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Advice & Tips for Better Sleep

Your guide to bedding

Words by  Hannah Young

July 17, 2016

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As we approach summer, hot weather can leave you feeling restless when it comes to bedtime. 100% natural materials, like the ones we use in our Button & Sprung mattresses, are softer, springier and naturally breathable. This means that they allow your body temperature to self-regulate and they also wick away moisture - so you feel rested, fresh and clean when you wake up in the morning. Having the perfect bed doesn’t stop at the base and mattress, bedding is a crucial part of happier snoozing. Here are a few crucial things to bear in mind.
The Secret Linen Store Second Timer Down Bedding
Bed Linen
Thread count rates the durability and smoothness of the fabric, the higher the thread count the better - we recommend using a thread count of 600 or higher. However, the thread count isn't everything, the material type is extremely important too when it comes to bed linen.

 The Sleep Council recommend 100% cotton bedding and light cotton nightwear to keep an all natural bed environment. Going for a cotton-polyester blend is a cheaper option however anything over 30% synthetic can make you sweat and won’t feel as comfortable. 100% cotton blends come in a number of types from basic upland cotton to the more luxurious Pima cotton. If you’re looking to go for that added luxury, opt for Egyptian cotton - the optimum cotton material for making durable, light and sumptuous sheets.
The Secret Linen Store White Luxury 600 Thread Count 100% Cotton Bed Linen
Fibre and fabric types
Bed linen can be made from natural or synthetic fibres – both have pros and cons. The most common man-made fibre is polyester, which is usually combined with cotton. As well as helping the linen to dry more quickly after washing, polyester reduces ironing time. On the downside, it’s not as good as natural fibres at keeping you cool.

Natural fibres include cotton, linen and silk. Breathable, easy to wash and durable, cotton is the most popular natural fibre. Threads are often brushed or combed to increase softness. Egyptian cotton is regarded as one of the best types as it has stronger extra-long fibres that create finer fabric, often with a higher thread count. Pima cotton has similar characteristics.

Linen is made from the flax plant and regulates your temperature as you sleep, being cool in summer while trapping heat in winter. Although it’s hardwearing, it’ll need ironing. Like linen, silk is good for regulating temperature. It can be combined with cotton for increased durability. A reputed beauty benefit is that it helps skin and hair retain moisture.

The Secret Linen Store Feather Duvet Filling
Duvet Composition
Natural Fillings: A natural duvet will offer durable, breathable and thermo-regulating properties. Popular fillings include feathers, down, wool, cotton and silk. If you suffer from allergies but would like a natural duvet, that isn’t to say you can’t have one - in most cases, it is the collection of dust within the duvet rather than the filling itself which individuals are allergic to. This can be combatted by frequent washing of the duvet. Silk filled duvets and high quality, tightly woven natural duvets have added resistance against dust. For a lightweight natural duvet go for one with a higher percentage of down.

Synthetic Fillings: Although synthetic fillings have a shorter lifespan, don’t offer breathability and arguably aren’t as comfortable, they are practical and ideal for allergy sufferers as they require less frequent washing.

 Materials include polyester, such as ‘hollow fibre’ and 'microfibre’. Duvet Casing: A high thread count will prohibit fillings popping out - we’d recommend a thread count of 300 and above to ensure durable ticking.
Duvet weight and TOG rating
Although heavyweight duvets help you feel secure, tucked in and cocooned in your bed, we’d recommend lightweight duvets which offer a cloud like effect, not putting too much pressure on your body as you sleep.

TOG rating is often mistaken as the weight of the duvet however it is actually a rating of how warm the duvet will keep you. The higher the rating, the warmer the duvet.

Average TOG rates vary for each season:

 * Summer: 3 or 4.5 Tog

* Spring/Autumn: 9.0 Tog or 10.5 Tog

* Winter: 13.5 Tog

Rather than having a duvet for each season an attractive solution is purchasing a summer and autumn/spring duvet which can be buttoned together to make a winter tog. (4.5 Tog + 9.0 Tog)
All soft furnishings and bedding featured from The Secret Linen Store