Opinions are divided about what type of bedding is optimal for a good night’s sleep, which is why there is so much debate over flat vs. fitted sheets. But there is one thing everyone agrees on — when it comes to dressing up your bed, you don’t have to compromise style for comfort.
Today, you can choose from a variety of materials, patterns, and colors and select the best outfit for your bed! With my guide, you won’t have to lose a minute of sleep deciding what type of sheets to go for. Top, bottom, flat, or fitted — I’ve got intel on all things sheets!
To be able to decide what bedding would work best for you, you need to know the ins and outs of both flat and fitted sheets. Keep on reading to learn about all the pros and cons of both types.
Flat Sheets: The Basics
Flat sheets first became a staple in the 15th century, when wealthy households started using elaborate bedding made of luxurious materials for their beds. Today, most flat sheets are plain, rectangular pieces of cloth, but they can also have a decorative print or pattern.
When it comes to flat vs. fitted sheets, the former undoubtedly give you more versatility. Flat sheets are fantastic as both top and bottom bed covers! Put them on your mattress before hitting the hay or under your blanket or duvet for an extra layer of covers.
Flat sheets work wonders when used under heavier coverings, such as duvets, comforters, quilts, and blankets. They provide optimal temperature control and can warm you up or cool you down. Make sure that your bedding is made of natural materials. It will absorb moisture and provide sufficient airflow but also work as a barrier that will trap warmth. If you use layered covers, you can easily add or remove a flat sheet to be as cozy as you want.
Removing flat sheets requires no fuss — just pull one end, and they will slide off the bed. They are also easy to iron, and they fold like a charm. Another advantage is that they absorb bodily fluids and make you sweat less during the night. This protects not only your mattress from stains but also your top coverings, keeping them clean longer. That without fail lowers your duvet dry cleaning costs quite a lot!
Flat Sheets: The Downsides
When flat sheets are used as bottom sheets, they tend to be quite uncomfortable for the bed’s occupant. If you toss and turn a lot when you sleep, they can move around and get tangled between your feet. Not only will your sheets wrinkle up that way, but you may also find all that tousling rather irritating. In case you are a particularly light sleeper, you won’t sleep a wink with messy flat sheets.
You can either let flat sheets hang loose off the edges of the bed or tuck them into the bedframe. The thing about flat sheets is that they have to be gathered under the mattress carefully to look neat. But not everyone can achieve the elusive mitered corners. If you aren’t apt at making those “hospital” corners, you’ll likely spend ample time doing your bed in the morning.
Let’s say you have a plush, soft mattress. Having a flat sheet on top of it will certainly become a nuisance! Not only will it slide under you every time you move but it will end up at your feet before you know it. It will also crease so much that you won’t be able to have a neat looking bed when you get up.
Fitted Sheets: The Basics
When fitted sheets made their first appearance on the market in the 1990s, they gained instant popularity. Their specific design enables users to make their beds in fewer steps in the morning. It also ensures that they don’t slip off the mattress the way flat sheets usually do.
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Namely, fitted sheets have either an elastic band or a drawstring sewn inside the hem. That allows them to fit snugly over and around the mattress without slipping. It also makes them much more practical to use than flat sheets, as the fitted variety doesn’t budge during the night.
Apart from drastically reducing the time you need to make your bed in the morning, fitted sheets have several advantages. They are moisture-repellant and provide excellent temperature control. With sheets made of comfortable materials, you can rest assured you won’t wake up sweat-drenched in the middle of the night.
However, to ensure your bedding stays put and you get a full night’s sleep, your fitted sheets have to fit the mattress to a T. Double-check your bed’s dimensions before you get a new fitted sheet. It has to match the height, length, and thickness of your mattress and fit it like a glove.
Fitted Sheets: The Downsides
If any of the measurements above don’t add up, you will have trouble making your bed look neat. A sheet that is too big for your bed will appear loose and crumpled, and one that is too small won’t be able to envelop the entire mattress. Either way, your sheet will slip off and crease during the night, and your peaceful slumber will turn into a nightmare.
Besides, while these sheet’s elastic edges allow for a better grip on the mattress, they do make maintenance more difficult. Because fitted sheets have ruffled hems, they are notoriously hard to iron. On top of that, they can never be folded as nicely as flat sheets, so you won’t be able to store them flat on your shelves.
Another downside to fitted sheets in comparison to flat ones is that you cannot use them as top covers. Therefore, you can’t combine them with comforters and blankets to layer your bedding. They are also a bit more challenging to put on and take off the bed. You need to lift the mattress one corner at a time and stretch the tight elastic to put them on or remove them.
Materials Used for Flat and Fitted Sheets
In terms of materials, there isn’t much difference between flat and fitted sheets. Here are the fabrics that are typically used in the manufacture of most types of bedding:
- Linen
- Cotton
- Silk
- Flannel
- Modal or bamboo rayon
- Lyocell
- Microfiber
- Cotton blends (e.g., cotton and polyester)
- Polypropylene
Natural fibers, such as those of cotton and silk, provide the highest degree of absorbency and softness. However, combining them with synthetic materials, such as polyester, ensures that the bed linen is more durable. It is also less prone to creasing when you wash it or sleep on it.
What’s more, high-quality materials, such as cotton, linen, and lyocell, offer natural protection for your skin. They shield it from irritants commonly found in mattresses, such as dust and mites. That feature is particularly important if you are prone to allergies. They also absorb sweat and other fluids and effectively shield your mattress from stains.
Although you can find bed sheets individually, they typically come in three or four-piece sets. For example, three-piece sets usually come with a flat or fitted sheet and two pillowcases. Four-piece sets can contain two pillowcases alongside a matching sheet and a duvet cover. Alternatively, you can get both a fitted and a flat sheet and two shams, but the product combinations largely depend on the manufacturer.
Flat Sheets vs. Fitted Sheets: The Overview
To make your shopping for the ideal bedding easier, I made an overview of both types of sheets. Here is a breakdown of all the details I covered in the above debate on flat vs. fitted sheets.
Flat Sheets:
- Serve as top and bottom bedding
- Temperature control
- Absorbent
- Easy to remove, iron, and fold
- Tend to slide on the bed and crease
- Lay them flat or tuck them in
- Can serve as a covering on their own
Fitted Sheets:
- Only serve as bottom sheets
- Temperature control
- Absorbent
- More difficult to take off, iron, and store
- Don’t move and, thus, don’t crumple
- The dimensions are important
- Come with an elastic or a drawstring
Flat vs. Fitted Sheets: The Verdict
To sum it up, there are many benefits and a couple of downsides to either type of bed sheets.
Flat sheets offer more versatility, as they can serve as both top and bottom linen. However, they crease easily and often end up at the foot of the bed by morning, which makes them somewhat impractical. But they fold like a dream, unlike fitted sheets, which need a skilled hand to fold them neatly for storage. On the other hand, fitted sheets don’t move an inch during the night and turn making the bed into a piece of cake.
In the end, it all comes down to your personal preferences and what you require for that much-needed shut-eye. Hopefully, this article on flat vs. fitted sheets has helped you pick the ideal covers for your bed, so that the next time you turn in, you go out like a light. Nighty night, and sleep tight!
