Sheets Buying Guide

The right set of sheets can greatly affect how your bed feels and how well you sleep. But, with so many different types, materials and weights available, it can seem a bit tricky to navigate your way to your dream sheet set. There are many variables to consider, like whether you want fitted sheets or non-fitted bed sheets? Are you wanting sheets for a certain season? Or are you happy with a trans-seasonal sheet set?

Everyone has their own preference when it comes to sheets. At the end of the day, it’s whatever you find comfortable to help you get a good night’s sleep. In this guide, we’re going to go over a sheet buying guide. Along the way, we’ll cover over considerations to steer you in the right direction. Here’s what we’ll touch on: 

How to know when to buy new sheets

Understanding the different styles of sheets

Considerations when deciding on the best sheets

Other tips for buying new sheets

The range of sheets available at Briscoes

Without further ado, let’s unravel our sheets buying guide!

How to know when to buy new sheets

Similar to your other bedding, the best way to know when to buy new sheets is to look out for indicators of wear and tear. Things to keep an eye out for include:

• Holes
• Tears
• Colour fading
• Thinning

How long it takes for these issues to arise will depend on how often you change your sheets, how often you clean your sheets, and whether you rotate your sheets.

In saying that, it’s often recommended that you replace old sheets and buy new ones every two or three years. 

Understanding the different styles of sheets

Brushed cotton flannelette sheets, fitted sheets with wide elastic all the way around or single cotton fitted sheets; there are so many different types and styles to get your head around. The variety of sheets available makes sense, given that everyone has their own idea of comfort. The best way to find your ideal sheet set is by doing a bit of research.

Considerations when deciding on the best sheets

Now that you better understand the different sheet types, it’s time to determine which one best suits your sleeping style. There are many reasons you may decide to choose one fabric or sheet brand over another. Here are some of the main considerations. 

Thread count and GSM

Although thread count and GSM are two separate measurements for sheets, the two will often indicate similar things. Thread count is the total number of threads per square inch of material, whereas GSM is an acronym for grams per square meter. It’s often said that the higher the thread count, the better the quality of the sheet. Similarly, a sheet set is often seen as higher quality if it has a high GSM. 

Yes, both of these measurements can indicate durability and how warm a sheet set may be, but it’s also important not to compare apples to oranges. Certain styles of sheets will have different ranges of thread counts and GSM depending on the material they’re made from. 

The seasons

Sure, some people prefer to switch out their sheets for the seasons, but if you choose the right kind of sheet set, you can stick with it all year round. Whether you’re going for fitted sheets or non-fitted bedsheets, it can be good to know which side of the fence you’re on before you begin looking. 

If you want to buy suitable sheets all year round, read our helpful guide that explores trans-seasonal layering.

Any allergies

If you know you have allergies due to dust mites, for example, it's essential to take the time to research which hypoallergenic sheets are best for you. Each allergy is different, so it can be helpful to understand your specific allergy to see if there are any suggestions for sheet sets. More often than not, you’ll want to choose a synthetic sheet, like microfibre or polyester. 

Certification

When considering the impact of a duvet on the environment, you’ll want to look out for GOT certifications or OCT certifications. GOT stands for Global Organic Textile Standard, whereas OCS stands for Organic Content Standard. 

GOTs certification

To get a GOT certification, sheets must be made with at least 95% organic fibres. Unless it’s made from between 70% and 95% organic fibres, the GOTs label will read ‘GOTS made with X%’.

OCT certification

If you see sheet sets with the OCS 100 logo, the sheets are made up of at least 95% organic material. If a set of sheets have an OCS Blended logo, they are made from a minimum of 5% organic material. 

Other tips for buying new sheets

As we mentioned earlier, there is a lot to consider when choosing a new sheet set. Some other buying tips include:

• Measure your bed before you begin looking for new sheets
• If you’re buying sheets in store, check the label and stitching
• Look up online reviews to hear other people’s experiences

Whether you’re buying new fitted sheets for a children’s bed or even super king fitted sheets, it’s also important to consider your duvet inner. For example, if you’re looking to buy cool sheets for summer, you’re going to need a more breathable duvet inner as well. Read our guide to duvet inners for everything you need to know about your duvet. 

The range of sheets available at Briscoes

At Briscoes, we’ve got all of the sheet styles we’ve mentioned in this guide, from flannelette sheets to linen sheets and everything in between. We've also got all sizes covered if you need sheets for a double bed, super king fitted sheets or even fitted sheets for children’s beds. Another way to browse our range of sheets is by brand. We’re proud to stock leading sheet set brands, including: 

• Classic Living
• Fieldcrest
• Royal Doulton
• Gracious Living
• Poppiseed
• Hilton
• Hotel @ Home
• Kas
• Esprit
• Royal Albert
• UrbanLoft
• Cuddledown
• Galaxy

Each brand will come with its own style and benefits. But you can be assured that all of the brands of sheets that we supply at Briscoes are of the highest quality. 

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about buying sheets.

What is a good thread count for sheets? 

This will depend on what you want from our sheets. As we’ve mentioned, a higher thread count and GSM can indicate that a sheet is more durable and heavy. However, it’s important not to compare different sheet styles, as every material is made up of different fibres with unique properties. 

How do I find the right size sheets?

If you’re unsure what size sheets you need to buy, the best thing to do is find out the size of your bed. This should be on your mattress's label. Otherwise, you can measure its dimensions to determine its size. 

Ready to buy new sheets?

With a bit of homework and following our simple tips, purchasing your next sheet set will be a breeze. Whether you’re looking for seasonal bedding with flannelette sheets in winter, or trans-seasonal cotton for snoozing all year round, Briscoes has you covered. You can shop from our extensive range of sheets online or pop into your local Briscoes store. Our helpful Briscoes team will be happy to help point you in the right direction.  If you’d like more advice on choosing manchester and bedding, check out our guide to duvet inners or guide to protecting your mattress.