I didn’t think much about sheets until I spent one summer sleeping on a friend’s linen bedding and couldn’t stop talking about it. Since then I’ve tried most of the popular fabrics, and I’ve realised there isn’t a best one — only the right one for how you sleep.

Linen: relaxed and breathable

Linen is woven from flax fibres. It’s textured, slightly heavier, and wonderfully breathable, so it suits warm sleepers and people who love a lived-in, undone look. It softens beautifully with every wash. The trade-off: it wrinkles, and that’s part of its charm. If you need a crisp, ironed bed, linen will frustrate you.

Percale: crisp and cool

Percale is a tight, one-over-one-under cotton weave. It has a matte finish and that cool, crisp feeling you remember from a well-made hotel bed. It’s a great all-season choice and the one I’d recommend if you’re not sure where to start.

Sateen: smooth and warm

Sateen uses a different weave that puts more threads on the surface, giving it a soft sheen and a silky hand. It drapes beautifully and feels a little warmer, which makes it lovely for winter or for anyone who runs cold.

The best bedding is the one you look forward to getting into.

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A note on thread count

Higher isn’t automatically better. Fibre quality and weave matter far more than a big number on the packaging. A well-made percale in a moderate thread count will often outlast and outperform a cheaper, very high-count sheet.

How I layer ours

• Percale fitted sheet — crisp underneath.
• Linen duvet cover — relaxed on top.
• A wool or knit throw at the foot of the bed from October to April.

Mixing fabrics like this gives you the best of each — and the slightly imperfect combination looks more personal than a matching set ever could.