There are many things to love about winter. We get to pull out our favorite sweaters, enjoy delicious hearty meals, and watch the snow from our windows. We also get to pull out our favorite winter bed sheet sets and make our beds a cozy and delightful place to snuggle up at night.
Here at Mellanni, we've taken the time to explore what makes the perfect sheets for those chilly winter nights. Here are a few to take into mind when looking for new sheets for winter.
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Material: There are certain fabrics that are well-known for keeping you warm when it's cold outside, but there are also some options that might not come immediately to mind. Knowing which fabrics retain body heat is a great first step for choosing the best winter sheets.
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Thread Count or GSM: Thread count and GSM are both related to the thickness and heaviness of a bed sheet material. Understanding thread count and GSM numbers will help determine which sheets will work best depending on your needs.
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Style & Care: We want our sheets to fit into our bedroom decor, through every season. While we may associate winter sheets with cute snowflake and holiday patterns, it is possible to find attractive, elegant, and cozy sheets in a variety of styles.
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Fit & Size: It's important that your sheets fit correctly on your bed. Staying tightly tucked in on cold nights is a must!
What Are the Best Sheets for Winter?
For many, flannel sheets are a staple for winter. This is because flannel tends to trap body heat, making for an incredibly warm sleeping environment. Flannel is also a breathable fabric, meaning you can get a good night's sleep even on a cold winter night.
If flannel isn't for you, there are a variety of other sheet options to keep your bed warm. Wool bedding, although sometimes hard to find, makes for some of the warmest sheets on the market. Cozy fleece sheets are another great option and are often fuzzy and soft. Microfiber sheets, heavy cotton sheets, and silk sheets are some other types of sheets that tend to retain heat, keeping you warm during the night.
Thread count and fabric weight (GSM) contribute to how warm your bed linens are, with a higher thread count or GSM usually indicating a heavier, warmer option.
Which fabric is best for warm sheets?
While flannel, wool, and fleece may be warm fabrics that immediately spring to mind, there are several other fabrics that create warm sheets. Heavier weight cotton, microfiber, and silk are a few other materials that also tend to trap body heat.
A breakdown of different fabrics for winter sheets
Flannel
Flannel is a fabric that was originally made from carded wool or worsted yarn. Nowadays, flannel is usually made from a variety of materials such as wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers. Flannel is a winter staple for some and flannel sheets usually come in a variety of fun patterns. Flannel sheets generally come with different GSM (grams per square meter), with a higher GSM being associated with a heavier, thicker sheet. If you're looking for an organic option, organic fabric is a great option. We recommend Mellanni's 100% Organic Cotton Flannel Sheet Set for the best organic winter bed sheets.
Cotton
Cotton is a very popular and versatile bedding fabric. While we often associate cotton with being a breathable and airy material, heavier weight cotton is also great at trapping body heat, keeping us cozy through winter nights. When shopping for cotton bed sheets for winter, keep your eye out for a higher thread count, which will work harder to keep you warm.
Microfiber
Microfiber is a material made from polyester. Microfiber bed sheets generally come in a variety of colors, are easy to care for, and are wrinkle and shrink-resistant. Some sleepers find that microfiber sheets tend to trap heat a bit more than cotton, so they might be best suited to colder sleepers. The thickness of microfiber sheets is measured in GSM, with the higher GSM meaning a thicker, warmer sheet.
Silk
Due to its hugging effect, silk has heat-trapping properties which help keep you warm during cold winter months. Silk sheets also have the benefit of keeping you cool during hot summer months. Most of us associate silk with luxury and elegance and while it can be a great option for staying warm, it usually comes with a higher price tag. However, a quality silk pillowcase is a worthwhile investment as it protects hair and skin, reducing both breakouts and breakages, respectively.
Fleece
Fleece is made from synthetic fibers, such as polyester. Fleece sheets are incredibly warm and generally very soft. You may see fleece sheets with varying levels of GSM-- the higher the GSM the thicker and heavier the sheet.
Wool
Wool is a material that makes warm, hypoallergenic, fire-resistant, and dust-mite-free sheets. Wool sheets are a great option for warm winter months, however, they are very difficult to find. Additionally, if you find wool sweaters to be just too itchy, wool sheets may not be the best option.
Bamboo
Bamboo sheets are made from the natural fibers of bamboo that are processed into rayon. Bamboo sheets are heat-regulating, so they tend to cool you down when you have a high body temperature but help warm you when you're feeling cold. The downside to bamboo sheets is that while they are made with natural fibers, depending on the manufacturing process, they may not be very environmentally friendly. They also tend to run on the expensive side.
Thread count, GSM, and why it matters for warm bed sheets
What is thread count?
Thread count refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch of fabric. A higher thread count generally corresponds to a tighter weave. Sheets with higher thread counts also tend to be softer, more durable, and thicker.
