“Early to bed, early to rise – makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

We’ve practically grown up hearing this saying throughout our childhood as our parents tried to find different ways to fix our sleeping schedules. Growing up we began to realise how sleep problems actually find their way into our lives – which was subsequently guided by mattress and bedding commercials on television. Different sleep timings, yoga, no electronic gadgets immediately before sleeping and the list for enhancing our sleep practices is endless, but have we ever bothered to consider the role of bed linens? While bed linens definitely add to the overall aesthetics of our room, they are definitely what turns the blueprint of our room into our home.

Here are 10 things to keep in mind while buying bed linens:

1. Fabric – Seasonal Switches The heart and soul of any bed linen lie in its fabric. The comfort of each fabric varies according to the change in season, and thus must be switched accordingly. For example, cotton fabrics are preferred during summers due to their wrinkle – free texture, while fleece and flannel sheets are preferred during winters. Silk and satin sheets are considered to be the optimal choice for luxury requirements due to the sophistication they bring with them.
	2. The Aesthetics Who wouldn’t like to add a little aesthetic look to their room, right? To escape the regular, monotonous routines of life, people turn to stylish linens to add a little color and a wholesome theme to their rooms. This works well for both the color theme of the bedroom and saves one’s budget since it’s expensive to buy sheets regularly.
3. Instructions for Care Several bed linens have specific washing/care practices which if ignored can lead to fabric damage. Some examples of instructions mentioned here can be to avoid using a bleaching detergent that is too harsh on the fabric, airdrying them, and washing them in cold or warm water. Hot water can shrink the linens which is why it should be avoided. This is why it is very important to be mindful of the instructions for care before the purchase to ensure the long-lasting condition of the linen.
	4. Thread Count - The Softness Factor Every linen packaging includes details about the thread count of the linen. The higher the thread count, the higher will be the softness of the bed linen. This is why one needs to make their purchase according to their requirements.
5. Buy more than you need We’re all acquainted enough with occasional liquid spills on our bedsheets and are aware of how difficult it can be to get rid of those stubborn stains. This is why it’s always a good idea to layer our linens so that in case of an accidental spill, only one layer of linen is damaged and not the layer beneath it.
	6. Fitting Choices While flat linens have long since been the first choice for consumers due to their easily foldable material, people are now turning to fitted sheets due to their ease of fitting and wrinkle-free convenience.
7. Amount vs Price Factor While purchasing bed linens, one must weigh in the long-lasting qualities in terms of the price of the linens. Low cost linens might be known to cut down on the life of linens, therefore it is important to factor in all your requirements during every purchase.
	8. Dimensions Bed linens are very specific in terms of their dimensions which is why not every linen can be adjusted on every single bed. Every bed has different dimensions, so it is very important to consider the width and breadth of the linen while buying to avoid buying the wrong size.
9. Value for Money and Quality In our constant debate of weighing out our budget with our savings and expenditure, it is important to ensure that you’re paying for the right quality of the fabric, long-lasting material, comfortable fabric, and other valid requirements.
	10. Return Policies – To be on the safe side While making purchases it is important to be sure about the specifications of the bed linen, because not all companies will provide flexible return policies. This might create problems in case of wrong purchases. E-commerce websites like Flipkart have a set of pre-mentioned items which are not included in the return policy. These items include food items, personal care products (deodorants, face wash, perfumes, etc), and even several healthcare products. Several online brands however provide flexible return policies; therefore, every consumer needs to check before making their purchase.