Bedding Sets Buying Guide

People spend nearly one-third of their lives sleeping, making the bed the most used piece of furniture in the home. It makes sense to spend effort to make such an important spot reflect you and express your personality.

You can shop individually for sheets, blankets, and pillowcases. But it's much easier and more convenient to buy them all together. That's where the bedding set (sometimes called a Bed-in-a-Bag) comes in.

A Bed-in-a-Bag is a collection of a comforter, sheets, and pillowcases, all gathered together in a large, zippered plastic bag. Instead of trying to track down the perfect sheets to go with that quilt you bought last year, you can buy everything together, take it all out of the bag and put it on the bed immediately.

The combination in a bedding set depends on the individual brand. But any Bed-in-a-Bag or comforter set will include some kind of comforter. The widest definition of a comforter is a thick, multi-layer bed covering. It's made from two pieces of cloth sewn together with an inner layer of down or batting. It's usually machine quilted in squares or long rectangles. The batting helps the comforter to breathe, maintaining an even, warm temperature.

There are three basic types of comforters. The first is the basic, solid comforter. It usually has a polyester core.

Down comforters are made with the down from geese. Down refers to the small feathers that sit close to the skin on a bird, keeping the bird warm. Unlike the outer feathers, down is very soft and pliable. Comforters made with down can be expensive, but there is no material that works as well or feels as luxurious.

Because down comforters are expensive, they are usually sewn between simple white sheets of material. Then the comforter is protected with a duvet cover. A duvet cover is shaped like a large, square bag. The down comforter is put into the bag, which is then buttoned or zipped up. When the cover gets dirty, it can be removed and washed. Down comforters can be washed as well. Follow the instructions on the manufacturer's label. They should also be aired for a few hours once or twice a year to keep them fresh and fluffy.

A quilt is a special type of comforter in which the top cover is made from pieces of cloth together in a pattern. That top cover is then layered with batting and the bottom piece of cloth and quilted together. The term quilting refers the top-stitching that holds the quilt together. Quilts rarely use down as their middle layer. While basic comforters generally use polyester filling, some quilts use the thick polyester and some use a thinner cotton batting.

Because bedding sets are designed to coordinate, the next item most likely to get included is a sham. Shams and pillowcases are very similar, and they both cover pillows. But a sham is more decorative than a plain pillow case. While a pillowcase opens on one side, the sham has a central slit, making it less likely that the pillow will peek out of the case.

A three-piece bedding set will most likely include a comforter and two shams. A four-piece set will add generally add in a bedskirt. A bedskirt is a matching piece of fabric that runs along both sides of the bed, from the top of the box spring mattress to the floor. It makes a stylish addition to the bed while concealing the area underneath.

The next items to generally be included in a bedding set are the sheets. There are two kinds of sheets, form-fitting and straight. Form-fitting sheets are gathered with elastic so that they hug the corners of the mattress. A pair of sheets often includes one form-fitting sheet for the bottom mattress and one straight sheet for the top of the bed.

If sheets are included, the manufacturer will often include a set of pillowcases. With a pair of shams and a pair of pillowcases, you have the choice of matching two pillows, or mixing both types together for a very comfortable look.

Finally, some bedding sets include accent pillows. Accent pillows are usually smaller than normal pillows and mainly for decoration. They may be square, but some accent pillows are round or long and tubular, looking like giant, soft toostie-rolls.

Obviously, you'll want to buy a comforter set that matches the size of your bed. If you are buying sheets (especially fitted sheets), make sure that they are large enough to fit the depth of your mattress. A standard mattress can be anywhere from 7" to 14 1/2", but an extra deep mattress might be up to 22" thick!

Twin beds are narrow, only 39" wide. They are usually bought for children. There are some extra-long twin beds, but those are mainly used in college dorms. Unless you have an extra-long twin bed, you'll be fine purchasing a twin bed set. Twin comforter sets will also fit daybeds.

Full is the next size up from twin beds. They are wider than twin beds at 54". They are also exactly the same length as well. Full-sized beds replaced the "double bed" size. If you have a double bed, you should be fine with a full-size bedding set.

Queen-size beds are bigger in width and length than full size beds. A queen-sized bed will be 60" wide and 80" long.

King-size beds are as long as queen-sized beds and wider by a foot and a half.

There are hundreds of different styles to choose from when it comes to a bedding set. Some designers focus on a specific design, like floral prints.

Some prefer to make bold statements with solid colors, blocks, or stripes.

Some designers mix solids and prints, making interesting combinations with stylish flair.

You may also want to look for a specfic material when you are choosing your bedding set. Some people enjoy the feel of satin or silk . Others prefer a warm, soft material such as flannel , or suede . Cotton is one of the more common fabrics for sheets. It is a natural material, durable, and very comfortable. Whatever your taste is, with all the choices in materials, colors, and styles available, you can be sure of finding something that will suit it.

Bedding sets don't have to be expensive. There are hundreds of sets available for under $50. Of course, the more you are willing to pay, the more variety you are going to find, and the more quality in the materials. The largest number of different designs are found in the $250-$500 price range, with some exclusive designs going for more than $1,000.

Croscill
Dan River
DMSI
Dockers
Hillsdale Furniture
Laura Ashley Bedding
Mystic Valley Traders
Southern Textiles
Tommy Hilfiger