Getting a well-deserved sleep during the hot summer months is not easy because good sleep depends on the temperature. The optimal sleeping temperature for adults is 15 to 18 degrees, but temperatures can often exceed this threshold in the summer. So how do you ensure you get a good night’s sleep in the summer?
To have a restful sleep in summer. It is essential to have refreshing bed linen. This article reveals which materials are suitable for summer and how they have a cooling effect on our bodies. We also want to answer whether microfiber is suitable as summer bed linen.
How does cooling bedding work, and what makes it so unique?
Tightly woven fabrics keep us pleasantly warm in winter but can cause heat to build up under the blanket in summer. That’s why fabrics that have enough air channels to wick heat and moisture to the outside are more suitable for summer.
Humidity under the blanket is not uncommon because even while sleeping, we lose up to a litre of sweat every night and even more in summer. For this moisture to escape to the outside, the fabric must have air channels. If moisture is not wicked away, it builds up overnight, and we wake up sweating. It can also contribute to mould growth and dust mite buildup in the worst case.
Another important advantage of cooling materials is that the fabric can breathe. While winter sheets absorb body heat and store it, cooling sheets have the opposite effect: they circulate the air and balance the temperatures under the blanket with the room’s temperature. Thus, the heat does not accumulate, and we can improve the quality of our sleep.
What type of bed linen is refreshing?
For bed linen to have a cooling effect on the body, it must fulfil three important factors. Bed linen should:
- Being able to regulate humidity
- Be breathable
- Ability to balance temperatures
Materials that meet these criteria are generally smooth and soft to the touch. This is the case with silk or linen. Fabrics with a rough and soft surface, such as flannel or terry cloth, are therefore unsuitable for summer bedding, as they insulate against heat.
What is the most suitable material for summer sheets?
In the following paragraph, we will introduce some materials and fabrics that can be used as cooling bed linens in the summer.
Satin bed linen
Sateen is mainly made from cotton and refers to a fabric with a shiny surface produced in a satin weave. Besides cotton, nylon or other types of wool are also often used. Satin bed linen is only sometimes smooth and shiny, and it can also be purchased in a matte version. In contact with the skin, satin is exceptionally supple and breathable. This is why satin is not only used for bed sheets but also for clothing. Since satin is a little cheaper than silk and still has a cooling effect, it is often used as an alternative.
Seersucker bed linen
Seersucker fabric is made from cotton, like sateen, and often has a crepe surface, perfect for warm summer nights. The manufacturing processes of seersucker are complex, which explains why its price is generally a little higher. However, seersucker is very easy to maintain, as it does not require ironing. A slightly less expensive variant is seersucker microfiber bedding. Microfiber is, however, often used to make a fabric thicker and heavier. People who place a lot of importance on the cooling effect should therefore opt for seersucker cotton sheets.
Percale bed linen
Percale fabric is another refreshing type of bedding for the summer. It is mainly made from fine filament cotton, but it is also possible to use blends or polyester as the raw material. Percale bed linen is obtained by a plain weave and is very finely woven. Thanks to its tight weave, it is very durable and tear-resistant. Thanks to its smooth surface, percale has a cooling effect on the skin, but it can also be used as bed linen all year round. It is incredibly gentle on the skin and does not cause any allergies, especially if it is made from organic cotton. Since percale is also breathable, often used as a fabric for shirts or blouses.
Are microfiber sheets refreshing?
The term microfiber is often equated with polyester when these terms hide a different definition. Microfiber only refers to the fineness of the fibres and is not a material in itself. However, microfiber most often made from polyester or other synthetic fibres like nylon or acrylic. Premium microfiber bedding is suitable for both winter and summer. It can be purchased with either a smooth or rough surface. Synthetic fibres are generally not as thermoregulatory as natural fibres but can still wick moisture to the outside very quickly. People with allergies often use microfiber sheets for this reason.
Although higher-quality microfiber fabrics have a long lifespan, cheaper variants are generally more prone to tearing and more fragile. When it comes to feel on the skin, opinions are mixed, as some swear by the smooth surface of microfiber, while others find it awkward.
Refreshing summer bedding at Imperial Rooms
we offer bed linen in two extremely suitable fabrics for summer: percale and satin. You can buy them from us as white duvet covers, bed sheets and pillowcases.
- Our satin and percale bed linen is made from organic cotton.
- No chemicals were therefore used for cultivation.
- This cotton has been certified by the GOTS label.
We offer satin bed linen in the natural colour ecru; for the percale variant, you can choose between 3 different colour combinations. Our satin bed linen is also available as a children’s duvet cover with the Lucky Star motif. It is also made of certified organic cotton.