What is the best thread count for winter bed sheets?
Since sheets with a higher thread count also tend to be thicker, some of the best sheets to keep you warm during the winter months are those with a high thread count.
While there is some debate around what is the magic number for thread count, most agree that any thread count between 200-800 makes for sturdy, high-quality sheets. While you may see sheets advertised with a thread count of 1000+, these numbers are often inflated and don’t actually represent the quality of the sheets.
What is GSM for sheets?
GSM refers to grams per square meter. Bed sheets that are made with fabrics such as microfiber, velvet, fleece, flannel, and denim are usually measured in GSM. Generally the higher the GSM, the heavier the fabric.
What is the best GSM for warm sheets?
The range of GSM for fabrics is anywhere from 1 to 300+. For warm bed sheets for winter, a GSM of 90r more is usually a good bet.
Other factors for best sheets for winter
Style & Care
When you think about bedding for the winter season, sheet sets with snowflakes may immediately spring to mind. While cartoon snowflakes are adorable, they may not fit the decor of all the rooms in our house. That's why when you're looking at the best sheets for winter, you may also want to consider which design and style options are available.
Egyptian cotton sheets are some of the most luxurious sheets available on the cotton market. Made with long-staple cotton, Egyptian cotton sheets tend to be elegant, and give off a crisp, clean look. They also tend to be the most expensive cotton sheets.
Microfiber sheets tend to come in a huge variety of colors and have the added benefit of being wrinkle-resistant, which helps achieve a crisp, clean look -- without ironing.
Silk sheets give off a shiny, luxurious look. They tend to have a very specific style profile. That said, silk sheets tend to be high maintenance in terms of care. They also tend to be an expensive option.
Cotton sateen sheets are a good alternative to silk, in terms of decor, as they tend to have a similar shiny finish. Cotton sateen sheets tend to be a heavier weight cotton sheet, so they are also warm.
Flannel is usually known for its patterned look. That said, flannel can also come in solid colors and is often incredibly soft and inviting. If you have trouble finding flannel sheets that fit your decor, Mellanni has you covered with our Flannel Cotton Sheet Set which comes in a variety of amazing colors, solid or patterned.
Fit & Size
Sheets that constantly slip from your bed can't help you stay warm at night. Make sure your fitted sheet has a good quality elastic and that your top sheet is the right size for your bed type. Pay attention to the sizing specifications on your sheet set packaging and other bedding products. When possible, opt for a fitted sheet with a deep pocket, to keep it secure on the bed.
Hot sleepers vs. cold sleepers
Are you a hot sleeper or a cold sleeper? If you tend to feel hot when you sleep, even during the winter months, there are plenty of fabrics that can keep you warm while also preventing overheating.
Hot sleepers
If you tend to run hot during the night, cotton sheets are a great option for cold nights. Cotton is a breathable, moisture-wicking fabric meaning it keeps you warm without you being too warm.
Silk and bamboo sheets are both options that also work in the summer months, so if you are a hot sleeper you could also opt for one of those.
Cotton flannel blends or lightweight flannel if you want the look and feel of flannel in the winter, without the extra heat.
Cold sleepers
Cold sleepers should opt for an extra-warm material such as flannel, fleece, or wool. Sheets with a high thread count or GSM are ideal for those that tend to get chilly at night. Avoid sheets made from a thin material or fabric.
Duvets and Comforters
During cold weather, most of us also pull out extra blankets, duvets, or comforters.
Duvets are thick, often down comforters. Duvets require duvet covers since they are so difficult to clean. While some may find a sheet set that includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and a duvet cover, a duvet cover is often sold separately. If you sleep with a heavyweight duvet, it might be worth opting for fabrics that are more lightweight.
Our Best Warm Bed Sheets
Mellanni Lightweight Flannel Cotton Sheet Set
Cozy and warm, yet lightweight and breathable, these super soft flannel sheets are perfect for keeping you warm during cold nights without overheating you. Coming in a variety of colors and patterns, we know these versatile winter sheets will fit perfectly on every bed in the house.
Mellanni Heavyweight Flannel Cotton Sheet Set
These 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton flannel sheets are a favorite of ours. Made with heavyweight (GSM 180) flannel, these sheets are incredibly soft, warm, and durable. Perfect for a snowy night and possibly the best flannel sheets on the market!
Conclusion
In summary, when it comes to winter sheets, there are a few different things to take into consideration:
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Material
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Thread count or GSM
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Style and Care
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Fit & Size
For those who love a cozy flannel that offers moderate warmth, we recommend Mellanni Lightweight Flannel Cotton Sheet Set. However, if you live in colder climates or tend to sleep cold, then the Mellanni Heavyweight Flannel Cotton Sheet Set is your best bet.
