Waterbed sheets and satin bedding

luxury lapping at your feet!

Living Your Dreams in Satin Waterbed Sheets

The different varieties of waterbed sheets:
The variety of waterbed sheet fabric available online nowadays is just fantastic  –  but it can be bewildering to new waterbed owners, and even to the experienced.   So let’s consider the different relevant factors step by (skip-able) step, to let you arrive at a good choice or decision.   First bear in mind that the 'hardside' waterbed, which uses the original-style wooden side-frame, is the one that needs a waterbed sheet.   A 'soft-side' waterbed can use standard bed sheets.

On hardside waterbeds, the pressure of the mattress against the frame makes the daily routine of tucking in the sheet hard work.   Then some waterbed mattresses can be slippery, plus it is forever flexing.   So your standard 'fitted' lower sheets just don't stay in place as you’d like.   Waterbed sheet manufacturers have overcome this by adding large tri-angular tucks or pockets, often elasticized and sewn in the 4 corners for holding the lower sheet in place.   Some companies include an additional slot on these tri-angular tucks for short poles to be inserted.   Gripped by the weight of the mattress, they hold the lower water bed sheet firmly in place.

The upper waterbed sheet is most often attached to the lower sheet in the middle of the foot end.   There is another type of upper sheet that is separate and has similar tri-angular pockets on 2 corners.   This holds the full bottom edge of the upper sheet in place.   These are often referred to as ‘6 pocket waterbed sheet sets’ and, as a set, would include matching pillowcases.

Huge choice of water bed sheet fabrics
Sheets for waterbeds are available in many different types, mixes and thicknesses of fabrics: cotton, flannel, sateen, percale, polyester, satin, silk, even pvc.   Then you have all those colors and patterns to blend in with your bedroom decoration or to help you create the ambiance you so wish.   Personally, I’d plumb for finely-woven Charmeuse Satin with its excellent handling qualities, its look and feel.   But if you’d like to look closer at the choice available, then if you don’t already, you’ll need to know the differences between these materials.   For instance:

A high 'thread count' gives a finer quality fabric
The quality of any particular material varies with the number of threads per square inch, known as the thread count.   A count of less than 180 may not give an acceptable softness or smoothness  –  around 200 is normally ideal.   Higher counts make for a finer and more costly fabric, which is also more delicate and flowing but less durable.   Anything above 400 may not really provide additional sensual comfort pro rata to price.

 A ready made sheet can be on your waterbed almost as soon as you’ve put your card down  –  if you know what I mean!   There is an excellent choice available  -  they are cheap and straightforward.   Armed with your required sheet size or sizes, you can proceed to your choice of fabric!   A look at those sensual satins with their awesome richness and depth of color can be quite stunning.   Perhaps try a practical cotton or flannel; or why not jungle patterns.  -  Let your character decide, after all you’re the one who’ll be using them!

With made-to-order sheets, you’ll be getting precisely what you want, made by experts, who’ll do the job properly;  since they’ll want you to remember them for the right reasons, so you come back again, and also give recommendations.   You need to follow their measurement system and be prepared for a 2 to 4 week delivery, sometimes longer.   Most people do find it worth the wait, and the selections available are stunning.

Let’s consider the different kinds of fabric.
These descriptions should be useful for narrowing down your choice, and whilst I’m trying to keep it '100%' simple, remember that the cloth merchants have no description conformity and their “cotton-rich” cloths may just have 30% cotton.   Anyway:

  -  Cotton, flannel and sateen are different sorts of cotton.   Flannel is cotton with a nap, possibly on both sides, whereas sateen is cotton with a distinctive sheen created by the satin weave.   They are all comfortable materials to sleep on, flannel being quite cozy and soft.   Generally cotton shrinks a little and is cheap, strong and practical.

  -  Percale is a closely woven fabric  -  it can be all cotton or more often a variable mix of cotton and polyester.   It is strong yet lightweight  -  a popular and practical fabric.

  -  Polyester satin bedding is shiny, strong and durable when compared to silk satin whilst still retaining most of its finest qualities and sensations.   It is still a lightweight, flowing material, resistant to creasing, shrinking and moths.   It is easier to wash  -  a very practical choice with a definite touch of luxury.

  -  A silk satin sheet gives a wonderfully luxuriant feel  –  many natural cloths give that ‘warm in winter, cool in summer’ quality and this is particularly so with silk satin.   It is a natural fiber and thin, so can be delicate  -  a definitely up-market fabric and is also hypo allergic.

  -  Acetate satin sheets have a very shiny luster and feel.   They are thicker and heavier than silk and polyester satins with a particularly luxurious quality.   They do have a center seam as has most nylon satin bedding, though this is normally quite unobtrusive.   They are more delicate and sensitive so need more care and attention.

  -  Nylon satin bed linen is thicker and the stronger than most other satins.   It is lustrous and elastic, retains its shape. It is also resistant to chemicals, rough treatment, mildew and moths, easily machine washed and the most durable  -  but it does get damaged by sunlight.

Making the choice
If you can’t settle on any particular fabric, I would recommend you check out the finely-woven   -  Charmeuse Satin.   It is seamless sheeting with luxurious looks and drapes exquisitely.   It does offer a really smooth and silky feel for all general purpose living and sleeping.   Often referred to as a silk, this more recent polyester fabric has all the fine qualities of elegantly flowing lightness and durability.   It holds pride of place amongst most silk and satin bed linens.