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What is a Thread Count?

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To the question, “What is thread count?” the number of threads per square inch is the simple answer. Thread count refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads used per square inch of fabric. This number ranges from 80 up to 1,000 or more. The common belief is the higher the thread count, the better the quality of the sheet, which in most cases is true (although the quality of the thread used has a significant impact!)

When determining the quality of a sheet, you must consider the material from which it is made, the yarn size, and the ply. Yarn size is the diameter of the yarn or thread. The higher the yarn size, the finer the threads. The finer the threads, the higher the thread count will be because more of them will fit in the designated square inch.

Ply is the number of single yarns used in a strand of thread. Single ply means the weaving of fabric is from a single thread. In two-ply fabric, yarns are twisted together before weaving occurs giving the final product twice the thread count. Two-ply fabrics must have a high yarn size (small diameter) so they don’t feel thick.

A thread count of 140-180 is usually a fairly coarse finished product. 200 is good, but a count of 300 to 400 is better. The use of multi-ply yarn in creating high thread count makes a difference in the feel of the resulting fabric.

1,000 is a very high thread count, but may not result in the softest weave. Multiple single threads being twisted together is how such a high thread count is created. This can cause the finished fabric to feel bulky. Generally, a 400+ thread count is the most comfortable for use in bedding.

Winnie the Pooh Crib Bedding – Silly Old Bear

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Winnie the Pooh crib bedding has been a best seller for years. There is something about the adorable characters from Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood that stand the test of time. Pooh and Piglet are favorites, of course, but Tigger, Eeyore and Rabbit are close runners up.
You can accent a Pooh Bear theme with a variety of accessories. Cutouts of Owl, Kanga and Roo and even Christopher Robin himself can decorate the walls, and you can even place a few pots of ‘HUNNY’ strategically around the room. Knock yourself out – they are only babies once!

Winnie the Pooh has always been a favorite of children everywhere, and a few stuffed animals to sit on the Winnie the Pooh bedding would not be amiss. Take them out before putting your baby to bed, though! A copy of the BOOK itself on the nightstand, and you are ready put your little one to bed.

Read him a chapter or two of the always fun story, and don’t forget to sing the ’Colder it BLOWS’ song. Tuck him in between Piglet emblazoned sheets, turn on the Tigger nightlight, and set his stuffed Pooh bear where he can see it. Sweet dreams are a given, despite what Eeyore might say!

Winnie the Pooh crib bedding is the perfect way to introduce your baby to this beloved children’s character! The colors are lovely – pale blues, soft greens and earth tones, and a peaceful neutral color can be done on the walls and flooring, leaving plenty of room to accent with prints and other Pooh related items.

Western Bedding – Go West!

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When you think of Western Bedding, what instantly comes to mind? Horses and cowboys? While those are certainly options, there is much more to this type of bedding. You don’t have to live in the Wild West, either, to pull off this look!

Western bedding need not be masculine either. For girls who love horses, there are several options. Riding accessories, such as horse show riding hats and saddles, on pastel backgrounds make for a lovely decor for the horseback riding enthusiast. Do you have a little pony lover in your household? Dress up a room with some pony prints on the walls and a calendar to match!

Boys who love Westerns or like playing Cowboys and Indians will be sure to love bedding with rodeo, Western cowboy, or Old West themes. A log cabin design bedding with rugged scenery is appropriate for boys of all ages and will have them feeling like they are going to sleep in their very own cabin in the woods. Try bandana bedspreads on a rustic set of bunk beds for a bunkhouse effect.

For a unisex adult look, an Americana design in patriotic colors of red, white and blue can give any traditional bedroom a timeless makeover. If this look does not appeal to your feminine side, you can head a little further South for some lovely Santa Fe prints with wonderful shades of aqua, teal, tans and all the colors of the sunset.

The West means the glory days of westerns as well, so frame that print of the Duke and one of Roy Rogers, and toss a cowhide rug on the floor for a finishing touch. Western bedding can make any room a candidate for some cowboy meets cowgirl romance!

Tropical Bedding

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Does the very thought of azure blue waters, warm white sands, and lush tropical flowers make you feel more relaxed?  Do you wish that you could escape from your everyday life and spend more time sipping outrageously colored drinks under the warm equatorial sun?  Even if you can’t spend as much time on vacation as you would like, you can still bring the relaxed atmosphere and wild beauty of the ocean and jungle in your own home, with tropical bedding.

Bedding that captures the unique beauty of the tropics is far different from the more standard pastel florals that are found in many comforter designs.  Imagine a bright orangey-red comforter accented by pillows boasting green palm leaves and red hibiscus flowers.  Top off the look with a striped bed ruffle that picks up the greens, reds, and khakis of your jungle theme.

If the ocean calls to you more strongly than the jungle does, you can pair a dreamy turquoise blue comforter with decorative pillows that reflect the colors of sand and sun.  A pillow shaped like a beach ball will round out the look while adding a fun flair to your room decor.
Are you dreaming of a trip to Hawaii?  Pair a raffia grass bed skirt with a coral-colored comforter and seashell-shaped cushions, and say ”aloha“ every time you walk into your bedroom.

To enhance the tropical feel in your bedroom, select furniture and accents made of beautiful rattan, bamboo, or wicker.  Paired with striking bedding, wicker furnishings will make you feel like you are ready to step out onto the beach, even in the dead of winter.

While you probably can’t whisk yourself away to the tropics every time you need a break from the everyday, you can create an oasis of comfort and serenity in your home with the bedding and furniture choices that you make.  With just a touch of creativity, you can bring the tropics home with you.

