Bed linen: percale, satin or linen

Bed linen is the textile you touch for the longest time, on average eight hours a night. Three main materials dominate residential, each with opposing qualities.

Cotton percale. Tight weave (at least 80 threads per cm²), crisp and cool to the touch. "Crispy" effect, easy to iron, durable. Preferred by lovers of smooth, clean sheets.

Cotton satin. Weave that leaves more thread at the surface, soft and silky to the touch. Luxurious, slightly shiny. Preferred by lovers of an enveloping sensation.

Washed linen. Linen weave, washed to soften the fibre. Slightly rough to the touch initially, then softens with time. Natural "undone" effect. Preferred by lovers of contemporary, relaxed atmospheres.

Cotton percale. For: people who sleep hot, who like smooth clean sheets, who do not mind ironing. Very breathable, cool to the touch. Classic "hotel sheet" effect. Cost: £80-250 per set. References: Cyrillus, Frette (high-end).

Cotton satin. For: people who love a silky sensation. Less breathable than percale, so warmer in summer. No ironing needed. Cost: £120-350 per set.

Washed linen. For: people who love the natural aesthetic, the deliberately undone look, and who want a temperature-regulating material (cool in summer, warm in winter). More expensive to buy but durable (10+ years if well cared for). Natural intentional creasing, no ironing. Cost: £200-600 per set. References: Linum (Sweden), Caravane, Once Milano, Maison de Vacances.

For a guest bedroom. Percale is the safest choice, neutral, durable, easy to maintain.

For a couple. Washed linen is probably the best compromise (temperature-regulating, elegant, no ironing required).

In small interiors. Invest in one quality set per bed rather than several cheap ones. You touch this textile every night.

High-end hotels work almost exclusively with 80-thread percale in pure white, for the "impeccably hospitable" effect. This tradition explains why "hotel-quality" linen is associated with luxury.

Pierre Yovanovitch favours ecru washed linen in his residential projects. He says it is the only material that "ages well", unlike satins that dull and percales that eventually yellow.