When purchasing luxury bedding, the very first thing you need to decide is what fabric works best for you. And there are a lot of fabrics to choose from! But while high quality sheets come in a variety of materials (microfiber, Tencel, and even synthetic fiber), when it comes to true luxury bed sheets, the most popular options are cotton and silk.

How to Choose Between Cotton Sheets and Silk Sheets

Of course, at Mulberry Park Silks, we think silk bed linen is a wonderful investment. That’s why we’re dedicated to bringing the highest quality silk to market at fair and affordable prices. But we think it’s essential to help our clients understand precisely how cotton and silk (both of which are natural fiber) are different in look, feel, and performance. We want you to be well informed and make the best buying decision possible.

Comparing the Benefits Cotton Sheets and Silks Sheets

Read on for a detailed comparison between cotton sheets and Mulberry Park silk sheets.

High-Quality Cotton: A Tradition of Elegance and Versatility

High-quality cotton is the traditional material used in luxury bed sheets. And there’s a lot to love about cotton sheets. Cotton fabric is plant based; Egyptian cotton is widely recognized as the finest on earth because of the unique climate conditions in the region. However, USA-grown pima cotton is also superior quality.

Luxury cotton sheets typically come in either percale or sateen weave. Percale weave is cool, crisp, and breathable, and ideal for summer weather or cool sleepers; percale is often used in luxury hotel bedding. Sateen weave, on the other hand, is softer, thicker, and smoother to the touch; known for their warmth and beautiful drape, sateen sheets are ideal for cooler months (learn more about the differences between percale and sateen bedding). The weight of cotton sheets is measured in thread count, which is a numerical representation of the number of threads per square inch in a given fabric. Higher thread count is one marker of quality in luxury sheets, but should not be overemphasized; other factors include origin and quality of the cotton fiber, the craftsmanship, and the finishing details.

Luxury cotton sheets come in a variety of colors and designs. Many are made in Europe by craftspeople who are carrying on a centuries-old textile weaving tradition and style options are plentiful. Most cotton sheets can easily be machine washed according to manufacturer’s directions and are quite durable if cared for properly. Depending on the manufacturer, cotton can be certified as organic, which is grown and harvested in an environmentally sustainable fashion; it is important to read the labels and websites from individual manufacturers.

Cotton is an inherently absorbent material, which is why it is such a wonderful fiber to use in towels. Unfortunately, that absorbency can be a drawback for anyone sleeping in cotton sheets; when they get wet, cotton sheets retain moisture. This is something to think about for anyone who “sleeps hot.” Cotton’s natural absorbency also means that it can pull moisture from the hair and skin. Finally, cotton -- even the smoothest, finest variety -- contains fibers that can tug on hair and skin, which leads to bedhead, sleep wrinkles, and possibly skin irritation.

The price for a set of luxury queen size sheets from a popular European manufacturer ranges widely, from approximately $350 to $3,900 depending on fabric quality, weight, and finish details.

Silk Bed Sheets: The Ultimate In Luxury, Beauty, and Wellness

At Mulberry Park Silks, we craft our silk sheets out of pure mulberry silk fiber of the highest grade (6A). Our silk pillowcase, sheet, and silk accessory collection is made in a charmeuse weave, which is soft and lustrous on one side with a dull finish on the reverse. The look and feel of a pure silk bed sheet are like no other fabric: soft, indulgent, and absolutely wonderful to the touch.

Silk fabric also has a unique measurement of weight, known as momme. Similar to thread count for cotton sheets, momme measures the density of the silk fibers used to make silk sheets. Higher momme count fabric has more silk and is of better quality; higher momme count silk also contains fibers that are longer and stronger. Mulberry Park Silks offers sheets and pillowcases in three momme weights: 19, 22, and 30 with varying price points. For reference, 19 momme silk equates roughly to 600 TC cotton fabric. Our 22 momme fabric is also used for our duvet cover collection as it is a versatile mid-weight fabric. You can learn more about momme weight here.

High-quality silk fiber is known for its strength and durability. However, silk bedding is more delicate than cotton and requires a bit of extra care. With that said, you can easily wash your Mulberry Park Silks bedding at home in your washing machine. We recommend placing your silk sheets in a fine mesh wash bag; washing on a gentle cycle with a detergent specially formulated for silk like Luxury Silk and Wool Detergent from Heritage Park; and avoiding the dryer. You can hang your silk sheets to dry indoors or outside away from direct sunlight; they should dry in an hour or so. And there’s no need to iron! Simply smooth the flat sheet when you put it on your mattress; any wrinkles in either the flat or fitted sheet will release on their own in a day or so. These simple steps will protect the beauty and integrity of your silk sheets and ensure they last for a long time to come.

Mulberry Park Silk sheets are also environmentally friendly and safe. Silk is naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to mold and mites; this is why sleeping on silk is recommended for babies and individuals with sensitive skin. However, Mulberry Park Silks has taken the additional step of having our silk independently to meet the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 criteria; this means that -- from raw materials to end product -- our silk is free from harmful toxins and chemicals. You can learn more about OEKO-TEX here.

Finally, pure silk sheets deliver beauty and wellness benefits that are unique. Silk is a protein based fiber that is composed of essential amino acids, which are naturally moisturizing to skin and hair (in fact, many spa- and salon-quality hair and skin treatments are made with silk protein). The smoothness of silk charmeuse also allows hair and skin to glide friction over the surface instead of pulling or tugging; this helps minimize hair breakage, bed head, and sleep wrinkles. Finally, silk wicks moisture and naturally regulates body temperature, which makes it the ideal fabric for year-round comfort and beauty sleep.

Mulberry Park Silks sheets come in a range of stunning colors to suit any décor. The price of a Queen sheet set from Mulberry Park Silks ranges from $446-$793 depending on momme weight.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Luxury Cotton Sheets and Luxury Silks Sheets

	Luxury Cotton Sheet Set	Luxury Pure Silk Sheet Set
Fiber	Plant based	Protein based
Weave	Percale or Sateen Weave	Charmeuse Weave
Weight	Thread Count	Momme
Style Options	Wide	Stunning color selection
Durability	Very durable	Durable
Ease of Care	Machine wash	Machine wash
Biodegradable	Yes (if pure cotton)	Yes
Hypoallergenic / Non Irritating	Possibly	Yes
Certified Safe	Possibly	Yes, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100
Temperature Regulating / Moisture Wicking	Retains moisture, no wicking   Percale for summer/hot Sateen for winter/cool	Wicks away moisture and regulates temperature   Silk sheets are ideal for year-round temperature regulation
Hair and Skin	Absorbs moisture   Small fibers pull hair and skin	Helps hair and skin retain moisture Smooth / No friction
Price	$350 - $3,900	$446 - $793

Which are better: cotton sheets or silk sheets?

Choosing between luxury cotton sheets and Mulberry Park Silk sheets is a personal decision! However, we hope we’ve provided enough information to help you understand why sleeping on our pure silk sheets can be the absolute apex of luxury while improving your health, wellness, and quality of sleep. Please feel free to contact us with any questions; our design team is available to offer recommendations and advice. We’ll even send you a swatch sample from our beautiful silk sheets to check out at home. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Mulberry Park Silks family.