Summary: You can dramatically change the temperature of your room with just your bedding.
Now that fall is here, it’s a good time to prep your home for the winter cold. Winter brings two basic choices: crank up the heater or take other measures to lower the temperature in your home. If you want to lower your heating bill, you can alter much of the state of your room with bedding collections alone. Temperature is key, but there are many variables that contribute to it.
Weight
The weight of the bed sets can be misleading. Silk sheets, for instance, can feel rather light but they are excellent for trapping body heat. Still, heavy sheets do have the advantage of durability. It may be more cost effective long term to stock up on heavy comforters and sheets that will last for many years.
Fibers
Cotton and its many blends are usually the most affordable and durable of the fibers you can choose from. Designer bedding made with Egyptian cotton is especially soft and well-insulated. Linen is another option. It breathes well and it’s light, but it can get wrinkled easily and some find the texture to be abrasive.
Color
Lighter colors tend to make a difference when it comes to absorbing heat. During the summer months, a lighter color reflects daylight throughout the day. The lighter colors also make them easier to clean and bleach. During winter, darker sheets are more heat absorbent and help to keep the bed warm before you ever climb inside.
The residual temperatures around you are worth noting too. Winter in California varies greatly from winter in Minnesota, so some sleepers may find lighter colors a benefit during winters that tend to get more direct sunlight.