By Elissa Sanci
Elissa Sanci is a writer on the discovery team. She has found that clear ice makes carbonated drinks taste better, and citronella candles don’t work.
It all starts with a comfortable mattress, the foundation of a good night’s sleep. Once that major purchase is out of the way, it’s time to focus on what goes on top: crisp sheets, the best comforters, and snuggly bed pillows. But scrolling through a home goods site in search of the best sheets and comforters can be overwhelming. With endless fabric, color, style, and price options, everything’s all wrapped up in bedding jargon that can be difficult to decipher. To cut through it all and help simplify things, we asked staff writer Jackie Reeve, who covers bed and bath for Wirecutter, to share some advice on what you need to create the perfect nighttime setup.
How to pick the perfect sheets on sale
Pick your fabric. Wirecutter recommends two types of cotton sheets: percale and sateen. Percale sheets are made of cool, breathable fabric that works best for hot sleepers. These light, airy sheets—which you can often find in hotels—feel cool against your skin as you slide beneath them.
Although some folks swear by percale, others find it to be too scratchy and stiff. Sateen, on the other hand, has a silkier, denser feel, and should keep cold sleepers cozy all night long. But if you sleep hot, you may find them uncomfortable. If you’re a particularly hot sleeper, you might choose to opt for our Wirecutter-approved linen sheets. Or if sateen isn’t quite cozy enough, you might lean toward breathable flannel sheets, especially during the winter months.
If you’re not sure which cotton you’d prefer, Jackie suggests thinking back to a set of sheets you’ve loved in the past and identifying what made you like them so much. You’ll likely be able to figure out which kind of cotton they were made from by matching their feel to the description of either percale or sateen.
Forget thread count. When it comes to sheets, it turns out that high-quality cotton is more important than a high thread count. While shopping for sheets, keep an eye out for the words “long-staple cotton” on the packaging. Most of our picks are made from these fibers because they make the smoothest, softest, and strongest sheets. Though long-staple cotton sheets are a tad pricier than sheets made of shorter fibers, their long-lasting durability is more than worth the added cost.
Touch the sheets in person, if you can. You can only determine so much while shopping online—sometimes, you need to feel the sheets between your fingers to decide what’s right for you. You may think you want a pair of percale sheets, for instance, but after running your hands over the fabric, you might realize that your skin is more easily irritated by the slightly scratchy texture than you expected. By testing out sheets in store, you’ll be better prepared to buy the sheets that you know you’ll love once the online deals start to drop.
How to pick the perfect comforter on sale
Choose the right weight. Sleeping with the right down comforter can feel like the height of luxury. But for a hot sleeper, finding a down comforter that doesn’t leave you drenched in sweat is imperative. Many comforters (including three of our best comforter picks) come in multiple weights: light, medium, and heavy. These weights let you select a comforter based on the amount of warmth you need, adjusting for the climate where you live and, of course, how hot you get at night. To figure out which comforter weight works best for you, consult the handy chart in our guide to the best down comforters.
Decide on down or down alternative. Though a good down comforter is hard to beat, many people lean toward down alternative instead: A down-alternative comforter is not only more affordable but also a good choice if you’re allergic to down or you avoid animal products. Most down-alternative comforters don’t breathe well, though, so it’s important to check the manufacturer or store’s return policy before checking out.
Find the right duvet cover. Always keep your down or down-alt blanket in a duvet cover: A cover not only extends the life of your comforter but also makes it easier to customize your comforter’s warmth and change up your bedding style. Just like with sheets, picking the right duvet cover hinges on finding the fabric type that works best for you.
Most of best duvet covers we recommend are made from cotton sateen or percale fabric, but we also recommend a few linen and flannel covers. Linen is one of the most breathable fabrics out there, making it perfect for summer, but its coarser texture can be a dealbreaker for some. Flannel, on the other hand, keeps you warm and snug through long winter nights—but if you sleep hot, the fabric will probably overheat you.
Meet your guide
Elissa Sanci is a senior staff writer for Wirecutter’s discovery team based in Denver. Her byline has appeared in The New York Times, Woman’s Day, Marie Claire, and Good Housekeeping. When she’s not testing TikTok-famous products or writing about car garbage cans, you can find her hiking somewhere in the Rockies or lying on the couch with a bowl of chips balanced on her chest. There is no in-between.