When we think of bed we tend to associate it with comfort. Sleeping on a mattress with clean, crisp, bed sheets, a soft, cosy duvet, and a sumptuous pillow has to be one of today’s simple pleasures. However, this was not always the case. The earliest human beings slept on the cold, hard floor using leaves and straw as a base. Instead of duvet covers or quilts, they used animal furs for warmth.

Thread count is no longer a reliable indicator of fabric quality. High thread count is simply a numbers game: many firms cheat the figures by using double twist yarns in the less expensive fabric. However, if you want a soft, warm bed, a superb elastic jersey sheet can be your cup of tea.