Sheets are the workhorses of the bed, so take durability into consideration. Egyptian cotton is top-of-the-line, and lesser-known pima cotton, mainly grown in the United States and Peru, is also a standout. These two varieties boast fine, long fibers that create an uncommonly soft, strong fabric. Other sheets are made from ordinary cotton, a cotton-polyester blend (wrinkle-resistant but less soft and absorbent than pure cotton), linen (a lightweight option that wicks away moisture but wrinkles like crazy), silk (costly but oh so smooth), and flannel (coziness at its best).

There are endless styles and three main weaves: percale (varies from matte to shiny), sateen (lustrous but may lose its sheen the more it’s washed), and jacquard (matte or shiny, with a pattern woven into it). When you’re buying sheets, thread count, the number of threads in one square inch of fabric, is a factor. “But a high thread count doesn’t necessarily equal a better product,” says Susan Dollenmaier, founder of Anichini, a fine-textile maker. Plies of yarn are twisted together to achieve super-high counts (400 and above), but that thicker, denser — and often hotter and less breathable — sheet isn’t always comfortable. “It’s the quality of the thread that counts, not the thread count,” says Dollenmaier.

To maintain sheets, launder once a week, but take care when drying, as heat makes fibers brittle. Switch the setting to air-dry for the last five minutes.

Shown from top to bottom:

Silky bamboo by VivaTerra, $189 for a queen set
To Buy: www.vivaterra.com.

Palm Beach Chelsea by Ankasa, $225
To Buy: www.ankasa.com for retailers.

Palermo by Olatz, $410
To Buy: 212-255-8627.

Samode Pink by John Robshaw Textiles, $175
To Buy: www.johnrobshaw.com.

Dahlia by Calvin Klein Home, $125
To Buy: www.macys.com.

Bulb Sea by Area, $90
To Buy: www.areahome.com.

Washed Linen Collection by Eileen Fisher Home for Garnet Hill, $145
To Buy: www.garnethill.com.

Liseron by Yves Delorme, $290
To Buy: www.yvesdelorme.com for retailers.

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, prices are for a queen-size flat sheet.