by One can tell a lot about a person by looking at his bedroom. If your room is messy, normally, it means you have an unorganized personality. On the other hand, if your bedroom is neat, you must be very organized. Similarly, the color of the walls, bed style, and other accessories tell a lot about you. Generally, a bed captures the center of attention in any bedroom. So, selecting a bedsheet according to your room’s theme is essential. Regarding luxury bedsheets, Percale and Sateen sheets are definitely on the shelf (also check the top rated bed sheets with great comfort).
If you want to know more about these sheets, read till the end.
What Are Percale Sheets?
Percale is a type of weave used in making mostly bedsheets. Not only is it used to make bedsheets, but it is also used to make pillowcases, quilt covers, coverlets, duvets, etc. This weave used on percale sheets is mostly 100% pure cotton. Sometimes, it blends with other high-quality fabrics like silk or rayon. The tight-knit structure gives this sheet a more natural look.
Who Should Use a Percale Sheet?
These sheets are best if you feel hot at night while you sleep and need extra breathing. The knit structure of the percale gives these sheets extra breathing to cool down the temperature. Percale sheets are lightweight and have a smooth, crisp feel which looks natural.
Pros of Percale Sheets
Smooth
Since the percale is mostly made of cotton and the sheet has a tight-knit structure. When the high-quality cotton is stretched in weave form, it gives a nice smooth feel to it. The sheet’s smoothness gives it a super luxurious feel that can be felt on the first touch.
Breathable
High-quality cotton has the natural feature of breathability. 100% cotton has the quality of keeping you cool in the summer (check the best selling bed sheets for summer). With a tight-knit weave, the main ingredient of this sheet makes it lightweight and extremely breathable. If you feel hot when you sleep, then don’t go for any other sheet but a percale sheet.
Durable
Any piece of cloth or sheet made through weaving becomes naturally solid and durable. Similarly, the crisscross pattern in the percale sheet makes it hard to tear and stays durable for long life. Further, high-quality cotton fibers have natural strength, even after many washes.
Get Softer with Every Wash
Pure cotton naturally tends to get softer with every wash without losing strength. That’s why a percale sheet of pure cotton gets softer with every wash. The blend of crispiness and softness gives this sheet a luxury feel. The cotton is blended with other materials like silk, rayon, or polyester for a silkier smooth feel. As a result, the blended percale gets soft with every wash.
Low Maintenance
The best thing about percale sheets is that they are low in maintenance. The all-cotton fabric, generally used for percale, is very easy to clean. There is no need for special treatments or an expensive mix of detergents to keep the fresh look of a percale sheet. You can easily wash it in your home in your washing machine.
Natural Look
Back in the day, the sheets are made on manual looms with the help of weaving thread. The end product would be an all-natural sheet without any chemical or machine treatment. Similarly, percale sheets are woven with cotton threads. Therefore, they have a more natural look than other fabric sheets.
Cons of Percale Sheets
Wrinkles
The cotton-made percale sheet will wrinkle after every wash. The reason is that the crisp feature of the percale will shrink after wash. Hence, wrinkle on the sheet. The wrinkled sheet needs iron or steam to be presentable. Otherwise, a percale sheet with wrinkles doesn’t show luxury.
Not As Soft
A freshly bought percale sheet will not feel soft upon first use. Instead, you will feel the crisp and matte feel for the first time you spread it on your bed. Every wash will start to soften up to feel the luxury.
Thinner
The breathiness and lightweight of the percale sheet make it thinner to feel. If you are a cool sleeper, you might not enjoy the extra breathiness of this sheet. Furthermore, these sheets are not suitable for the winter season as they won’t give you the extra warmth that you need to have a night of cozy sleep (check 10 amazing bed sheets for winter).
What Are Sateen Sheets?
If you want your bedsheet to be silky soft and best for cuddling, then sateen sheets are the option. One common thing in both sateen and percale sheets is that they are generally made of cotton thread weaves. The heaver composition of 3 to one weave to form a sheet makes sateen different. This makes it best for cool sleepers and nights in chilly weather.
