A term you're sure to come across when shopping for the best bed sheets is 'thread count'. The thread count refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch of fabric, and higher thread counts often indicate softer high-end sheets. However, there is a happy medium at around 400-600 thread count that will give you a good balance between quality and price.

Cotton is a plant that loves warmer weather and it takes several months for it to produce the fluffy cotton balls that we all know. After the plants are harvested, they are defoliated and send to the cotton gin. There, the cotton fibers are combed — this is done for cleaning and fiber straightening purposes — and then spun into yarn.

Whilst it is thought that they were used in Norway during the time of the Vikings, the duvet fashion truly spread throughout Europe during the 16^th century.