Expert Tips on Choosing Bedding for Every Type of Sleeper
Is your bedding preventing you from getting a good night's rest?
Best for children
According to Rui Wen from new Singapore-based bedding and homeware brand Annette, children’s bedding should be “natural, breathable and lightweight”.
“Linen is an all natural fabric made from flax fibres and is known to have temperature-regulating properties, due to the hollow nature of the flax fibres,” she explains.
“This ensures that there is no overheating and children stay cool and dry throughout the night, this in turn reduces the chance of bacteria build-up.”
According to Rui Wen from new Singapore-based bedding and homeware brand Annette, children’s bedding should be “natural, breathable and lightweight”.
“Linen is an all natural fabric made from flax fibres and is known to have temperature-regulating properties, due to the hollow nature of the flax fibres,” she explains.
“This ensures that there is no overheating and children stay cool and dry throughout the night, this in turn reduces the chance of bacteria build-up.”
Clara Teo and Alex Fan from Sunday Bedding believe that organic cotton is the best choice for kids. “The best bed linen is all natural, so that means organic cotton with natural dye,” says Teo. She also suggests checking if the manufacturer has run lab tests “to make sure there are no pollutants”.
Best for sensitive skin
“Linen is known to have natural hypoallergenic properties, which means linen sheets are unlikely to trigger allergies that keep one up at night,” explains Wen.
“Also, due to its moisture wicking properties, linen sheets do tend to dry more quickly than cotton ones which helps to prevent bacteria from building up.”
“Linen is known to have natural hypoallergenic properties, which means linen sheets are unlikely to trigger allergies that keep one up at night,” explains Wen.
“Also, due to its moisture wicking properties, linen sheets do tend to dry more quickly than cotton ones which helps to prevent bacteria from building up.”
Teo agrees that linen – and 100 per cent cotton – are best for sleepers with sensitive skin.
“For those with sensitive skin, we recommend fully natural fabrics as polyester blends that use synthetic base materials can potentially irritate the skin,” says Teo.
“Linen sheets in particular are also non-static, hypoallergenic and more resistant to dust mites.”
Why you should make your bed every day
“For those with sensitive skin, we recommend fully natural fabrics as polyester blends that use synthetic base materials can potentially irritate the skin,” says Teo.
“Linen sheets in particular are also non-static, hypoallergenic and more resistant to dust mites.”
Why you should make your bed every day
Best for a luxe hotel feel
Interior stylist Caroline Chin-Geyler from Arete Culture says white Egyptian cotton is her choice. “I love Sleep Naked [from Hong Kong], which is the brand I use for most of my home makeovers,” says Chin-Geyler.
“This is the same brand that many leading hotels around the world use. There’s nothing better than crisp white sheets to elevate your sleep experience.”
Interior stylist Caroline Chin-Geyler from Arete Culture says white Egyptian cotton is her choice. “I love Sleep Naked [from Hong Kong], which is the brand I use for most of my home makeovers,” says Chin-Geyler.
“This is the same brand that many leading hotels around the world use. There’s nothing better than crisp white sheets to elevate your sleep experience.”
“Bamboo is incredibly soft and pliable and has a texture that is often compared to satin! It drapes beautifully so it is also great for those who like an elegant and luxurious look,” says Teo.
13 bed frame styles to choose from
13 bed frame styles to choose from
Best for sustainability
When it comes to sleepers who are into sustainable practices and being environmentally friendly, Chin-Geyler suggests choosing organic cotton, bamboo, or tencel.
When it comes to sleepers who are into sustainable practices and being environmentally friendly, Chin-Geyler suggests choosing organic cotton, bamboo, or tencel.
Wen elaborates why linen is a green resource: “The cultivation of the flax plant is considered environmentally friendly as it requires less water, pesticide, and energy as compared to the cultivation of the cotton plant or the production of other synthetic fabrics.
“Also, every part of the flax plant can be processed into worthwhile products, such as flax seeds and linseed oil, which means nothing is wasted. In terms of durability, linen is 30 per cent stronger than cotton, and can last for a longer time if cared for properly, thereby reducing the need for the sheets to be replaced frequently,” she says.
“At Sunday Bedding, we believe that for sustainability in the future, we must invest in diversifying our fibre choices,” explains Teo.
