What Is Bedding?
Bedding refers to the bedsheets, blankets, pillows, and other bed accouterments that people use to cover and protect their mattresses. Types of bedding include mattress covers, fitted sheets, flat sheets, pillowcases, comforters, shams, quilts, and bed skirts. You can purchase individual bed coverings or as part of a bedding set, like a comforter set (a comforter, a sham, a bed skirt, and throw pillows) or a sheet set (a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases). Bedding is important because it provides warmth, impacts sleep quality, protects your mattress, and can promote good hygiene.
11 Types of Bedding
There are different types of bedding many people use for practical and decorative purposes. Some common types of bedding are:
- Bed skirt: A bed skirt is the material that covers the bottom of the bed frame and extends to the floor, which can stylishly hide storage space or box springs.
- Bedspread: A decorative bed cover that serves as the top layer over the entire bedding setup. Bedspreads are useful for people who like to protect their bedding from elements like dust or odors.
- Blanket: A blanket is a long piece of soft woven fabric often used as a bed covering. Blankets are available in various fabric types, including microfiber (a blend of polyester and nylon), wool, polyester, satin, and other synthetic materials.
- Comforter: A comforter is a slightly thicker, padded blanket that lays on top of the other bedding for extra warmth. There are many options for these types of bedding, and while many like to opt for down comforters, there are other down alternatives, like rayon or polyester.
- Coverlet: A coverlet is a bed covering that features a decorative woven design. It does not cover the entire bed, usually hanging just low enough to cover the bed’s bottom.
- Duvet: A duvet is a thicker version of a comforter. It’s a soft, fabric bag filled with down feathers or synthetic material. Most people will buy a duvet cover to protect the duvet or for decorative purposes.
- Fitted sheets: A fitted sheet, or bottom sheet, is a bedding type that fits snugly around the mattress (or mattress covering). They come in deep pocket versions for deeper width mattresses.
- Flat sheets: Flat sheets, or top sheets, are bedding that goes over the fitted sheet, leaving the top end open. This thin sheet can serve as a light blanket in warmer weather.
- Mattress cover: A mattress cover encases the mattress, protecting it from dust mites, spills, bed bugs, mold, and even regulating temperature. Selecting a hypoallergenic mattress cover is optimal for those with allergies as it can help protect against allergens. Mattress covers help keep your mattress free from excess body soil and sweat.
- Quilts: A quilt is a quilted blanket that is flatter than a comforter and lays more flush against the bed. You can use a quilt as a blanket, but they are usually not as warm as their fluffier comforter cousins.
- Pillows: The two main types of pillows are sleeping pillows and throw pillows. Sleeping pillows are the ones you sleep on at night, which are usually covered by a pillowcase for protection or pillow sham (a decorative pillowcase that hides your pillows). Throw pillows are decorative pillows available in different colors and styles to accentuate parts of a room.
How Bedding Affects Sleep
The right bedding can contribute to a good night’s sleep, but the wrong bedding can negatively affect sleep quality. Here are some ways that bedding affects sleep:
- It can irritate your skin. Bedsheets that are too coarse or made from harsh synthetic fibers can irritate your skin or exacerbate existing skin conditions, making it hard for you to get comfortable and relax at night.
- It can trap too much heat. Some people are prone to overheating at night while they sleep, leading to excess sweating and dehydration. Being too warm while you sleep can make you toss and turn in search of comfort or take in more fluids to regulate your body heat, resulting in frequent bathroom trips throughout the night.
- It can’t keep you warm. While overheating in the night might be a problem for some, others may be more sensitive to the cold. If you use too many breathable fabrics, you may find yourself struggling to get warm at night, leading to lower sleep quality.
4 Tips For Choosing Your Bedding
When it comes to setting up your bed, try to find the best quality option in your budget because bedding can majorly impact your sleep quality. Many factors can influence your bedding purchase, such as:
- Comfort: The material and weave of the fabric used to make bedding can play a significant role in how comfortable it feels. Thread counts refer to the number of woven threads in a square inch of fabric, ranging from 100 to 1,000. Typically, the higher the thread count, the softer a sheet will feel. The numbers on the lower range may feel coarser because the weaving is looser. However, high thread count sheets are usually more expensive and don’t always equate to quality, as some manufacturers inflate the number to sell it at a higher price point. Experts generally recommend purchasing bedding in the 200–400 thread count range for best results.
- Breathability: When purchasing new bedding, keep your preferred sleeping temperature in mind. If you usually run hot while you sleep, focus on buying more breathable fabrics. Conversely, if you’re prone to chilliness at night, you might want to include at least one synthetic layer that can help trap in some body heat.
- Hypoallergenic: People with allergies may benefit from bedding with antimicrobial properties. By choosing materials that are naturally resistant to dust mites and mold, you can have a more comfortable night’s sleep.
- Quality: It may be tempting to purchase an inexpensive, visually appealing sheet set, but an investment in your bedding can change the quality of your sleep, which can benefit your health in the long-term by giving you a more comfortable place to rest.
