Many people get confused about European bed sizes. In recent years there have been a number of changes to the variety of bed sizes on offer so that it is quite easy to buy a bed and then find that you have great difficulty in finding bed linen to fit your bed . Companies like Ikea  only stock Swedish sizes which is fine but for the fact that they make and sell a very limited range of bed linen. The UK market has also been a target for the large European bed manufacturers as UK consumers demand wider and longer beds with much deeper mattresses.

So where to start? We don’t want to alarm you but there are over 20 standard sizes commonly found across the EU. The standard European sizes are below and these are the dimensions you will need for fitted sheets, dimensions are always shown with the width first, then the length and then the depth of the mattress.

Euro Single 90 x 190 x 20

Euro Single Long 90 x 200 x 20

Euro Single Ex Long 90 x 220 x 20

Euro Single Deep 90 x 190 x 26

Euro Single Long Deep 90 x 200 x 26

Euro Double 140 x 200 x 20

Euro Double Long 140 x 220 x 20

Euro Double Deep 140 x 200 x 26

Euro King 160 x 200 x 20

Euro King Deep 160 x 200 x 26

Euro King Long 160 x 220 x 20

Euro King Long Deep 160 x 220 x 26

Euro Super King 200 x 200 x 20

Euro Super King Deep 200 x 200 x 26

Euro Super King Long 200 x 220 x 26

Euro Super King Long Deep 200 x 220 x 26

UK Single 90 x 190 x 20

UK Single Deep 90 x 190 x 26

UK Double 135 x 190 x 20

UK Double Deep 135 x 190 x 26

UK King 150 x 200 x 20

UK King Deep 150 x 200 x 26

UK Super King 183 x 200 x 20

UK Super King Deep 183 x 200 x 26

We have shown both standard and deep mattress depths as it is quite likely that your mattress is 26cm or 10″ deep. If you buy a standard fitted sheet it will not fit your deeper mattress and will “ping off” during the night. Take care before buying bed linen to make sure you know the dimensions of your bed.

If you want to know more about bed and fitted sheet sizes take a look at our special bed sizes page.
Please Click Here

What Bed Size do you have?

Many people get confused about UK bed sizes. In recent years there have been a number of changes to the variety of bed sizes on offer so that it is quite easy to buy a bed and then find that you have great difficulty in finding bed linen to fit your bed . Companies like Ikea don’t supply standard UK sizes. Unsurprisingly they only stock Swedish sizes which is fine but for the fact that they make and sell a very limited range of bed linen. The UK market has also been a target for the large US bed manufacturers as UK consumers demand wider and longer beds with much deeper mattresses.

UK Standard Sizes

So where to start? The standard UK sizes are below, dimensions are always shown with the width first, then the length and then the depth of the mattress.

Single                90 x 190 x 20cm        3′ x 3′ 6″  x 8″ deep mattress

Double             135 x 190 x 20cm      4′ 6″ x 6′ 3″  x 8″ deep mattress

King                 150 x 200 x 20cm     5′  x 6’6″ x 8″ deep mattress

Super King   183 x 200 x 20cm     6′ x 6’6″ x 8″ deep mattress

Unusual Bed Sizes

It’s a simple as that BUT it is quite likely that your mattress is 26cm or 10″ deep. If you buy a standard fitted sheet it will not fit your deeper mattress and will “ping off” during the night. Take care before buying bed linen to make sure you know the dimensions of your bed.

If you want to know more about bed sizes take a look at our special bed sizes page. Please Click Here

Definitions of Bed Linen Types

Duvet

A duvet, (the word comes from the French for down) is also known as a continental quilt. A Duvet is a soft flat bag traditionally filled with down or feathers, or often a micofibre filling and used on a bed , usually with no other bed cover.A duvet is similar to a comforter and/or a quilt in that a duvet is also composed of two layers of fabric with an insulation substance between. However, the difference between a duvet and a comforter and/or quilt is that the duvet is to be placed inside a duvet cover.

Duvet Cover

A giant pillowcase-like covering that fits over a duvet. It is open on one end, typically closed by snaps. The purpose a duvet cover is to protect the duvet and be decorative.
In North America Duvets are less common than Europe where Comforters are more commonly used.

Comforter

Is a bed covering which is similar to  duvet in style but usually made of decorative fabric and designed to be used without a cover.
Comforters often feature decorative machine quilting patterns to hold the fill in place that add feature to the design of the item.
Comforters are usually used with Pillow Shams.

