How To Shop For Bedding Online Without Getting To Feel It

Shopping for new bedding, while often a necessity, can be a daunting task. While the appearance is often a key deciding factor, it's not always the most important one. You may not think that the material and feel of your bedding matter, but they can significantly impact your sleep quality. When shopping in person at brick-and-mortar stores, you often can find a sample of the fabric to see how it feels against your skin. However, with our increasingly digital lifestyles, being able to shop online is a major convenience. With so many options, how do you know what bedding to buy without feeling it first? Ultimately, shopping for bedding online requires you to "feel with your eyes" by decoding the technical specifications that manufacturers use to describe texture and weight.

Even if you're careful when shopping online for bedding, you might end up with a set that doesn't work for you. That's why it's crucial to read and understand the return policies. Knowing the timeframe you have for returning the bedding is important — is it within so many days of delivery or from the original date of purchase? What condition does the bedding need to be in for a full refund? Will the store allow exchanges to something you like better? Since online shopping might be messing with your organized home, these are essential questions to answer before you click "buy" to ensure you aren't stuck with a product you don't love.

Before making a bedding purchase online, it's important to know the correct size you need. Since there is a perfect-sized bed for every space, not all mattresses follow the exact same dimensions. Unfortunately, buying the wrong size bedding (either too big or too small) will result in a messy fit and poor sleep, making the need to return your new purchase almost inevitable. If you're unsure of the exact dimensions of your mattress, bust out the measuring tape to confirm the width, length, and depth of your bed — depth is particularly important for fitted sheets.

Next, since you can't physically feel the sheets through the screen, take note of the thread count and fabric content. If you like a classic and soft feel, stick with cotton bedding. Or, if you like the feel of crisp, cool, hotel-style sheets, percale should be your go-to. Thread counts come in a wide range of numbers, but as a rule of thumb, the higher the thread count, the denser and smoother the fabric will feel. Lower thread counts feel lighter, more breathable, and sometimes a bit more textured or airy.

If you're still unsure about how the bedding will feel, turn to the reviews for first-hand accounts from other shoppers. While every review might not be super helpful, it is nice to get a comprehensive and honest perspective of the product before you buy. Be sure to focus both on the positive and negative reviews to get a balanced idea of what to expect. There are hacks to soften your bed sheets, so you can still achieve the level of comfort you desire after a few washes.