Best Bed Sheets for College
It’s a universal acknowledgement that, before heading off to college, it’s best to prepare adequately.
Of course, this includes preparing for a college dorm bed and making sure it’s comfortable.
For this reason, one of the most important things to invest in is the proper bed sheets for college.
Not only will this ensure a proper night’s sleep, but it’ll make any homesick student feel right at home in their new space.
But how do you know what the best bed sheets for college are? And what size sheets fit a college dorm bed?
If you’re ready to learn more, we’ve got you covered.
In this guide to college bed sheets, we’ll discuss all that’s needed to ensure a first-time dormie’s new home away from home is as comfortable as it can be.
We’ll also explain what to look out for and share some tips for finding the best sheets on a budget.
What this article covers:
- How to Find the Best Bed Sheets for College
- What Makes a Great Bed Sheet?
- How to Keep Bed Sheets Clean
- College Bed Essentials
How to Find the Best Bed Sheets for College
When you’re on the hunt for new sheets, you probably don’t want to grab the first thing that catches your eye at your local store.
The best place to go is to find a store that specializes in sheets and linen.
Not only will this ensure that you get the best value for money, but it’ll also allow you to browse from a variety of options.
And what better place to go than an online store? You can shop for bed sheets from the comfort of your own home.
Here at California Design Den, you’re sure to find the perfect fit for you. We’ve got everything from purple sheet sets to deep pocket queen sheets.
Our products can hold a candle to the best cotton sheets for Airbnbs because of their durability, versatility, and quality.
Not only are they made of 100% cotton but they’re also produced in an award-winning factory through fair and ethical practices.
How to Find Good Deals
College is expensive enough as is, so you won’t want to break the bank shopping for your dorm sheets.
Luckily, when it comes to sheet shopping, it’s easy to get the most bang for your buck if you know what to look for.
Keep an eye on regular clearance sales to find the best deals for your budget. If you’re lucky, you can find deals for up to 40% off the regular price.
It’s also helpful to buy sheet sets instead of buying each sheet separately. Most places offer packages of similar sheets for those on a budget.
A sheet set usually consists of a regular sheet, a fitted sheet, and pillowcases for the same size bed.
This saves you money and time when doing sheet shopping.
As a bonus, it’ll also ensure that your sheets and pillowcases are all the same color and material.
When shopping online, you can also find some great deals on places that offer free shipping. Here at California Design Den, we offer free shipping within the US to cut those extra costs.
Alternatively, you can make use of Amazon prime. This will ensure fast and free delivery (and free returns) for all eligible US-based prime members.
Luckily many online stores, including California Design Den, offer this service and allows you a 30-day free trial if you want to try it out and enjoy the benefits before you commit.
Simply buy the product online as you usually would and sign into your Amazon account when prompted to do so.
What Makes a Great Bed Sheet?
Now that you know where to look for bed sheets and how to get the best deals out there, you need to decide what type of sheet you want to buy.
Below we’ll share the most important things to look out for when shopping for your college bed sheets.
Thread Count
You can’t talk about sheets without mentioning thread count as it’s the single most important thing separating the look and feel of various types of bed sheets.
If you ever wondered what makes hotel sheets so comfortable, chances are that the thread count of the sheets has something to do with it.
Thread counts refer to the number of threads per square inch of fabric and include horizontal and vertical threads.
This is an indication of how tightly woven the fabric is, giving an approximate indicator of softness.
Most sheets fall in the range of 400 to 1000 when it comes to thread count, with an increased thread count signifying increased luxury and softness in feel.
Luxury can come at a cost, so keep that in mind when shopping for sheets with higher thread counts as their prices can sometimes be comparable with the best hotel bed sheets.
High thread count in bed sheets refers to the number of threads woven into one square inch of fabric.
A higher thread count generally means a softer, more durable and luxurious feeling sheet. This is because more threads per square inch result in a smoother and tighter weave, which makes the sheets stronger and more resistant to wear and tear.
Additionally, high thread count sheets often have a higher percentage of long-staple cotton fibers, which are stronger and far more durable than short-staple fibers. This also contributes to the sheets feeling soft and comfortable against the skin.
Size
Most dorm rooms are set up with two twin XL beds, one for each roommate.
So, when it comes to size, you’ll want to look at twin XL bed sheets. Incidentally, this is the same size as the sheets for hospital beds.
However, it should be noted that sizes may vary. So, it’s best to consult your institution and enquire about the size of the beds before doing sheet shopping.
For example, some private dorm rooms are equipped with queen-size beds, in which case a queen-fitted sheet will be your best bet.
If a student isn’t lucky enough to score a private dorm room, don’t sweat it, because bigger sheets cost more.
If there’s a twin bed waiting, you can save some bucks on sheets along the way.
Material
The best route to go when it comes to sheets is choosing sheets made from natural fibers, and when it comes to the best material for bed sheets, you can’t go wrong with cotton.
When an Airbnb provides towels and sheets, the chances are it’s made from cotton. In fact, cotton is also the reason why hotel sheets are so crisp.
Cotton is an insulating and long-lasting material, which contributes to its continued popularity as a favored option for bed sheets.
