And finally, brushed cotton is for those looking for something in the middle in terms of cooling/heat-retaining qualities. To turn cotton into brushed cotton, the fabric undergoes a couple of extra treatments that result in the softest flannel-like bedlinen. While both percale and sateen sheets may take a few washes to become more supple and soft, a new set of brushed cotton bedding feels like you’ve slept in it forever. It is a great year-round option because it won’t warm or cool you down excessively.

A duvet is similar to a comforter except it requires the use of a duvet cover, where a comforter does not. Typically, a duvet is solid white and stuffed with down or a down alternative.

 Thread count is another important factor to consider when choosing flannel sheets.  While the higher the thread count of regular cotton sheets, the better the quality, with flannel sheets, this is less important.  Instead, focus on the fabric weight and overall feel of your bed sheets to gauge their quality.