Bedding Terminology Guide Explained

Have you ever fallen in love with bedding at a hotel and wanted to purchase the same for yourself but you didn’t know what term to look for? Well, fear not. Here is an explanation of the terminology used in popular styles of bedding.

Thread Count in Sheets

The thread count in sheets is the number of fibers, both horizontally and vertically, in a square inch of the material. Usually, a higher thread count means a much softer sheet. The higher count sheets last longer, wear well without pilling, and can become even softer over time. The sheets that are 200 thread count and above are soft and have a luxurious feel to them.

Flanged Border

A flanged border is the decorative fabric strip that is around the edges of shams, pillowcases, flat sheets, duvet covers or a pillow. Flanges give the appearance of a formal and finished product. The pillows are often standing up on a bed with the flanges on the pillowcases standing vertical.

Is There a Difference Between Feather and Down?

Yes, there is. The feathers are easily seen on a bird, but the down is the cluster under a bird’s breast feathers. Down is a great product for comforters, coats and bed pillows as they are very warm in the winter. Pillows made of down or feathers do not bunch up as some other pillow materials will and they also hold their shape very well.

Duvet

A duvet or duvet cover is like a large protective sheet that you put your down comforter in to protect it from body oil, make up and dirt. The best duvet covers include a flange around the edge so that they will be a bit larger to cover the thicker mattresses sold today. You should also look for a material that is soft, washable and lightweight. You may find decorative detailing such as a hidden button closure.

Hemstitching

Hemstitching is a technique where some of the fibers on a sheet are pulled out and make a small void in that area. The remaining threads are cinched up in that area to create a small ornate hole. You can find hemstitching on the top edge or flange of a flat sheet, the cuff of pillowcases and the flanges on a sham or duvet cover.

Convert A Fit Sheets

Convert A Fit sheets can fit both a standard mattress on a bed or a waterbed mattress. They have extra deep pockets to fit mattresses of all kinds up to 15 inches thick. This type of sheet is available in a large variety of colors and in all sizes to fit any bed you may have.

Different Types of Mattresses

Mattresses come in many different styles with different materials in them. The traditional style is an innerspring or coil spring mattress. You can also choose from a latex, memory foam or memory gel mattress or an organic mattress to relieve you of allergens and dust mites. A two-sided mattress is made especially to flip it over for longer use without getting lumpy or sagging and a heavy-duty mattress is perfect for larger people to support more weight.

The Difference between a Mattress Pad & a Mattress Topper

A mattress pad is a thin layer of material that can make your bed a bit firmer or add a comfort layer to an older mattress that you can’t afford to replace yet. Many people use a mattress pad as a protector for their mattress to keep it clean or prevent dust mites and allergens. A mattress topper is much thicker than a mattress pad and it gives you much more comfort on your mattress, especially when you have an older innerspring mattress and add a memory foam mattress topper.

Trundle Bed

A trundle bed is made to fit underneath another bed, such as a day bed or a twin size bed. It pulls out from underneath the bed and is usually on rollers to move it easily. You can then have twice the amount of room for people to sleep when you have company over, and then you can push it back under the bed to save space in a room when it is not needed.

Types of Foundations Offer Under Bed Storage

You can choose a traditional waterbed foundation with three pull out drawers on each side to store clothing or other items. These are available in different thicknesses to store more or less items and also to raise your total bed height in different heights. Generally, they are available in ranges from 9 to 14 inches in height.

You can also purchase a metal bed frame with storage space underneath it. These stands taller off the floor to allow you to slide storage boxes and bins under the frame and save space in your bedroom.

Hopefully, the explanation of these bedding terms will allow you to make a better choice in your bedding items. Contact us to help you to find the best choice within your budget and answer all of your questions about mattresses, beds, and bedding.