Pillow Shams

Usually made of the same fabric that makes a comforter or quilt.They are a decorative cover for a pillow.  Because they are purely decorative  you don’t sleep on pillows covered by a pillow sham.They are usually removed from the bed during the night or may be placed behind the pillows and in front of the bed head. When making a bed, pillow sham covered pillows are usually placed on top or in front of pillows.

Fitted Sheet

A fitted sheet is designed to correctly fit on to your mattress and stay put. A fitted sheet properly manufactured will a. Be elasticated all the way around so that the tuck under your mattress stays put and the sheet does not ‘ping’ off during the night. And b.  Will be correctly sized for the dimensions of your mattress including the depth which can vary from 8″ – 20″ deep!
Many people have a problem finding the correct size for their bed . Please look at our Bed Size Guide where there is information on how to measure your bed and bed size gudes  to ensure you get the right fitted sheet for your bed. Be very careful that any fitted sheet is elasticated all the way round. Cheap, poorly made fitted sheets are often sold with pocket corners. These do not work and you will forever be remaking your bed! You may be interested in looking at our UK bed sizes post.

Flat Sheet

As it says a flat oblong piece of bed linen. Hemmed at edges. Good quality flat sheets often have a cuff at the top.

Valances

A Valance is a skirt of material which covers the bottom part of a bed between the base of a mattress and the floor.

There are  four main types of valance.

Hook and Loop Valance 

 Hook and loop (Velcro style) Valances are ideal for wooden beds, Hook and loop is supplied to stick to the underside of the bed frame and
the valance has Hook and loop attached and simply attach to the frame.

Platform Valance 

 Perfect for divan beds. Valances can be simply laid over the bed base beneath the mattress. These platform Valances always drape beautifully and remain firmly in place.

Split Corner Valance

The perfect valance for metal framed beds and four posters.

Collar Valance 

 The Collar valance simply tucks between the mattress and the bed base. Ideal for those with a heavier mattress.

For more information on Valances Please Click Here

Pillowcases

A pillowcase is a decorative and protective bag for a pillow.  Pillowcases come in a very wide variety of sizes which vary from country to country.

Common pillowcase sizes are :-

Standard 49 x 74cm
Contour 41 x 58cm
Pillow Case Euro 65 x 65 cm
Pillow Case Euro 65 x 100cm
Pillow Case Euro 40 x 80cm
Pillow Case Euro 50 x 60cm
Pillow Case Euro 80 x 80 cm
Waterbed King 50 x 91cm

In addition there are many other sizes all of which can be found by Clicking Here

We will be adding more information to this blog.  If you have any questions related to bed linen terms please ask and we will try to help.

What is “thread count” mean in Bed Linen? 

The number of threads contained in one square inch of fabric, including both the length (warp) and width (weft) threads. Note: This is often a misleading judge of quality since one yarn that is made by twisting together two finer threads could be counted multiple times. Having said that,  better quality bed linen should have a thread count of 200  – 400.

Does Thread Count equal quality?

You should also take care in taking thread count as an overiding sign of quality.  If the threads are of poor quality then the  fabric will not be of high quality whatever the thread count.

Different threads also have very different structures and properties. Bamboo Bed Linen fabric is normally made in a thread count of 250. However the feel of the finished material is very similar to that of a 400 thread count cotton but with a softer handle.

What is Satin?

Many people get confused with the word Satin . It is widely thought that it is a type of fabric like Cotton but it is not.  Satin is a term for a weave. It is usually used to describe fabrics made from long filaments.

Satin is a weave not a fabric

Satin is a weave that typically has a glossy surface and a dull back. It is a warp-dominated weaving technique that forms a minimum number of interlacings in a fabric. A fabric formed with a satin weave using filament fibres such as silk,  or polyester, is termed a satin fabric . If  yarns such as cotton are used, the fabric formed is considered a sateen.
A satin-woven fabric tends to have a high lustre due to the high number of floats on the fabric. Floats are missed interlacings, where the warp yarn lies on top of the weft yarn, or vice versa. The floats tend to make the fabric look glossier as well as give it a smoother surface.

Satin Fabrics make Beautiful Bed Linen

Satin fabrics make beautiful soft tactile bed linen. To find out more about Polyester Satin and Silk Satin take a look here

PU Bed Linen – Shiny and Sexy

The wildest bed linen on the planet!  Shiny and Sexy PU Bedding. PU Bed linen is made from a sensational fabric which is second to none for its eye-catching shinyness. PU  bedding has a super soft shiny surface and create an  exotic ambience and a truly erotic. The fabric is sometimes incorrectly descibed as PVC .