“Currently, cotton and polyester make up 85 per cent of the world’s fibre production. Cultivating 1 kilo of cotton draws on as much as 3,800 litres of water and cultivating organic cotton requires even more water due to their lower agricultural yields.”
Sunday Bedding recommends bamboo or linen for their production processes use less water and pesticides. “Bamboo is a sustainable crop as it is a fast growing crop which requires no fertiliser,” says Teo. “Additionally, our bamboo sheets are manufactured at our factories where we hold very high standards for water disposal – the water that our factories release at the end of the process is completely potable.”
“Currently, cotton and polyester make up 85 per cent of the world’s fibre production. Cultivating 1 kilo of cotton draws on as much as 3,800 litres of water and cultivating organic cotton requires even more water due to their lower agricultural yields.”
Sunday Bedding recommends bamboo or linen for their production processes use less water and pesticides. “Bamboo is a sustainable crop as it is a fast growing crop which requires no fertiliser,” says Teo. “Additionally, our bamboo sheets are manufactured at our factories where we hold very high standards for water disposal – the water that our factories release at the end of the process is completely potable.”
Best for non air-conditioned bedrooms
If you prefer to sleep with the fan, choose linen.
“Linen is known to have natural temperature-regulating properties,” says Wen.
“It can absorb up to 20 per cent of its weight before feeling damp, and can release the moisture quickly to the air to keep the sheets cool and dry.”
If you prefer to sleep with the fan, choose linen.
“Linen is known to have natural temperature-regulating properties,” says Wen.
“It can absorb up to 20 per cent of its weight before feeling damp, and can release the moisture quickly to the air to keep the sheets cool and dry.”
According to Chin-Geyler if you don’t use air-conditioning you need to wash your sheets more often. “I would then recommend cotton or organic cotton because these sheets hold up well with frequent washing,” she says.
The team at Sunday Bedding recommend “either linen or bamboo”. “Bamboo is very cooling to touch and is also moisture wicking – great for those that sweat easily. Linen warms when it is cold, and cools in the summer. It is also highly absorbent,” says Teo.
The team at Sunday Bedding recommend “either linen or bamboo”. “Bamboo is very cooling to touch and is also moisture wicking – great for those that sweat easily. Linen warms when it is cold, and cools in the summer. It is also highly absorbent,” says Teo.
Best for air-conditioned bedrooms
What’s your sleeping body temperature?
“If you sleep warm (where you sweat a lot in your sleep), then choose a cooler fabric like bamboo or even a cotton-tencel blend,” explains Chin-Geyler. “If you sleep cold (where you get cold easily), jersey or flannel sheets are soft to the touch and will keep you extra warm.”
What’s your sleeping body temperature?
“If you sleep warm (where you sweat a lot in your sleep), then choose a cooler fabric like bamboo or even a cotton-tencel blend,” explains Chin-Geyler. “If you sleep cold (where you get cold easily), jersey or flannel sheets are soft to the touch and will keep you extra warm.”
“We would lean towards cotton as cotton is slightly more weighty,” says Teo. “Linen is another option as it has the ability to warm when it is cold, and retain the heat and warmth from your body.”
Caring for linen
Wen says that linen fibres are strong, making linen sheets easy to maintain.
“The key is to wash the linen sheets with a mild detergent and on a gentle cycle,” she offers. Putting them in the dryer on low heat will help make them softer and fluffier.
Wen says that linen fibres are strong, making linen sheets easy to maintain.
“The key is to wash the linen sheets with a mild detergent and on a gentle cycle,” she offers. Putting them in the dryer on low heat will help make them softer and fluffier.
And Chin-Geyler agrees. “If you like a rumpled, lived in look, you can opt for linen bedding, which is all the rage at the moment,” she says.
“It’s also easy to care for because you don’t have to iron the sheets. Look for stone-washed linen if you prefer a softer ‘handfeel’ as linen can sometimes feel rougher and more textured than other bed linens.”
“It’s also easy to care for because you don’t have to iron the sheets. Look for stone-washed linen if you prefer a softer ‘handfeel’ as linen can sometimes feel rougher and more textured than other bed linens.”
“Cotton is always a classic and can withstand multiple washes – great for those that would like to machine wash and dry and do not want to worry about throwing the sheets in the machine with other types of fabric,” says Teo.
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Bedding terms explained