I love staying at hotels. There's something so whimsical about waltzing into your room to a curation of bath products, unique decor, and most importantly — a perfectly made bed. I can tell if I'm gonna get a good night's sleep at the very first touch. Is the bedding too starchy? Too thick? Too tucked in? Each little element makes a world of difference, lulling me to sleep or leaving me to toss and turn all night.
Throughout my travels, the absolute best bed to rest my head is at the Proper Hotel in Santa Monica. Every time I check in, I know the mattress will be cushy and comfortable, the pillow will be luscious and lovely, and the bedding will be sumptuously soft. In my many attempts, I've yet to recreate this beautiful bed set up in my own room. I've tested bed sheets from Brooklinen, Target, Parachute, and every brand in between.
Finally, I found my holy grail: Banana Republic Home Fine Cotton Sateen Collection. Here's why this bedding set changed the game when it comes to making my bed.
The Fabric Weave Works Wonders
First and foremost, every item in the Fine Cotton Sateen Collection is 100% cotton with a 700 thread count. While that all sounds fancy, let me break down why these factors make all the difference when it comes to good bedding. When fibers are blended together — like sheet set that's a mixture of polyester and cotton — they're often hotter, less breathable, and not as soft. With a set that's 100% cotton, you're able to get a more uniform weave with your yarn, allowing you to better control the heft and feel of the sheets.
That leads us to our weave: sateen. Sateen sheets are when cotton yarn has a satin weave — confusing, I know, but stick with me. Weaves are divided into warp (up-and-down) and weft (left-to-right) threads. Typical plain weaves are exactly what you would expect, with weft threads going over one warp thread, under the next, and so on. With satin weaves, a weft thread goes under one warp thread, over *four* warp threads, under another warp thread, etc. The more loose construction allows for a softer, more luxe feel to the fabric at hand.
As the threads continue to weave together, that creates what's known as the thread count. The idea is that the more threads you weave into the fabric, the softer and smoother it is. Thread count tends to be a little contested as to how much of a difference high counts make. According to Wirecutter's research, anything above 600 thread count isn't much better. That being said, the 700 thread count BR Home sateen sheets are much softer than the 480 thread count Brooklinen sateen sheets I tried earlier this year.
These factors accumulate to create that soft and sumptuous feeling I get every time I lay down at The Proper. I feel enveloped by my bed without feeling overwhelmed by the heft of the fabric. I sleep throughout the night without tossing and turning so much because the sateen feels cool to the touch. And the whole set just kind of drapes over my queen-sized bed without bunching up too much or pulling at the corners, leaving it looking and feeling as relaxed as possible.
The Sheet Set Is Super Stylish
This set comes in four colors — white, oyster, sky (light blue), and thunder (dark gray). I have the oyster set, and it adds a crispness to my bed that a regular white set would, with just a *little* added flair. The off-white color also allows me to play with other bedding like throw pillows and blankets. Right now, I have some hunter green accessories on the bed, but who knows what my winter, spring, and summer color palettes may inspire in the future. Luckily, the oyster color styles well with whichever season!
And It's Fabulously Functional, Too!
When it comes to the duvet cover, there's one feature that I'm absolutely obsessed with. Instead of the typical buttons or snaps at the bottom, this cover ZIPS UP. So after you've done whichever little duvet dance works best for you to slip your comforter in, you don't have to go through the motions of a million little buttons at the end. It's honestly such a game changer.
This bedding is machine-washable, and in fact, I recommend washing them before putting them on your bed. This will help ensure the bedding is clean and free of chemicals and sheens added from factory production, according to Better Homes & Gardens.
These sets come in Queen, King, and California King sizes, so you're unfortunately out of luck if you've got a double or a twin mattress.
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Images via Banana Republic Home
