As soon as the weather starts to turn, most websites immediately start screaming at you about the joy, the wonder, the perfection of flannel sheets. They’re so soft, they’re so warm, they’re so cozy!
Lies. All lies.
Reader, flannel sheets are a menace. They lure you in with their luxurious hand feel and nostalgic plaid patterns. Next thing you know, you're waking up in a pool of your own sweat. Every. Single. Night.
Sure, many people find flannel to be the softest and most inviting fabric out there. I’ll admit I even wear a flannel shirt from time to time. But here's the problem with sleeping in it: even the very best set of flannel sheets simply aren't breathable. If the goal of sheets were to deprive everything below one's neck of oxygen each night, why not just shrink-wrap your lower body in cellophane every night like a piece of luggage? That's more or less what you're getting in exchange for the fleeting, leg-fluttering ecstasy that is the first five minutes of being in a flannel be-sheeted bed.
According to sleep researchers (and self-appointed sleep guru Ariana Huffington), being too warm actually might prevent you from getting to sleep quickly. Studies have shown that the optimal temperatures for sleeping are between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything above or below that and you're jeopardizing your potential sleep quality. You need something warm, but not so suffocating that your bed becomes a sweat lodge.
So what's the answer? How can you find yourself some sheets that are toasty and breathable? If you’re looking for the best sheets for fall and winter, look no further than sheets made from the best all-weather material: percale. Percale sheets are constructed from closely-woven cotton (or, in some cases, polyester). They aren’t as light as linen. They aren't as heavy as flannel. They're just right.
Your next step for transitional and colder weather is to get a duvet. Sleeping under a duvet, also known as a down comforter, is basically like sleeping under a thick cloud. A great duvet traps the heat escaping from your body and spreads it out along its plush fabric, but is still breathable enough that you don’t wake up sweaty.
A combination of a great percale sheet set and down comforter might not cure your Seasonal Affective Disorder, but they’ll definitely keep you warm. If you’re ready to handle anything Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 has to throw at you, we’ve collected some of our favorite options.
Snowe percale sheet set
Threshold performance sheet set
Brooklinen all-season down alternative comforter
If you have any questions on fleece flannel blanket. We will give the professional answers to your questions.