Duvet cover, shams, pillowcases, fitted and flat Sheets... Did I forget anyone?

Choosing your sheets is where making your bed gets really interesting. There is a wide selection of fabrics, colors, textures, designs and patterns and this is where you really have a chance to express your personality and tastes. Here I will cover some of the different types of materials out there, measures of quality and clear some misconceptions.


What is it made of?
There is no shortage of choices when it comes to fabrics for your bed linen. Some common fabrics include various types of cotton (Satin, Jersey, Egyptian), linen, flannel, bamboo and the royal micro modal. A good quality fabric should be soft, fine, light, breathable and cool. The first determinant of quality is the material the fabric is made of and the length of its staple. By far, the most popular fabric for bed sheets is cotton. Cotton has a very light and strong fiber and results with really soft and cool sheets. However, cotton comes in a wide range of quality and it is often difficult to know when the quality is there. Egyptian cotton is the best cotton for bed linen. It has the finest fibers and the longest staple, which makes it very light and breathable as well as soft and durable, but quite expensive as well (well worth the investment though). For other types of cotton look for the length of the staple. There some good quality long staple cotton available for lower budgets. Make sure to feel the fabric and to ask for some information about the type of cotton and length of staple, and remember that if the price is too good to be true, it probably is. A good quality Egyptian Cotton queen bottom (fitted) sheet should cost anywhere between $100 and $250 (tip: make sure it is 100% Egyptian cotton, and Egyptian cotton does not mean cotton from Egypt but a species of cotton that is called Gossypium hirsutum and can be traced back to South America rather than Egypt). Other good quality long staple cotton sheets should range between $70 to $100 for a Queen size sheet.

A quick word about Thread Count:
Unlike common perception, thread count, although used as a measure of quality, is not that important for the quality of the final product. Generally, a thread count above 200 threads per squared inch is considered high quality. Moreover, the maximum number of threads that can fit a square inch is about 500 and that is only if you use the finest fiber. So, when you hear something like "1000 thread counts sheets for only $50..." this is definitely misleading advertising. There are some ways of achieving what would technically be considered as 1000 thread counts. One way is to use multiple plies, which means that several threads are threaded together and counted individually, when they should be counted as one. An easy way to tell is to simply touch and look at the fabric. If its heavy and coarse it is a poor quality fabric.

Flannel:
Flannel is typically made of either wool or cotton. It is soft and warm so its a good idea to have a set for those cold winter nights. The flannel that we carry in DreamMakers is a German made organic cotton flannel and it is definitely superior to what you might find in other stores.

Linen:
Linen is one of the oldest fabrics in human history dating as far back as more than 35,000 years ago (pretty unbelievable, I know). It is very labor intensive to make and so it's a bit pricy, but well worth it. It is made of the flax seed, which is the longest staple fiber so it is extremely strong ( about 3 times the strength of cotton). Linen is highly breathable and a good conductor of heat which means that it is ideal for use in the summer. In addition, it is very absorbent and can be 20% saturated before you will feel that it is wet. This is why it is very popular in very hot and humid areas.
When new, linen seems quite coarse, but it will get softer as you wash it and in fact it will get as soft as the softest cotton. Be careful when folding and ironing it to change the fold because over time repeated fold might break the fibers.

And the best for last - Micro Modal:
Micro modal is a relatively new kind of fabric that is made of beechwood cellulose. It is the optimal fabric for bed sheets because it has very fine long staple fibers. This makes it very strong and probably the softest fabric you ever felt. Moreover, it is very lightweight, breathable and cool, and it carries colors better than anything else. So this is an item that although requires a bit of an investment on your part will probably be one of the smartest purchases you can make. It would last you a very long time and will stay in a condition that you will be able to enjoy its softness, vibrant colors, and luxurious look. You really need to see it to understand. Come and check it out in one of our stores (1750 West Broadway, Vancouver; or 925 Main street, West Vancouver at the Village in Park Royal) and ask us about Micro Modal.

Schlossberg Bed Linen Collection Spring 2010

Schlossberg is one of the finest home fashion companies in the world. Based out of Switzerland, they employ a top team of designers and artists to produce contemporary breathtaking designs that are hand drawn and then printed on the highest quality Egyptian Cotton transforming your bed to a work of art. They derive their inspiration primarily from nature, so there are a lot of florals and natural colors. check out their latest spring collection in the video above. And remember you can view all their designs in store at Dream Makers Vancouver, 1750 West Broadway, or West Vancouver, 925 Main street at the Village in Park Royal (South).

Duvets: make your bed look and feel like a cloud

Have you ever slept in a hotel and wondered how come you can sleep better on a bed that is not even yours? The answer is simple really. In the higher grade hotels out there, bedding is viewed as science, which pretty much means that they pay close attention to what we have been talking about in previous blogs. Still, one thing that is very likely to make a big difference in your bed is the duvet. A duvet is important because of two main reasons. The first is that it regulates your body temperature while you sleep. The second reason is more psychological and it is that a good duvet should make you feel like you are sleeping on a cloud because it is light and fluffy.