PU sheets  are completely waterproof and are great to use with massage oils and body lotions. They are completely washable at 40C  and so are very easy care.

Buy only PU. Not PVC

Do take care when purchasing PU sheets  – especially from auction sites. Often described as PVC sheets unscrupulous dealers sell cheap plastic sheeting which is far from exotic!

PU on a Jersey Base

Make sure the Bed Linen you buy is described as  PU on a Polyester Jersey Base. The Jersey base is stretchy and so adds to the beautiful soft feeling of High Gloss PU bedding. The best quality bed linen is not only made in Flat sheets but in Fitted Sheets, Pillow Cases, Duvet Covers and Comforters and Pillow Shams too.

To find out more about Hi-Gloss PU bed linen Just Click Here

Purchase Latex Sheets and Bed Linen with care

If you are looking for latex bed linen there are a few things you should look out for.

100% Natural Latex Rubber Bed Linen is made from Latex tapped from Rubber Trees. Once processed latex  has unique properties of a  superb tactile fabric and that wonderful latex smell.

Beware Cheap Latex

Beware of apparently cheap bed sheets on auction sites. Often these are made of poor quality latex cut straight from the roll. This latex sheeting often comes direct fron China or Malaysia and is of variable quality and thickness. Quite often you will find these sheets delivered to you covered in talc straight from the manufacturing process. It takes time and skill to clean the talc from latex sheets like this without damaging the delicate surface of the latex.

On occasions you will find sheets described as latex that are actually made from man made rubber such as neoprene and even PVC. These are best avoided as they will give neither the fantastic latex feel nor the wonderful smell of natural Latex.

What to look for for when choosing Latex Bed Linen

High Quality Latex Rubber Bed Linen should be made with a thickness of the rubber 43/.50mm, a medium weight for durability, strength and a wonderful drape. The best quality latex bed linen should only be made from latex sheeting 2 metres wide to ensure that there are no centre seams. The finest latex sheeting is only made in the UK. It is the finest sheet latex in the world and has been the leading favourite of lovers of latex since the 1960′s.

 The finest quality Latex bed linen is fully finished and hemmed to the highest standard including flat sheets. All fitted sheets should be fully fitted and elasticated to properly fit your mattress. The best Latex bedding is hand made to fit different bed sizes around the world.

Leading Manufacture of Exotic Bed Linen

Between the Sheets is the world’s leading manufacture of exotic bed dressings.We produce the finest latex bed linen available. Hand crafted in the UK we have been supplying true connoisseurs of Latex around the globe since 1992 – over 18 years and still going strong! Not only do we manufacture great fitted and flat sheets but we make pillow cases and duvet covers and comforters too.

For more information on Latex Rubber Bed Sheets Please Click Here

How much sleep do you need?

Individual sleep requirements vary greatly from person to person and reduce gradually as we get older . Sleep is essential in life for the body to repair itself and in maintaining normal levels of cognitive skills such as speech, memory, innovative and flexible thinking. Sleep plays a significant role in brain development.

Lengthy periods of disturbed sleep lead to reduced ability, irritability and lack of concentration. An adult requires about 7-8 hours sleep whereas an elderly person generally requires only 5-6 hours. There is no set amount of time that everyone needs to sleep, since it varies from person to person. Generally people like to sleep anywhere between 5 and 11 hours, with the average being 7.75 hours. The simple truth is that - the amount of sleep we require is what we need not to be sleepy in the daytime.

With continued lack of sufficient sleep, the part of the brain that controls memory, language, planning and perception of time, practically shuts down.

What is Disturbed Sleep?

Researchers have discovered that, over the past two decades, on average the time spent asleep during the night has shortened by up to 30 minutes . An astonishing 25% of the UK population suffer some form of sleep disorder that results in excessive daytime sleepiness.In most cases, people suffer from difficulty in going to sleep and from disturbed sleep. Anyone one who takes more than half an hour in going to sleep is suffering from sleep disturbance. Those who suffer from sleep interruption usually go to sleep easily but often wake up during the night and have difficulty in going to sleep again. Anyone who takes longer than 30 minutes to go to sleep again is suffering from sleep interruption.

Sleep deprivation not only has a major impact on cognitive functioning but also on emotional and physical health. Sleep disturbance is one of the most sensitive indicators of the earliest signs of depression.

