The best bedding for cold winter includes flannel or brushed cotton sheets, down or wool comforters, and layered blankets. These materials provide warmth and comfort for a cozy night's sleep.
In general, experts recommend flannel, fleece or cotton sateen sheets during cold nights, as they can be made from materials that trap body heat and provide greater insulation for cold nights.
In general, experts recommend flannel, fleece or cotton sateen sheets during cold nights, as they can be made from materials that trap body heat and provide greater insulation for cold nights.
Linen is a popular choice and is quite breathable, whereas other materials have moisture-wicking and temperature-regulation properties. After sleeping on nearly every sheet there is for weeks, I've concluded that linen and cotton percale make some of the best cooling sheets.
Typically, percale and sateen weaves are best suited for cooling and soft sheets as they are more breathable and lightweight.
If breathability is your biggest concern, go for sheets made of a natural fiber like cotton. Within the cotton category, percale sheets are the crispest and most lightweight of all the bedding thanks to its plain weave, and they feel the coolest to me.
Goose-down duvets and comforters are ideal for cold weather. They are soft, lightweight, and have excellent insulating properties. Down is located under the geese' and duck's feathers and it serves as a protective cover that's light and fluffy. It also offers insulation that keeps the animal warm.
Cotton bed sheets
Cotton is a staple when it comes to warm sheets for winter, thanks to its softness, breathability, and durability. In short, cotton sheets help regulate your body temperature while you sleep, so you can stay warm without overheating.
For cold sleepers, down comforters are often the top choice. Filled with soft, insulating goose or duck down, these comforters provide exceptional warmth without being too heavy. Down naturally traps heat, creating a fluffy and breathable barrier that keeps you cozy while maintaining the ideal sleep temperature.
Materials like wool and fleece are the best at retaining heat, but any blanket that is knitted should keep you toasty no matter what material it's made from. This is because the spaces between the yarn fibres trap the warmth of your body and stop the heat from escaping.
Blankets made of cooling materials (like cotton, bamboo, and eucalyptus) are breathable, so they promote airflow and wick away sweat to keep you cool. Blankets made with cooling technology are designed to absorb and release heat, so they actively cool you down and regulate your body temperature as you sleep.
The best bedding for night sweats are 100% cotton sheets or 100% linen sheets, which are highly breathable and moisture wicking, helping you to sleep better.
Flannelette - the OG winter warmer.
Loved for its insulating qualities, flannelette is a fabric best suited for cool climates and equally chilly sleepers. Its incredible heat storing properties lie in the magic of its fibres, with the soft, fluffy thread working to trap pockets of air like your own personal insulation.
Bamboo sheets are usually cooler than cotton because they're naturally breathable and wick moisture from your skin. Bamboo's structure allows for better air circulation, helping to regulate body temperature and keep you cooler. Cotton is also breathable but might not keep you as cool as bamboo will.
Look for five or six ounce flannel duvet covers for the warmest bedding for winter. Unlike cotton sateen and jersey knit, which can be used year-round, cotton flannel is best reserved for fall and winter nights.
As mentioned, the coolest comforters will have a naturally breathable cover material like cotton or bamboo, as well as a lightweight fill made of gel-infused fibers or polyester down alternative.
Cooling sheets are made from breathable fabrics, such as bamboo, cotton, or TENCEL™. All are excellent at temperature control. They work by drawing heat away from the body and dispersing it to improve airflow. Most cooling sheets derive their unique properties from the fabric, thread count, and weave.
Duvets tend to be thicker, heavier, and warmer than comforters. The loft will be affected by the fill materials and how frequently you fluff it, while both the fill and cover materials can influence the warmth. Comforters are usually thinner than duvets, so they're often not as warm.
So, during the summer months, or all the time if you prefer a cooler sleep, opt for white or light bed sheets and duvet covers. White bed sheets also emulate hotel style luxury, so your bed will feel crisp, fresh and cool.
Instead, hotels focus on choosing bed sheets woven from single-ply and long-staple cotton, usually with a percale weave. A thread count of around 200+ for a percale weave or 300+ for a sateen weave feels suitably luxurious, and is often the weight that high-end hotels will use.
What temperature should a bedroom be? Your body heat peaks late afternoon and then starts to drop in the evening to prepare your body for sleep, kickstarting melatonin production. An ideal bedroom temperature is around 16-18°C (60-65°F).