The Best Bed Sheets to Choose for Year-Round Use

Seasons change (but your sheets don't have to).

There’s nothing worse than tossing and turning in bed as sleep eludes you, and believe it or not, your body temperature plays a huge role in the overall quality of your nightly rest.

So whether you’re gearing up for some spring cleaning or hunkering down for winter, it’s worthwhile to pause and consider whether your bedding is seasonally appropriate. Of course, you’ll need to rethink your comforters and quilts when seasons change, but you should also evaluate your sheets. Will they keep you warm in winter? Offer enough breathability in summer? Wick away moisture?

While you may associate flannel sheets with winter and cotton sheets with summer, most people don't want to change out their sheet sets multiple times per year. So, what are the best options for year-round use? If you’re looking for sheets that will work across every season, linen is the answer.

Thanks to its thermoregulating properties, linen not only makes for the best cooling sheets, but it can also help keep you warm in winter. Highly breathable, durable, and able to withstand any perspiration, linen is the hero material that can carry you through the year — not to mention the great sleep you’ll get along the way.

Keep reading to learn more about linen sheets and how they stack up against other options.

Look and feel

When it comes to look and feel, linen ranks supreme. Soft and luxurious, it’s a no-brainer for elevating your bedroom decor.

It’s easy to overlook the design potential of bed sheets, but linen's distinct aesthetic adds a timeless elegance to any bedroom. Linen sheets have a natural texture, which can be eye-catching when paired with the rest of your bedding. Plus, mixing and matching color combinations opens the door to so much decorating potential.

In addition to their elegant look, linen sheets are also some of the softest sheets. As an added benefit, linen gets softer the more you wash it — something you can look forward to for many months to come. In contrast, other soft materials often wear out over time, but natural flax fibers in linen not only feel smooth against the skin but are far more durable than the alternatives.

Durability

If you want your set of sheets to last season after season, it's important to consider durability. Tired of torn sheets? It might be time to consider linen. Thanks to the natural properties of the flax plant, linen can withstand constant use and friction.

One reason for linen sheets’ incredible durability is that the fibers used to make them are long. At about 20-90 cm on average, flax fibers are often much longer than their cotton counterparts, which "gives linen remarkable mechanical strength, particularly tensile strength, surpassing that of many other natural fibers," explains one French textile spinner.

To put linen's strength into perspective, consider how it's been used historically. Egyptians began using linen for boat sails as early as 2060 BC and ancient Greeks crafted body armor from the material. Case in point!

In addition to its strength, linen is also highly absorbent and resilient which means it's not prone to being worn down by moisture, mildew, or friction in the same way other materials are.

Sustainability

All else aside, linen is a great option for the earth. A major reason to consider linen sheets for all-season use is that they are a more sustainable option when compared with other sheets.

Sustainability of linen:

Uses over 400 times less water than cotton: Growing linen requires less water and fewer pesticides than cotton, making it better for the environment overall.
Completely biodegradable: Linen is fully biodegradable which means it won't end up sitting in landfills for years to come. In fact, linen can begin to biodegrade in as little as two weeks.
Carbon neutral: When you buy linen sheets from Bed Threads, you can rest easy knowing that any emissions have been offset.
30% stronger than cotton: Linen's durability means it lasts longer, and longer-lasting sheets mean less throwing out old ones and buying new ones. It’s a win for your wallet and the planet alike.

In addition to linen, organic cotton, Tencel, and bamboo are often considered sustainable sheet options, however, they don't offer the same softness, elegant look, or longevity that comes with 100% French flax linen.

Quality

Linen is associated with luxury, and for good reason.

While it’s hard to quantify what makes something “luxurious”, the sensory experience of linen highlights the material’s high quality at first touch.

Not to mention, linen sheets also look beautiful, and while other organic sheets might also offer benefits for the planet, none boast the same unique texture that sets linen apart visually. It’s rare to find the same combination of softness and strength that linen offers. Even the best cotton sheets aren't as breathable as linen, and options like jersey sheets wear down more quickly while looking less elevated.

Comparing different types of sheets

Linen sheets

Durability: Long fibres make linen extremely durable.
Temperature regulating: The breathability of linen makes it a great option for balmy nights and chilly evenings alike.
Sustainability: Linen is one of the most sustainable fabrics, not only because of how it's grown, but also because of its longevity.
Ease of care: Linen is extremely easy to care for and can be machine-washed and dried.

Bamboo sheets

Durability: Also a durable option for bedsheets, but generally not as long-lasting as linen.
Temperature regulating: Bamboo is also temperature-regulating.
Sustainability: Bamboo is fast-growing, which means it can also be sustainable, but the harvesting and processing process can require more machinery and chemicals making it harsher on the environment.
Ease of care: Bamboo can have specific care instructions and is sometimes considered more difficult to care for.

Silk sheets

Durability: Not as durable as other materials including linen, cotton, and bamboo.
Temperature regulating: Like linen, silk sheets are breathable and moisture-wicking.
Sustainability: The production of silk relies on silkworms and can require more harmful chemicals for processing.
Ease of care: Silk stains easily and is difficult to wash, requiring specific washing and drying methods.

Egyptian cotton sheets

Durability: Can last long with proper care, but is not as durable as linen.
Temperature regulating: Like linen, Egyptian cotton is moisture-wicking but not as breathable.
Sustainability: Cotton is very water intensive and can involve the use of harsh chemicals when it's not organic.
Ease of care: Egyptian cotton sheets are generally easy to care for. Like linen, they can be machine washed and dried.

Organic cotton sheets

Durability: Can last long with proper care, but is not as durable as linen.
Temperature regulating: Like linen, organic cotton is moisture-wicking but it is not as breathable.
Sustainability: Organic cotton uses fewer harsh chemicals than standard cotton. Nevertheless, it is very water intensive.
Ease of care: Organic cotton sheets are generally easy to care for. Like linen, they can be machine-washed and dried.

Feeling good about your sheet selection? Now, learn how to style a bed.