Another benefit of this style of weaving is that it provides a luxurious feel with minimum wrinkle even after washing.
Who Should Use a Sateen Sheet?
Anyone who likes to feel cozy and warm at night can get the best experience with a sateen sheet. If you want your sheet to be silky soft, then a sateen sheet is what you need. If you hate wrinkles and feel annoyed removing them, a sateen sheet is a suitable option.
Pros of Sateen Sheets
Silky To Touch
The 3 over 1 weaving style applied to make a sateen gives it a super silky feel. The yarn used in making a sateen is heavier, which gives it a heavier feel. The weaving style is kept loose for a silky feel. The overall look is more of a sheen which is why it is luxurious. Further, sateen sheets are made with other fabrics like silk, polyester, rayon, etc.
Wrinkle-Resistant
A wrinkled sheet destroys the overall look of your bed and bedroom. Your bedsheet will wrinkle when you use it. Sometimes it becomes annoying to straighten your sheets time and again. With sateen sheets, you don’t have to worry about that. The heavy yarn and a thicker weave make these sheets wrinkle-free.
Ideal For People with Sensitive Skin
Pure cotton is naturally soft and breathable. A 100% cotton fabric will feel light on your skin and prevent unnecessary sweat on your body. Dermatologists worldwide recommend only cotton fabric for people with sensitive skin due to its natural features. A good sateen sheet is of cotton, so this makes it perfect for people having sensitive skin.
Warm And Cozy
Everyone loves extra warmth and coziness, especially on cold winter nights. If you are living in the northern hemisphere, then you need extra warmth in winter on your bed apart from your blankets. Made out of heavy yarn and loosen weaving, sateen sheets will ensure that you enjoy your nights laying in your bed, nice and cozy.
Heavier
A heavier yarn is used in weaving a sateen sheet for a more sheen look. The silky luxury feel is only possible when more cotton thread is exposed to the sheet’s surface. This is done by one over and three under weaves. This is the signature style of the sateen sheet.
Machine-Wash Safe
Normally sateen sheets are made of pure cotton, which is easy to maintain. If your sateen sheet gets dirty, all you need is your home washing machine and a good detergent. The plus point is that you don’t need to worry about wrinkles after machine washing your sheet.
Cons of Sateen Sheets
Retains Heat
Sateen sheets tend to give extra warmth due to their heavy structure. If you don’t like extra warmth and are a hot sleeper, then sateen sheets are not for you. Thick yarn means more weight, and more weight means heat retention.
May Pill or Snag More Easily
Another drawback of a heavy sateen sheet is that it can pill easily due to heat absorption. If you use more yarn, then more abrasion will happen. Further, the knitted nature of the sateen sheets creates more chances of snagging. If you do not address a snag on time, it can result in a hole that is difficult to control.
Slippery Texture
The sheen finish of sateen sheets gives it a silky feel. However, it tends to slip as well. This is the last thing you wish to happen with you in the middle of a chilly night. You will feel devastated if you lose your coziness just because the sheet is slippery.
Sheen Can Fade
Looks of sateen sheets are all about sheen. And, sheen means a luster shine. A shiny surface has more tendency to fade than a matte surface. So, if the luster of the sateen sheet fades, this silkiness will reduce.
Difference Between Percale and Sateen Sheets
Both sateen and percale have a different fan following. Some people the one type over the other. Let’s look at the main differences between the two sheets.
| Category | Sateen | Percale |
| Durability | Limited life. | Extended life. |
| Comfort & feel | Extra silky.
Suitable for sensitive skin and cold sleepers. |
Percale texture is lightweight and breathable. |
| Temperature Neutrality | Suitable for winters. | Can be used throughout the year. |
| Wrinkles | Wrinkle-free. | Ironing is essential. |
Comfort & Feel
People prefer sateen over percale, often like a silky-smooth feel for their bedsheet. They hate wrinkles, love heat, and want to present their bed in a voguish sheen. On the contrary, percale-loving people hate hot sleeping, love crisp cotton, and want a durable sheet.
