It was during the Renaissance Period when bedding as we know it today was designed. Whilst the poor continued to sleep on hay-covered platforms, the wealthy owned mattresses stuffed with down and wrapped in luxurious materials. Their four-poster beds were covered in embroidered canopies and contained pull-out trundles for maids and personal valets to sleep on. Mattresses were suspended from the bedframes using ropes or straps. They were covered by smart linen sheets and wool blankets. The beds grew more and more lavish for the most wealthy. They became so expensive they were passed down through the family for generations. Reported to spend most of his day in bed, Louis XIV became so obsessed with bedding that he bought 413 beds for the Palace of Versailles. It is understood that he held court daily from his bed.

Weave affects the way a sheet looks, feels and its overall durability. Plain weaves, such as Percale sheets, have an equal number of vertical and horizontal yarns woven together. Plain weave sheets are known for their longevity and crisp feel. Sateen sheet weaves are woven with more vertical than horizontal yarns. The higher number of vertical threads gives the sheet ultra softness. Twill weaves are yarns that are woven two over and one under to create a diagonal line on one side of the fabric. These linens tend to be soft and tend to hold their shape well. Jacquard and damask are weaves that have intricate patterns.

If you compare linen vs cotton sheets in terms of breathability, another major difference emerges — linen will keep you much cooler at night because of its longer fibers and, therefore, looser weave. Air can pass through linen more easily, keeping your body cool. Cotton, as previously discussed, can also be perfect for warm sleepers (in the case of percale bedding), but linen definitely has the edge over it.