Sophie Cockett, Mayola Fernandes
“Generally speaking, quality cotton sheets range from 200-800 thread count, but ultimately there is no perfect number and thread count should be taken into consideration alongside other determining factors — such as the type of weave, and the quality of the material and production,” Rhiannon explains.
Essentially, while thread count is still important, it’s by no means the sole way to determine the quality of a duvet cover — especially if you’re talking about a material that isn’t cotton.”When it comes to linen, thread count is not normally used as a measure of quality. Linen is a much looser weave than cotton, which is part of what makes it so breathable, and linen fibres are much thicker than in cotton, so it is not a representable indicator of quality,” Rhiannon adds.
What sustainability claims are worth looking out for?
Especially amongst the more high-end brands, you’ll likely come across a whole heap of different environmental claims and standards. Here’s what they actually mean:
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the world’s leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres. An independently verified certification, it can only be awarded if organic textiles are produced sustainably and in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
- B-Corp certification is awarded to a whole company — rather than a specific product or material. Certified B Corps are essentially companies that have been proven to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. environment. company that has been verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is a label that indicates a textile product has been tested and proven to be completely from harmful substances.
- OEKO-TEX Made In Green is essentially the next level up from the Standard 100. To qualify, textiles must be tested for harmful substances — and they must have also been made in an environmentally friendly facility, and come from a safe and socially responsible workplace.
Can I cover a super king-size duvet with a king-size duvet cover?
While there are no laws stopping you from doing so, squeezing a super king-size duvet into a king size cover will leave you with a lumpy duvet with lots of bunching. All parts of your bedding should be the same size — although we do recommend opting for a set that’s one size larger than your mattress if you sleep with a duvet stealer.
How we test duvet covers and bedding sets
Everyone has a different preference when it comes to duvet covers and bedding sets. So, when testing the bed linen in this edit, we were scoring on design, comfort, breathability, quality and if the bedding washes well. We have tested as many duvet covers at home as we could, sleeping on each one for a minimum of 30 days, and are working our way through the rest. For those we’ve not tested IRL yet, we’ve read through customer reviews and spoken to experts alike.
Looking for other items to give your bedroom a refresh? Look here for the best best bed frames, over here for linen bedding, and right this way for the best mattresses. For more from GLAMOUR UK’s Commerce Writer Mayola Fernandes, follow her on Instagram @mayolafernandess.