The sheen of a sateen sheet makes it extra silky. In addition, its weaving composition makes it suitable for sensitive skin and cold sleepers.
Weaving
It is important to note that both are weaving methods in a unique pattern. There are numerous materials with whom these weavings are done. In other words, a percale or a sateen is not just cotton based; a percale and a sateen are also available in silk, polyester, rayon, and other synthetic materials. In that case, the quality of both can vary depending upon the material used.
Durability
Although the thick yarn is used in making a sateen sheet, however, the weaving style of it makes it medium-tier durable. Further, the default issue of pill and snag limits the life of the sheet.
A percale becomes stronger after every wash. Secondly, the feel of a percale sheet also tends to soften up after machine wash. In this regard, the durability of a percale sheet is excellent.
Temperature Neutrality
The sateen sheet is weaved heavily, which makes it ideal for warmth. Further, a sateen sheet can be a source of extra coziness on cold winter nights. Therefore, sateen is ideal for a cold sleeper in all seasons. On the contrary, hot sleepers might feel uncomfortable laying on a sateen sheet.
One over-one weaving style makes a percale sheet lightweight and breathable. The comfortable and soft cool feel is ideal for the summer season. Hot sleepers will be more comfortable on a percale sheet for 365 days.
Wrinkles
An additional benefit of 3 over 1 weaving makes the sateen sheet wrinkle-free. There is no need for ironing after machine washing a sateen sheet
The percale sheets are famous for their crispy texture. This crispiness turns into wrinkles every time the percale sheet is washed. Therefore, ironing is essential before using the sheet again.
Price
The price and quality of both sateen and percale vary with the material used because some materials, like silk, or rayon, are expensive. Hence, percale or sateen made from these yarns will be more costly than cotton.
Percale vs Sateen: Which One Is Right For You?
Choosing between Percale and Sateen largely depends on your personal preference and your sleeping needs. If you tend to sleep hot and prefer a crisp, lightweight sheet, Percale might be your best bet. However, if you enjoy a silky-smooth texture and need a bit more warmth, Sateen would be the more suitable option.
How Do I Care For Percale and Sateen Sheets?
Both Percale and Sateen sheets can be machine washed, but there are some differences in care to maintain their quality. Percale sheets tend to wrinkle easily, so ironing might be necessary after washing. Sateen sheets, with their wrinkle-resistant properties, generally require less maintenance in terms of ironing. Always check the care label for specific instructions.
Does The Material Affect The Feel And Durability Of Percale And Sateen Sheets?
Yes, the material from which the sheets are made can significantly influence their feel and longevity. While both Percale and Sateen can be made from different materials like silk, polyester, rayon, and cotton, the feel and durability can vary based on these materials. For example, silk or rayon variants might feel smoother but could be less durable than their cotton counterparts. Always consider the material composition when purchasing to ensure you get the desired comfort and longevity.
Conclusion:
There you have it; percale and sateen sheets are discussed in detail in this article. The origin of both sheets is cotton yarn and is made with weaving. However, sateen is heavier than percale. If you are a hot sleeper, percale is for you due to its lightweight and breathiness.
On the other hand, if you like warmth and cozy, then sateen sheets are for you. Now, the choice is yours, whether to select sateen sheets or percale sheets.
Percale vs Sateen sheets FAQs
Why Are Percale Sheets Better?
Percale sheets are lightweight and breathable. The one-on-one weaving style makes it more comfortable after every wash. This way, the percale sheets are more durable than a sateen sheet. On the other hand, sateen sheets are heavyweight and are prone to pill and snag upon frequent wash.
Do Sateen Sheets Make You Sweat?
Yes. The thick yarn use and 1 over 3 weaving make it heavier. Therefore, the heavier the weaving, the warmer the sheet. The heat retention of sateen sheets makes you sweat.
Is Sateen Hotter Than Cotton?
Yes. Although sateen is normally cotton, thick cotton yarn is used to create a sateen sheet. This makes it hotter than cotton. At the same time, cotton itself has cool and breathable features naturally.