Hot summer days call for cool nights, tucked beneath the crisp, cool weave of linen.
Linen bedding boasts wonderful properties for sustainability, breathability, and, of course, a unique textural charm.
Linen vs. Cotton
Although linen lovers will tell you that linen is the way to go, the decision is ultimately up to personal preference and style, as both cotton and linen offer comfort and restful sleep. Care, appearance, and feel are three important factors to consider when deciding on your next bed linens.
Care Both cotton and linen are easy to care for. Linen is particularly fabulous because it gets softer and stronger with each laundering. Linen wrinkles easily and is for those who either don't mind ironing their bed linens, or who appreciate the tousled, natural look.
Appearance The finished look of linen is natural elegance that is tousled to perfection. If starchy, “stand at attention” bedding is your style, consider investing in cotton bed linens.
Feel Linen has a crisp, open weave and manages moisture well, making it an excellent solution for hot sleepers. If you like silky-smooth sheets, linen may feel too grainy against your skin, even at its finest quality.
Design tip: Linen blends are an amazing way to get the both of both worlds. Linen can be blended Eucalyptus-based Lyocell, as found in our satiny-smooth Veritae bed linens, which combine the best properties of both fabrics to achieve different feels. It can also be blended with silks and cotton for interesting textural designs, like our Oro and Sedona linens.
Shopping for Linen
Origin Although many companies boast, "Belgian Linen," we have not found this to be an absolute indicator of quality. Instead look for linen from companies with good reputations for quality products.
Slubs Because of its natural finish, linen always has slubs present in the weave. When looking for linen for bedding only small, minimal slubs should be present, leaving it with a smooth finish.
Threadcount Because linen fibers, (and therefore linen yarns) are thicker than cotton, even the highest quality linen has a low thread count. It is not an accurate way to gauge linen quality, so don't be concerned if you can't find a thread count on that linen you've been eyeing!
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