there are also satin, flannel and silk sheets. These are all different options for different sleeping set-ups.
Now, there are things like bamboo and other exotic materials being used for bed sheets. It’s true, you can find not only bedding but clothing made from bamboo fibers. This material has many beneficial properties. It is not only more environmentally friendly to use as a fabric because of the nature of how bamboo grows and is harvested, but it is also a durable material as well. Bamboo is a hardy plant and can be grown and harvested using very sustainable practices. It can be safer for your skin as well because of its hypoallergenic nature.
Let’s talk a bit about cotton sheets again. The thing that you hear is that you must get those high thread count sheets. But, you might not really know what that means. Actually, it can be a bit deceptive too because of certain practices. Basically, it means how many threads per square inch make up the fabric. Higher is better because it gives a more dense and luxurious feeling. They are also more expensive because of this. High thread counts would be things like 800 and 1,000 thread count sheets. Now, sometimes, there are companies that will call theirs 800 thread count, when in reality they are not.
How do they get away with this? Well, what they do is have a two-ply 400 count sheet. This way, they can claim it as 800. Technically, they are okay, but this really isn’t what the higher counts are meant to represent. Also, you’ll hear things about Egyptian cotton. This is another one of those things that gets copied. This is because we have all heard the term Egyptian cotton. What it is is cotton that is traditionally grown in a certain place along the Nile. It has a longer grain to it and it gives a very dense and plush feeling cotton thread and hence fabric. It is still the gold standard when it comes to high thread count sheets. Because of this, there are copy cat types that claim the same luxury feel. Don’t be fooled, these are not the original high thread count sheets.
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