The Best Material for Bed Sheets

Looking for the best material for bed sheets? Learn why French flax linen is your best bet.

Finding the perfect bed sheets is no small feat. From comfort to sustainability, there are so many factors to consider. And while it may feel like striking a balance between style and function is impossible, it can be done.

By opting for French flax linen sheets, you can ensure your bedding is comfortable, stylish and sustainable in one.

Read on to learn more about why linen sheets are the best sheets.

1. Linen Bed Sheets are Breathable

Flax linen is a naturally breathable fabric. Unlike synthetic material, linen bed sheets effectively circulate air while you sleep, thanks to the fabric's porous weave and moisture-wicking properties.

Linen’s air-circulating properties help to regulate your body temperature and keep you comfortable while you sleep.

For those who struggle with excessive body heat during sleep, a breathable sheet set can make the difference between a restless night and a peaceful sleep. Regardless of the season, breathability is also a boon to hot sleepers or those who suffer night sweats, as more airflow means less perspiration in your bed.

As one of the most breathable fabrics, linen is not only a good choice for your fitted sheet and flat sheet, but it's also a great fabric option for pillowcases and duvet covers.

2. Flax Linen is a Highly Sustainable Material

More people than ever are concerned about the sustainability of their homes and decor, and bedding is no exception.

If you want your bed sheets to have the smallest environmental impact possible, linen sheets are a great option.

Unlike other plants used to make textiles, the flax plant naturally requires few resources.

Compared to linen, most types of cotton fabric (another popular sheet option) require massive volumes of water to grow. While organic cotton farming uses less water than conventional cotton crops, both still require much more water for irrigation than flax linen. This makes linen bedding the best choice for preserving precious water resources.

Flax also wins out against other crops thanks to the lower amounts of nutrients and resources it needs. From growing to harvesting to the manufacturing process, flax is relatively low-maintenance.

Flax plants are highly resilient and can grow easily in lower-quality soils. The resilience of flax also means that linen farming generally uses much less fertiliser and pesticide than other textile farming, including that of bamboo fibres, cotton and Tencel. Unlike some of these popular natural fabrics, organic linen does not undergo any chemical process during production except for colour dyeing.

Overall, linen can be used to manufacture high-quality, luxury bedding without costing the environment, making it one of the most popular fabrics for sustainable bed sheets.

3. Linen is Great for Sensitive Skin

Another reason linen is a great option for your bed sheets is the hypoallergenic properties of the fabric.

This means that your linen pillowcases and linen sheets are gentler on your skin and can help reduce breakouts, allergies or skin irritation. These benefits are primarily thanks to the moisture-wicking properties of linen fabric. Bacteria and microscopic pests like dust mites tend to thrive in warm, humid environments (like your bedding!) These little nasties are responsible for a whole range of unpleasantness, including breakouts on your face, neck and back, skin irritation and can even be blamed for that sniffly nose you have in bed.

Linen effectively prevents the growth of irritating bacteria and dust mites in bedding by quickly wicking moisture away from the sheets, sending it into the surrounding air. Because linen creates an unfavourable environment for bacterial growth, it's often considered an anti-bacterial fabric, making it a great choice if you live in a warm climate or are prone to sweating while you sleep.

4. Flax Linen is Easy to Look After

Linen is hugely popular as a luxury sheet material thanks to its smooth feel. But you might be surprised to learn that this buttery-soft texture takes almost no special care to maintain for years and years, despite its better quality.

The long fibres and natural pectins throughout linen fabric break down over time, softening your linen bed sheets with every use and wash.

Linen is also less energy-intensive and cheaper to keep clean than other sheet fabrics.

Like many natural materials, the best way to wash linen is by using cold water cycles and a gentle liquid detergent. That's it!

You don't need to use any fabric softeners for your linens to feel soft, smell fresh and stay cosy.

While your new sheets may be slightly crisp when you first buy them, it only takes a few wash cycles for your linen bedding to gain that iconic luxurious feel. You can even speed this process up by adding half a cup of baking soda to the wash.

In short, If you want long-lasting softness for years to come, linen sheets are the right sheets for you.

5. Linen Bed Sheets are Strong And Made to Last

Linen bed sheets are stronger and more durable than many other common materials thanks to the thicker and longer fibres of the flax plant. In fact, these fibres make linen fabric around twice as strong as other fabrics, including cotton.

Thanks to the fabric's natural strength, linen bed sheets can stand significantly more wear and tear than cotton bed sheets.

While you might be used to a high thread count equated with higher quality bed sheets, this is not the case with most bedding materials and certainly not true for linen. In fact, the quality and strength of linen is not measured by thread count at all. Instead, linen sheets are generally rated by density, measured in grams per square meter, or GSM.

6. Linen Naturally Has a Lived-In Look

One of the most desirable qualities of linen bed sheets is that you don't need to iron them for your bedspread to look cosy and gorgeous.

Your linen duvet cover, top sheet and pillowcases will naturally have shallow creases and irregular crumples that help to give your bedding a homely, relaxed look whether you're replacing your sheets or making your bed in the morning. Not only does this save you a step on laundry day, but it also makes linen the right choice for a low-maintenance bedroom.

Looking for the best material for bed sheets? Learn why French flax linen is your best bet.