Cotton is affordable, which makes it a popular option for all types of bedding. One of its disadvantages is that it wrinkles easily, but this shouldn’t be a problem with bed sheets as you can iron out any kinks with your hands while making the bed.
Another benefit of cotton is that it doesn’t show perspiration marks as some synthetic fibers do. It’s also easy to clean as long as you wash it in cold water (which is also why it is used in some of the best travel sheets for hotels).
This is why we highly recommend 100% cotton sheets for a college dorm bed.
Some people have also been promoting bamboo sheets as a good alternative to cotton. Since bamboo is also a natural fiber, it has many of the same benefits as cotton.
It does cost more, but it has a slightly more luxurious feel, which is why we recommend cotton for first-time college-goers.
Cotton provides quality and luxury on a budget so that you find the best hotel bed sheets for a college dorm.
Quantity
When it comes to sheet shopping for a college bed, you’ll need to ensure that you buy two sheets.
A fitted sheet to go over the mattress and fit snugly over the bed as well as a regular sheet to sleep under.
In other words, you need one sheet to sleep on and another to sleep under. The fitted sheet will protect you from the threat of germs on the mattress.
The additional sheet ensures that there’s a layer between you and your duvet cover.
This is useful in hotter temperatures when you don’t want to sleep under your duvet cover.
Also, it protects your duvet from dust, which is useful considering that duvets are harder to wash than sheets.
How to Keep Bed Sheets Clean
Let’s face it, a dorm room is a precarious area for keeping clean sheets.
People eat and drink in the room, and the bed may be exposed to a whole host of messes and spills.
Luckily, there are a few tips you can follow to try and keep your new bed sheets as clean as possible.
The first thing is to deal with stains as soon as they occur. Don’t give a stain time to set as it becomes harder to remove once it has time to seep into your sheets.
Also, invest in a stain remover that can easily be applied to stains.
Once a stain happens, spray the stain remover directly onto the spot and work it in with a soft bristled brush.
For best results, give your sheets a good wash afterwards.
Wash cotton sheets in cool or warm water for best results. Other sheets may prefer a warmer wash.
Always check the care instructions to ensure that you wash your sheets on the correct cycle with the proper temperatures.
Some sheets, especially cotton ones, are prone to wrinkling. Using a low-temperature setting on your iron while the sheets are slightly damp can assist in easily removing any wrinkles.
Lastly, you need to ensure that you wash your sheets often enough.
A student can go without washing their sheets for two weeks if they shower before bed, but experts suggest that this is the longest anyone should go without washing their sheets.
Eating in bed or perspiring easily (or regularly), means sheets may benefit from a weekly wash.
College Bed Essentials
Okay, so now that you have a better idea of the type of sheets you want to take to college, it’s time to start looking at what else you will need to make your new college bed perfect.
Pillows and Pillowcases
In addition to bed sheets, a dorm bed needs at least one or two pillows.
The size of the pillow depends on personal preference, but standard pillows are probably the best bet for a college bed.
You can also opt for one larger and one smaller pillow if necessary. Remember also to buy pillowcases to ensure your pillows are protected.
Duvet and Duvet Cover
Students also need a duvet and a duvet cover to put over their bed sheets. This is the opportunity to put a personal stamp on the bed as it’s the part that other people will see.
Luckily, there are a variety of textured duvet covers and colored duvet covers out there to ensure you can do just that.
Blanket
Whether you’re moving to a hotter or colder climate, a blanket is a useful addition to anyone’s college bed.
We recommend having at least two blankets on hand, one for colder weather (such as a 12lb weighted blanket) and a light summer blanket to ensure you’re covered for any weather conditions.
Mattress Protector
The last (but certainly not the least important) item needed to maximize the college dorm experience is a mattress protector.
Most students bring their own bedding to their dorm rooms but generally, they aren’t allowed to supply their own mattresses.
This means that they’ll be using the same mattress as many students before them. So, for hygienic purposes, a waterproof mattress protector is an excellent investment.
It’ll also keep the mattress in good condition for the next person that uses it.
Conclusion
By now, it should be clear that you only need to look as far as California Design Den to find the best sheets for a new college dorm room.
Generally, we recommend 100% cotton sheets in the standard twin XL size. We also recommend buying a fitted sheet, a regular sheet, a duvet, pillows, and pillowcases to ensure a relaxing, comfortable night’s sleep.
It’s also a good idea to invest in some blankets and a mattress protector for additional ease of mind.
If you follow this guide to buying the best dorm room bed sheets, no one needs to lose any valuable sleep over it.
Did you find the blog beneficial? If so, consider exploring our other guides.
- Best Bed Sheets for Airbnb
- What Size Are Hospital Bed Sheets
- What Color Sheets for White Comforter
- What Does GSM Mean for Sheets
- What Makes a Good Bed Sheet
- When to Replace Bed Sheets
- What Fabric Is Best for Bed Sheets
- What Comes in a Bed Sheet Set
- Types of Sheets
- Thread Count Guide for Buying Bed Sheets
- Benefits of Chunky, Natural Cotton Weighted Blanket
