How Your Bed Sheets Impact the Quality of Your Sleep

We all understand just how important it is to get a good night’s sleep. And yet many of us struggle to get in those precious eight hours. You’ve probably heard all of the tricks for getting a better night’s rest before: Keep your cell phone out of your bedroom. Use blackout curtains or white noise generators. Try a calming lavender fragrance or a meditation routine before bed. But have you ever given much thought to how your bed sheets might affect your quality of sleep?

There’s a reason why organic linen fabrics are fast becoming one of the most popular choices for bedding in this hectic, sleep-deprived world — many reasons, in fact. But they all boil down to one simple fact: better sheets mean better sleep.

Real linen is made from linseed, also known as flaxseed, which is one of the oldest known textiles in the world. There’s evidence that humans have been making fabrics out of linseed for more than 1,000 years. In some cultures, its properties were valued as highly as that of precious stones and metals.

Today, however, many fabrics, especially those used for bedding, are often made out of synthesized materials. And on top of that, they’re often treated with harsh chemicals or additives that can leach into your skin, causing irritation or even allergic reactions. When you spend one third of your life in bed, you want to make sure that the surface where you lie is not only comfortable, but safe. Many people, in particular those with sensitive skin or eczema, often see improvements when they make the switch to all-organic materials that are free of toxins and come from 100% natural sources.

Moreover, linen fabrics have unique thermal qualities that make them ideal for sleeping conditions, no matter your climate. On hot and humid nights, linen sheets have been shown to keep human body temperatures at three to four degrees Celsius lower than either silk or cotton. And in colder climates, they also keep bodies warmer. Linen routinely tests at a heat conductivity rating five times greater than wool and 19 times greater than silk. So no matter the temperature outside or the time of year, linens can help regulate your internal thermometer for comfortable and sound rest.

And then there’s the durability factor. Unlike other materials, which wear away with every wash, linen actually becomes stronger when wet — by a factor of about 20%. So not only will a high-quality bed set last you for years to come, you can keep them as clean and fresh as you want. About three in four consumers do agree that fresh-smelling sheets help them sleep better, so go ahead and run the wash cycle again for that just-cleaned scent.

If you want better sleep, it pays to invest in top-quality, organic materials. Not only will your skin and sleep habits benefit, but you’ll gain the peace of mind by choosing responsible organic products that contribute to making the world a more sustainable and eco-conscious place. That in itself might help you sleep better at night. But in the end, the differences we make in the world often can only happen after a good night’s rest. If you want to know how to sleep more soundly, you might start by making the bed.