So how can you get a duvet that will make you feel like you are sleeping in the clouds amongst the angels?

Duvets, much like pillows come in a variety of fillings natural and synthetic. The common natural fillings include down, wool, and silk. The synthetic alternative is usually gel fiber. By far, down duvets are the most popular ones. There are numerous grades of down out there and again the golden rule applies here as well: you get what you pay for. Still, normally comparing 2 duvets side by side, you will be able to see and feel the difference between the good quality duvet and the poor quality one (the salesperson should be able to easily demonstrate the benefits of each duvet). The things you should look for in a duvet are good fill power (or loft), it should be light weight, it should have baffle box construction to avoid shifting of the down inside, and a nice outer shell. Of course you want to make sure that it is Hypoallergenic (meaning cleaned to the highest standards).

Down duvets.
Lets start with fill power. Fill power refers to the volume a predetermined amount of down (for example, 2 grams) can fill. The maximum fill power for down is about 900 cm³/g, but 500 cm³/g is a good start. Two factors can determine the fill power: 1. percentage of cluster, and 2. the quality of the down. So to get 900 fill power you would have to get the best and purest down with 95% cluster. Another way of classifying down is by the type of bird it came from for example white goose down or white duck down. Typically, white goose down is considered higher grade down but not always. You should look at the fill power and cluster percentage for more reliable measures of quality. Generally, higher fill power down will be more durable and remain nice and fluffy for longer.

The outer shell
Beside the down inside the duvet it is important to look for a good quality outer shell. The shell should be light (it carries most of the weight of the duvet), yet strong, durable and tight as to prevent leakage of the down. In addition, you want the shell to be made of breathable, soft and cool fabric so that it feels good. And one last thing you may want to consider is to look for a shell that does not make any noise when you crinkle it (some people really despise that noise).

Alternatives to down duvets
One good alternative is a wool duvet. Wool duvets are good because they are extremely breathable and very good in regulating your temperature. So, many are useful year round. Some people also like the fact that wool duvets are heavier.

Silk is also a good option. The main benefits of silk is that it is the most breathable material and also the softest one. Silk is a good option for a summer blanket.

Another alternative for people who are allergic is the gel fiber synthetic duvet. There are many varieties out there. The good ones would feel very similar to down duvets but less lofty. Try to ask if they have a sample of the material to show you. It should be soft and light fibers that look similar to silk fibers (only a lot shorter). A good price range is about $150 to $250 for the queen size.

As a side note, we supply many of the hotels and get a lot of referrals from hotels such as the Fairmont and Delta hotel chains. To see some of the items that the high luxury hotels use on their beds come and see what's in store at NF DreamMakers Vancouver, 1750 West Broadway, or in our location at Park Royal in the Village (2 stores from Whole Foods).

The Pillow Story: Choosing the right pillow for you

After choosing the right mattress the next item on your list is getting a good pillow. A pillow is important because it provides support for both your spine and your neck. A good pillow can be a great stress reliever. Conversely, a bad pillow will actually create more stress in your life and will often get your neck knotted. You should be able to tell fairly easily if you are using the wrong pillow. It might be too flat, too soft, too firm or too smelly. In either case it is a good idea to pay a visit to your local bedding store and try some new pillows. Try to listen to the advice of the sales person. Most will be able to make the whole experience quick and easy for you. If in doubt come visit our store where the sales personnel is extremely knowledgeable and helpful.

So what are the things to look for in a good pillow?
Pillows come in a variety of fillings, densities, and levels of quality. The basic common natural pillows contain down, feather or wool (or any combination of the three). For those who are allergic to these natural fibers (Tip: many people believe that they are allergic to down when in fact they are allergic to the dirt and dust in the down. So look at the cleanliness level of your pillow as well. It should be hypoallergenic) the alternatives include gel fiber (polyfill) and visco-elastic memory foam. Each of these are available in numerous levels of quality and again it is true that you will get what you paid for.

Choosing the right density level.
The density of your pillow will depend on your body size and the way you sleep. Generally the larger a person is the firmer his pillow should be. Likewise, depending on how you sleep whether on your side, back or stomach, you will need a different density level. Side sleepers will typically prefer firmer pillows, whereas stomach sleepers will prefer a soft pillow. However, if you are a back sleeper or if you tend to move around a lot from one position to another throughout the night it is very likely that you will prefer a medium density pillow. It is always a good idea to try different density levels before making your final decision.

How often should you replace your pillows?
As a general rule a good pillow should last you about 2 to 3 years. Many people make the mistake of keeping their pillows for 5, 7 or even 10 years. This practice is unhealthy and extremely non sanitary. Keep in mind that you spend about 8 hours every day on your pillow. This means that after 3 years you have spent a full year with your pillow. Now as humans we have lots of different organic substances that we emit (skin, hair, saliva, sweat, etc'), after a couple of years those add up. Conclusion: you should replace your pillow after no more than 3 years.