Silk Bedding: The Luxury of Silk Bedding

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Silk is cool in summer, warm in winter and naturally hypoallergenic, making it a popular choice for bedding.  It can’t be beaten for softness or shine and is undeniably luxurious!
Here are some of the types of silk that you may come across when searching for a silk comforter bedding set:

Charmeuse Silk has a beautiful sheen but is most often used for clothing and only occasionally for bedding.

Dupioni Silk is usually woven with two different colors of thread which lets the colr change and shimmer in different lights.  Dupioni silk covers have a low shine and a slightly rougher texture than other silks but the iridescent colors make it a popular choice.

Fuji Silk is soft, lustrous and doesn’t wrinkle so it’s ideal for bedspreads and comforter covers.
Habutai Silk wrinkles the least of all silks and is used for the most expensive bedding.  It’s often a natural, off-white color.  ‘Habutai’ is Japanese for ‘as soft as down’!

Silk is not just used for the cover – it can also be used for filling a comforter.  This gives a supple and lightweight comforter which is not as puffed up as a down one, but is equally as warm.

High quality comforters are often filled with mulberry silk.  This means that the silkworms have only been fed on mulberry leaves and they spin a long silk fiber which is heavier than other silk.  When used as a filling, these threads are left as fibers and are not woven.  Because of their weight and shape, they are less inclined to shift inside the cover than other fillings.

Caring for a Silk Comforter

Most need dry cleaning but some are machine washable – check the label.  Keep it out of direct sun as sunlight will eventually break down the silk fibers and cause the color to fade.

How to Buy Bedding for Your Teen Girl

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Is your teen girl more Marilyn Manson than Marilyn Monroe?  

You might be fearful that buying bedding for your teen daugher is not going to be the fun experience it once was.  The good news is that there are some fantastic designs out there for teen girls and choosing teen bedding together could be a ‘bonding’ experience…well, we can live in hope!

Teenage girls have very definite ideas about what they like and don’t like – so it’s not a good idea to buy anything until you’ve run it past her.  Better still, get her to show you what she likes!  Even the most funky and way out designs are so beautifully made and presented that you may be surprised!

Keep it light!

One thing that you can be sure of with teenage girls is that they change their mind all the time!  What she absolutely loved last week will be gross this week!  For that reason, it’s a good idea to keep the walls and carpet of the bedroom light and neutral and just ring the changes with her bedding.

Another good reason for keeping the décor light is that it has been shown to promote good emotional health and balance – and let’s face it, once those hormones hit, you need all the help you can get!

Stuck for a gift?

Having a neutral backdrop can help in other ways too.  Many teens can be difficult to buy gifts for, but a ‘bed in a bag’ is a great concept and would make a lovely present.  It allows the teen to give their bedroom a whole new look every time the linen is changed!  Most bed in a bag sets contain a comforter, bed skirt and pillow shams.  Some include sheets as well – just check before you buy (or advise anyone else to buy!).  The sets come in every design imaginable from Zebra stripes and Giraffe prints to retro designs or muted Victoriana.

Don’t forget to check that whatever you buy is easily washable as teenage girls love to lie on the bed putting make-up on and accidents do happen!

Some ideas to inspire you!

Tied dyed comforters, bed skirts, shams, sheets and accent pillows are so pretty and yet wild enough for any teen! Some have raised color-matching soutache embroidery and come in aqua, pink or purple.  You could buy a matching set, or mix and match the colors, for many different looks!

If you prefer traditional patchwork but your daughter wants something more modern, a great compromise would be the Pink Parisian Paisley and patchwork bed set from Pottery Barn.  French style is big in all house décor at the moment so your teen may love it in her bedroom!
A clean, bold design is the Pop Flowers Collection from Isaac Mizrahi.  This stunning bed set features giant photo-quality flowers on a plain white background.

Is your teen all grown-up but still crazy on horses?  Show her the Giddy up Bedding in soft pinks and lavenders, with a lovely quilted comforter featuring horses.

If that’s not funky enough for her, how about some Hot Pink Dots bedding, which has prints of hot pink flamingos, pink poodles and deco black and pink dots!  You can choose one pattern and have the whole bedding set in that – or mix and match.  Whichever you choose, it looks great and very pink!

Check out the kids’ bedding section too!  You may think that characters like Betty Boop, Barbie and Hello Kitty are too young for your daughter now – but these have cult status among teens!  Find out what she really likes!

If your girl is into vintage chic, how about a Thrift Shop Hippie Chick bedding set?  This is subtly pretty with mismatched, faded prints that are all the same color tone.

Even Amazon are in on the bedding market now – and they’ve chosen well with a lovely Roxy duvet cover.  This could be used on a duvet or a comforter and is easy to remove and wash.
While you’re searching, don’t forget eBay!  There are always brand new bargains to be had and your teen will love the excitement of bidding for her new bedding.

Bring out the designer in her!

One way to be sure of getting exactly what you want is to have the bedding custom made! Artistic Sensations was started by a Mum who couldn’t find what she was looking for when she came to decorate her own children’s rooms.

The company sells a sumptuously beautiful velvet and satin patchwork bedding set.  It can be bought ‘as seen’ or you can choose up to eight fabrics for the patchwork, the reverse fabric and even the piping!  Fabrics to choose from include Fuzzy furs in different patterns – Tiger, Cow, Cheetah etc and a large selection of plain and embossed satins and velvets.  The finished bedding is machine washable.

Make your daughter’s bedding truly unique by letting her design her own!

Deep breaths!

Try not to get too fraught with the bedding-buying!  There will be plenty of designs that you both love so it’s just a case of choosing which one!

You daughter’s bedroom will be beautiful – even if she doesn’t let you in once it’s finished!