Monday April 27 2009

E asing your weary body into a bed made with crisp, clean sheets must surely rate as one of life’s best pleasures. Sure, it’s a household essential, but beautiful bedlinen definitely qualifies as a luxury buy and, happily, it’s one most of us can afford. Today, there are thousands of great sheet sets, quilt covers, pillowcases and bedding accessories on the market. You may be a stickler for that enduring favourite, classic white cotton (more than half of all sets sold in Myer department stores are white), but the options are virtually endless: from embroidered details to tempting textures and of course, a veritable rainbow of colour and pattern. After all, bedlinen is fashion for the bedroom.

Before you buy
It sounds elementary, but are you certain that your mattress is a standard size? Measure up before buying.

After that, it’s important to consider comfort. “Think about how you like to sleep,” advises Sue Morris, Design Director at Melbourne-based Linen House. “Will you want a top sheet? Not everyone does. An airconditioned or centrally heated house will also determine the feel and level of warmth you require from your bedlinen.”


Fabric: finer points
Australians are increasingly favouring pure cotton, says Myer’s Bedlinen Category Buyer, Rebecca Fanelli, but that’s not to suggest that poly-cotton sheets don’t have their place. “If you’re looking for easy care and affordability, a blend could be the way to go,” she says.

While traditional cotton and poly-cotton blends dominate, there are some other interesting offerings on the market. Aura, for example, produces sheets and quilt covers in a fabric called Coolamante, which is a blend of cotton and a new form of polyester developed in Japan that results in a feel similar to silk.

Thread counts
Thread count simply refers to the number of threads that are woven into a 10cm square of fabric. But not all threads are equal. Single-ply fabrics use a single thread, while two-ply fabrics consist of two strands of thread twisted together. And it’s here that confusion can strike.

“Just because you’re buying 300 thread-count sheets doesn’t mean you’re receiving the best quality of yarn,” says Sheridan general manager, Paul Gould. A general rule is that price point and quality usually tally.

On trend
Expect to see more charcoals and chocolate-toned quilt covers and bedding accessories alongside the staple taupes and whites, says Fanelli. “There is a masculine element to the designs of the moment,” she says.

Sheridan is producing bedding inspired by the looks from the boardroom. “This season, there are a lot of designs based on men’s suiting – pinstripes, paisleys and so on,” adds Gould.

But that’s not the only option. “Gold, silver and bronze metallics are prominent this winter, too” says Morris.