What are the most frequent causes of poor sleep?”

Almost everyone experiences poor sleep from time to time and is usually temporary. It may be caused by work or family pressures, a change from normal routine,Jet lag, a different bed, exam nerves or stress. Poor sleep normally improves in time in these situations.

Other causes are:-

Worrying about sleep

We all have had nights where we can’t “drop off”. Or we wake during the night and can’t get back to sleep. This often causes us to become irritated or anxious , which of course can make the problem worse. This may make you have an impression of a bad night’s sleep even when the actual amount of sleep was within normal parameters.

Anxiety or depression

People often find it difficult to switch off  anxieties about work, home or personal problems. Poor sleep is sometimes due to depression. Other symptoms of depression include: a low mood, lethargy, poor concentration, tearfulness, and persistent negative thoughts. Treatment for depression often solves sleep problems

Sleep Apnoea

Commonly occurs in people who are overweight. This condition causes the airwaves to narrow and collapse. This can cause the sufferer snore, get a reduced supply of oxygen into the lungs and to wake up many times each night causing extreme tiredness during the day.

Snoring

Most snorers do not have sleep apnoea and sleep well . However partners of snorers can be kept awake during the night and is a common problem.

Illness and Medication

A large range of illnesses keep some people awake. For example, illnesses  causing pain, indigestion leg cramps, breathlessness, coughs, itch, hot flushes etc. In addition many medicines have side-effects that can cause sleeplessness and disturbed sleep.

Stimulants

Can interfere with sleep. There are three common stimulants that can cause problems

Caffeine – which is in tea, coffee, some soft drinks such as cola. These are all best avoided during the evening.

Alcohol – many people use alcohol to help them sleep. Although it often helps peolple get off to sleep it commonly  causes waking during the night and wakefullness in the early morning.

Smoking. Nicotine is a stimulant and can cause sleeplessness.

Environment

The bedroom environment can be a major factor in sleep problems. A noisy or light bedroom can cause wakefulness. Old and worn out beds,pillow cases  and worn out and uncomfortable bed linen can all contribute to poor sleep. Bedrooms should always be kept cool but draught free to maximise good sleep.
Click here to find out more information on bed linen

People’s Sleeping habits can change over time

Some people find as they get older they can manage with less sleep than when they were younger. Older people and people who get little exercise do tend to need less sleep. If your sleep pattern has not changed, and you do not feel sleepy during the day  you are probably getting sufficient sleep.

Whatever the initial causes a sleep problem , concern about poor sleep, and anxiety about feeling tired the next day, are very common reasons for the problem to gradually become worse.

What Can be done? Solutions for Sleep problems

Anyone having problems sleeping will find a plethora of advice. For people who are having serious problems with sleep the best advice to is to talk to your G.P.  Sleep problems can often be a symptom of an underlying illness, however  sleep experts have concluded that 90% of people can improve their sleep experience by adopting  some simple measures.

Create the optimal environment for sleep

Initially look at your sleeping environment and try to create optimal sleeping conditions for a good nights sleep. Ideally the  temperature in your bedroom  should be 14° – 18°C. The room should be regularly aired and it will help to leave a small window ajar through the night. Bedrooms should be quiet and dark to aid restfull sleep.

It is important that the room is  dark as even a dimly lit room can cause disturbed sleep. Curtains should be lined with blackout material to keep light from outside from causing a disturbance.

High Quality Bed Linen aides restful sleep

Research on the sleeping environment  has concluded that  high quality bedding (beds, underbedding, pillows,bed linen) can extend the period of sleep by nearly an hour each night.
For more information on Luxury bed Linen – Please click here

It is best to encourage good sleep to try to keep to regular sleeping times. You may be a “lark” where  you are a morning person who wakes up early and are most alert in the first part of the day, or an “Owl” – an  evening person who is  most alert in the late evening hours and prefer to go to bed late. Make allowances for this preference and then try to set aside a regular time for sleep.

Regular exercise, spending time outdoors and a balanced healthy diet all improve your potential for restful sleep.

During the evening, avoid late heavy meals and stimulants. Keep lighting low during the evening as bright lights can upset your Circadian rhythm (your internal body clock)

Try to relax as bed time approaches, avoiding vigorous exercise and too much mental or visual stimulation. Late night thrillers are not ideal bedtime viewing! Try gentle Yoga exercises or meditation to introduce a calm state of  mind and body and prepare yourself for rest and sleep.