what to ask of a sheet in winter

Let’s start by clarifying who does what. On a winter bed, the warmth comes from the duvet or the quilt; the sheet is not there to keep you warm, but to act as a layer between your body and the rest of the bed. So when you choose sheets for winter, you are not looking for a sheet that is warmer, but for one that feels pleasant at first touch and lets the bed breathe all night long.

That second part matters more than it seems. Under a winter duvet, the air barely circulates. If the sheet does not breathe, the body’s moisture stays trapped and you get that sticky heat that makes you throw off the covers at three in the morning and wake up cold at six. A good sheet keeps the bed’s temperature steady: not cold when you get in, not stuffy later on.

The three things that do depend on the sheet

cotton sheets: the fabric for the colder months

Our sheets are 100% cotton, a natural, soft and breathable fibre. It is the fibre that best solves the problem of breathability under the covers: cotton absorbs the body’s moisture and lets it escape, so the duvet does its job without the bed feeling heavy.

On top of that, there is something practical: cotton sheets for winter are easy to wash at home, and in the colder months, when bedding is changed just as often as in summer, that counts.

A detail: 200 thread count percale

If you are looking for a sheet with a little more body, 200 thread count percale is a nice detail for winter. Percale is a type of weave in which the threads cross one over, one under, and with 200 threads the weave is tighter: the fabric is smooth, matt and crisp to the touch. The 150 thread count sheets work just as well under the duvet, because the warmth comes from the filling. If you want the technical detail, we explain it in the difference between 150 and 200 thread count.

In winter, the warmth comes from the filling. A sheet is asked to do something else: feel pleasant to the touch and let the bed breathe.

patterned or plain sheets: how to decide

With the fabric settled, there is the question that raises the most doubts. In summer the sheet often sits alone on the bed and leads the look; in winter it stays almost entirely under the duvet and is mainly seen in two places: the part of the sheet that stays on show when you fold it over the duvet cover, and the pillowcases.

Patterned sheets in winter

Patterned sheets work very well on beds with a plain or single-colour duvet cover. When you fold the sheet over the duvet cover, the part that stays on show becomes a band of pattern that finishes off the bed, and the pillowcases repeat the same design at the headboard. It is a way of giving the bed personality without the whole bedroom depending on one big print. For winter, designs with a warm background or with earthy, blue or green tones suit the lower light and the hours we spend indoors.

Plain sheets in winter

Plain sheets are the base that never fails. If you already have a patterned duvet cover, a plain sheet keeps the bed from looking busy and lets the cover’s design take centre stage. To choose the colour, look at the cover’s pattern and pick one of its tones: a plain flat sheet in that colour ties all the pieces together. Light, warm tones bring light to the bedroom on short days; deeper ones feel more enveloping.

how to pair your sheets with the duvet cover in winter

In winter, the combination that matters is the sheet with the cover, because it is what you see every time you make the bed. Here are three formulas that work, from the calmest to the boldest. If you want to mix several different patterns on the same bed, you will find the full guide in how to mix patterns in your bedding.

1 · Patterned cover and plain sheet

The safest option. Choose a tone from the cover’s pattern and go for a plain flat sheet and pillowcases in that colour. The plain sheet peeking out over the cover frames the design and the bed looks tidy. It works in any bedroom, especially small ones.

2 · Plain cover and patterned sheet

The one that gives you the most options with the fewest pieces. With a plain duvet cover as the base, the patterned sheet adds the design to the part that stays on show and at the headboard. Just by changing the sheet set, you change the look of the bed, and the cover works all winter.

3 · Sheet and cover in the same design

The calmest look. When the sheet and cover share a print, the bed reads as a single piece. To keep it from feeling flat, break it up with a plain cushion or throw at the foot of the bed.

How to fold the sheet over the duvet cover

For any of the three formulas to look its best, fold the flat sheet over the duvet cover by about 30 to 40 cm, with the right side of the fabric facing out. With patterned sheets, the design then stays on show and not inside out. Pillowcases follow the same logic as the sheet peeking out over the duvet cover: same design or same colour.

how many sets to have and how to buy your sheets for winter

With two sets of sheets per bed, winter is sorted: one on the bed and a clean one while the first is washed and dried, which takes longer in the colder months. If you choose one patterned and one plain, you can also switch the look of the bed without changing the cover.

Sheets are sold individually, so you can build your set to suit you: fitted sheet, flat sheet and pillowcases. If you are unsure between them, we explain it in the difference between a fitted sheet and a flat sheet, and to get the size right there is the sheet size guide.

Already have cotton summer sheets? You can keep using them in winter: the fabric is the same. What changes with the season is the warmth on top and, if you like, the design.