Flat Sheets and Fitted Sheet: What’s the Difference?

Should you use a flat sheet or just a fitted sheet? This has been the major subject of many internet debates and people just can’t seem to agree on the matter. If you’re not sure what all the fuss is about, stick with us and we’ll explain it all to you.

What are Flat Sheets and Fitted Sheet?

As their names suggest flat sheet are flat, rectangular pieces of cloth that fold easily and lie completely flat on any surface. Fitted sheet have elasticized corners that are designed to be pulled over a mattress to ensure a secure fit – they also do not lie flat and are difficult to fold.

What are Flat Sheets and Fitted Sheet used for?

Traditionally, fitted sheets are also known as bottom sheets – are the ones used to cover and protect the mattress from dust. These are the ones you lie directly on top of, and the only thing sometimes used beneath them is an additional mattress protector for your bed.

Flat sheet – also known as top sheets – is traditionally placed on top of the fitted sheet, but beneath duvets and blankets. These are there to make the bed appear more inviting, soft, comfortable, and to protect your duvet covers and blankets from getting dirty. The idea here is that you can easily wash the flat sheet regularly without having to wash the duvet cover as often.

So What’s The Debate?

To some, the addition of flat sheets is considered expendable, creating more folding and manual work when making the bed. Others consider the flat sheet to be an essential part of the bedding and are confused when people omit them.

So should you use one, or should you not? The answer is, it’s all down to personal taste and style, look you want to give to your bedroom. If you find it too much of a difficult to fold and tuck the corners of a flat sheet while making your bed, or if you find that having an additional layer of cotton in addition to your duvet is making you to warm, leave it out. If, on the other hand, you find it easier to wash and change a flat sheet rather than your blanket and duvet cover if you like the way a flat sheet looks with your bedding, then keep it in.

Flat Egyptian cotton bed sheets are also very useful for the summer months in place of a duvet, and many non-believers do make an exception here as this helps keep them cool during the warm nights.

How to choose Flat Sheets and Fitted Sheet

Now you know the difference between flat sheets and fitted sheet, you need to make sure you’re choosing the right ones to suit your needs which will give you comfort and satisfaction.

With fitted sheets it is important you choose the right size to exactly match your bed, as the fitted corners will not work properly on the wrong size mattress. You also need to keep in mind the height of your mattress and whether or not you’re using a mattress topper – thicker mattresses need deep fitted sheets to ensure the sheet fits around the mattress and stays in its place.

The rules with flat sheets, on the other hand, are a little easier. Choosing high quality Egyptian cotton bed sheets for both your bottom sheet and top sheet is very important for superb comfort, as your skin comes into contact with both of them. Pure Egyptian cotton bed sheets are soft on your skin and much more breathable than 100% synthetic materials, and are still easy to wash and care.

Color is also important when choosing flat sheets and fitted sheet, as they need to harmonies with the colors of the rest of your best bedding set. Classic colors like Navy blue, white, and cream are the easiest to match up with almost any color scheme, making these the most popular. You can, however, create a variety of different color schemes with your bedding set if you want to opt for something a little more unique, exciting and flat sheet and fitted sheets are easy to find in a huge range of colors.