Enjoying your pillow to its fullest.
To protect your pillow and really enjoy it for its entire lifespan, it is highly recommended that you use pillow protectors. They will significantly elongate the life of your pillow and will protect it from stains and some will even provide water resistance and protection against dust mites. In addition, it is important to fluff your pillows a couple of times every morning to allow the down to breathe and regain its natural shape. Tip: you should not attempt washing your pillows for yourself even if there are washing instructions. Typically the supplier will not bare responsibility for it because your average washer at home is not suitable for that. Generally, if you use a protector and air your pillow from time to time there should be no reason to wash it. However, if you absolutely must, use a commercial washing service in your area and make sure that they know what they are doing.

For a great selection of pillows and great service come and visit one of our stores either on 1750 West Broadway in Vancouver, or in the Village in Park Royal, West Vancouver.

What's In A Mattress: get the sleep you deserve

“The quality of your sleep tonight will determine the quality of your tomorrow.” If you believe this quote to be true then keep reading. We spend about one third of our lives in bed, which makes our bed the single most intimate place in the world for us. So it's very important to get it right when it comes to our bed and bedding. Luckily, we got some useful advice on how to choose the right bed and bedding for you.

First, lets look at the various items on our bed:
1)Mattress & Mattress Toppers
2)Pillows
3)Duvet
4)Sheets

More than anything else, a good mattress will improve the quality of your sleep. So make sure you get a good one. Most people don't realize that a good mattress is an investment, whereas a cheap low quality mattress is an expense. To choose the right mattress for you, you should look at the support and comfortability the mattress provides you. In other words, the mattress should be supportive and at the same time it should keep your natural alignment (see image above). For example, when sleeping on your back, the mattress should support the natural 'S' shape of your spine. To achieve that you want to try several density levels (Tip: It is a common fallacy that the firmer the mattress the better. As a general rule the heavier a person is, the more support he is going to need and thus a firmer mattress.)

Recently, Many people complain about their mattresses heating up throughout the night. You don't want your mattress to get too warm. The reason is that when you fall into deep sleep your body temperature actually goes down to allow you to get into a deeper level of relaxation by slowing down your blood flow and other processes in your body. When you get too warm during the night, the heat interferes with your deep sleep. So make sure to get a mattress that is made of breathable materials and is cool.

Obviously you want to know that your mattress will last. When it comes to mattresses, much like many other purchases, more often than not you get what you paid for. For example, many of our customers complain about the coil mattresses that after only a couple of years they would get a dip in the middle of the mattress. This occurs because typically the coils in the coil mattresses are equally distributed throughout the mattress, which is not the case with the distribution of weight in our bodies. So obviously the place where your body applies more weight on the mattress will drop faster than the rest of your mattress and result with an annoying little dip. To avoid that some more sophisticated mattresses today actually take into consideration average human weight distribution and offer differing weight areas. These mattresses will last longer and will provide with a better and healthier sleep. Of course you can find a mattress like that in our store. So come and try our BICO line of mattresses (see image above) and experience the difference for yourself.

A quick word about Mattress Toppers.
Toppers cannot replace your mattress. They simply lack the support. A mattress topper is meant to cushion your bed to add softness to a firm mattress. In addition the topper will act as a protective layer for your mattress, potentially elongating the mattress's lifespan. There are several toppers on the market: Feather, Feather & Down, Wool and Polyfill. The simplest thing to do is to just try some and see which one fits your needs best.

Next, We'll talk about the importance of pillows and how to choose the right pillow for you.

Making Your Bed 101

The bedroom is our intimate space that truly reflects our personalities and tastes, and the bed is usually the centerpiece of our bedroom. So how can you decorate your bed in an attractive and inviting way that also reflects your personality?
It is actually quite simple there are only a few basic points to remember, which will make it a lot easier for you.
First, let's go over the way you would typically make your bed in a way that looks like it had been professionally designed.
You want to start with the duvet cover (or quilt cover), choose a design or pattern and the right color scheme that would match your bedroom decor (tip: it is usually easier to choose your duvet cover before anything else in the bedroom, even before the color on the walls). Then you would typically match two pillow shams (decorative pillowcases) that carry the same pattern on them as the duvet cover.
Good, the hard part is over. All that is left to do now is to choose the right sheets: Flat sheet (or top sheet), Fitted sheet (or bottom sheet) and pillowcases. The colors of the sheets should be taken from the pattern on the duvet cover. Choose the elements and colors that you want to emphasize in the pattern and 'bring them out' by choosing these colors for your sheets. Generally you can choose to bring a different color with each item. However, it would be much safer to simply choose one color for the entire sheet set. But we are not here to play it safe are we. So to make it a bit more interesting you can introduce two colors in the following way. Match the pillowcases with the fitted sheet, and add another pair of shams to match the flat sheet (see picture). Then you can add accent cushions or a throw for a final touch up.
Of course there are lots more exciting options, but for now lets stick to the basics first and build on that. We will cover here other ways of styling your bed so keep coming back for more useful advice