Ask yourself honestly; when was the last time you bought brand new bed sheets? Many people keep their bedding for years on end, slowly wearing them down in the wash and ruining their warmth and softness. What you thought were fine bed sheets 5 years ago might not be anymore.

Maybe you’ve been putting off buying new bedding. Coming to loggerheads in a store with a partner over potential sheets or the mumbo jumbo about thread counts and different types of cotton may have put you off. But you spend almost a third of your life between the sheets; surely you deserve some great bedding after a long, hard day? Quality bed sheets are definitely worth investing in, they will offer a good night’s sleep and durability. And choosing from the wealth of styles and materials on the market might not be as confusing as you first thought.

Cotton is the most common bedding material. There are many different varieties of cotton of different finishes and qualities. 100% cotton is a general term used to describe any cotton of a non-premium quality. Organic cotton is an eco-friendly alternative to regular cotton, since it won’t have been cultivated using fertilizers or pesticides.

Egyptian Cotton has been the most desirable bedding for some time because of its luxurious soft feel and its durability. But just 8% of global cotton produced comes from the same species as the plant used to make Egyptian Cotton. The long fibres within this cotton make yarns that are smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller yarn means that there will be more threads per square inch, creating a stronger fabric which is light in weight and breathes well. Egyptian Cotton is available in a sateen finish which provides a slight sheen to the fabric.

Silk sheets have a strong shine to them along with a soft feel. They are very expensive however, and not as warm as Egyptian Cotton sheets. Mulberry silk is where the silk worms which spin the silk are provided with a diet of Mulberry leaves, which creates a softer feeling material. Satin sheets provide the same sheen as silk but are less costly and less durable. They are also quite cool to the touch however, so unless you have a very warm home both are mainly suitable for summer use.

Modal is a tough fabric created from beech pulp blended with cotton. There are also bamboo bed sheets, which blend the fast-growing Asian plant with cotton for an eco-friendly bedding.

In cotton sheets the thread count shows how many threads have been used to make 54 inches. A higher thread-count usually indicates a more luxurious and smoother feeling material. Higher thread counts are typically warmer, and industry experts suggest choosing sheets of no less than a 200 thread count.

Crisp new bed sheets are the perfect Christmas gift for the person who has everything. They are the home furnishing used the most, yet least often replaced. Or how about treating yourself this Christmas? Sheets are the present nobody ever receives yet everybody needs. Snuggling down in some high-thread count Egyptian Cotton bed sheets makes a great way to stay warm this winter.