Filed under: Bedroom, Your Home, Fun Stuff
Say no to a cold bed. Here, we test five sets of flannel sheets and pick our faves. Get ready for the big warm up.In the midst of a brutal winter (hello snopocalpyse!), there is nothing better than crawling into a warm, cozy bed. But if you're sleeping on regular old cotton sheets -- that absorb the cold air all day -- the moment your skin hits the sheets can be a shockingly unpleasant one. No fear. There IS a way to avoid this problem, other than wrapping yourself in fleece pjs and seventeen layers of thick socks.
The solution is...drumroll please...flannel sheets!
ShelterPop editors had the opportunity to test sleep five different sets, some gorgeously plushy, and some, well, not so much. We've taken the guesswork out of choosing the best brands for your buck, and rated the sheets on a scale from 1 to 5 (5 being the best overall quality). In our ratings, we considered the following: softness, fit, warmth, how well we slept and durability after washing.
Sealy Best Fit Flannel Sheets, $59.99 for a full set
These sheets had very, very good, and very, very bad qualities. They fit the best out of all five sets -- no unecessary fabric, and that meant no extra folds or lumps to deal with. On the other hand, these sheets pilled immediately and seemed to get worse after washing. Phrases like, "ball up", "shedding" and worst of all "coated my pajamas" were common. In lieu of that, the sheets were generally soft and comfortable, but "nothing special." One tester said, "They didn't even feel like flannel, really. They were more like regular sheets. But isn't that a good thing?" We all slept "fine," but for the money, these sheets were just okay.
Overall Quality: 3
JC Penney Home Flannel Sheets, $24.99 for full set
We normally heart JC Penney, so we were surprised at how much we disliked these sheets. Phrases like, "These were seriously the worst sheets I've ever used in my whole life," and "So pill-y, my entire room -- egg crate, carpet, pillows -- is still covered" dominated the comments. Testers found them "scratchy" and difficult to sleep in. After washing, the already thin sheets "seemed to thin out even more." Another said the texture was "similar to a tissue." Eek. The price is right, so they'd be good to have around in a real pinch. But besides that, we'd say pass.
Overall Quality: 1
L.L. Bean's Ultrasoft Flannel Sheets, $65.85 for full sheets (sold separately, includes flat sheet, fitted sheet and two standard pillowcases)
These sheets earned rave reviews for their "totally luxurious," "very warm, but not TOO warm," "soft and pillowy" feel. One tester said that they were "the absolute best sheets I'd ever slept on in my life", and found herself dreading having to take them off to test the next set. Even after washing, the sheets retained their cushy-ness and their resemblence to "thin blankets." The one negative? Pills. Everywhere. But, that was "forgivable because they were so good." One lone tester was not a fan, due to said pills and "average" comfort. But overall, we likey.
Overall Quality: 4.5
Lands' End 5 oz. No-Iron Portuguese Flannel Sheets, $69.50 for full set
"Thick and cozy" but almost "too warm," some testers would only save these sheets for the coldest nights. Others felt that the "buttery, luxurious texture" was "absolute perfection." The fit was like most of the other sheets we tested -- too big, especially the pillowcases -- but nothing a little tucking under the mattress couldn't fix. One tester found the sheets very soft and cushy initially, but they "didn't hold up that well after washing." "After a week of sleeping on them, they started to lose their soft, flannelly feel." But another loved them so much that after many weeks of having them, she "has not used anything else."
Overal Quality: 4
Target Flannel Sheet Set, $20 for full set
As an experienced Target sheet owner, I expected these sheets to live up to the "I can't believe how great they are for the price" expectation. Happily, I was not disappointed. They felt less like flannel to me and more like "warmer-than-normal-sheets," but that was ok. One tester put them on her bed one night without telling her husband. When he got into bed, he said, "Wow. What sheets are these? These are NICE." She agreed and found them super warm, like "enveloping your whole bed in a slipper sock" and thought they were made of the kind of flannel "that you'd want to brush against your face in the middle of the night." Nice indeed. Like all of the other sheets we tested, they did get "less soft after washing," but overall they were "very warm" and a wonderful value. Editor's Note: While these sheets are no longer available, we still included them to prove that a low price tag doesn't translate to low quality.
Overall Quality: 4.5
What are your favorite type of sheets? Do you switch them out with the season? Let us know on Facebook!
For more ideas on making your bedroom cozier, don't miss:
Great Headboard Ideas
A Grown Up Bedroom Makeover
Off to Buy a Matress: 5 Questions to Ask
Here's a video about decorating a cozy guest room.