Keeping Your Fine Linen Sheets Clean but Soft

Fine fabrics really aren’t that tough to keep clean and soft. Some do require special care (always read the label in case dry cleaning is required or recommended) but for the most part, even the finest linen sheets love a tumble in your home washer and dryer.

Here are my simple tips for keeping your sheets clean and comfy:

* Always check your label—some special fabrics and linen items should be dry cleaned, but virtually all sheets can be machine washed.

* Wash often enough to keep the soil from embedding—a weekly washing is ideal for your everyday sheets—i.e. the ones that you use nightly.

* Use cold water to wash your sheets; if there’s a real soil issue, warm is as high as the temp should go to prevent shrinkage and wear.

* Use a detergent that’s made specifically for linens and fine fabrics. My favorite is Le Blanc linen wash because it’s gentle, effective, environmentally friendly, doesn’t contain bleach and is good for cold washing.

* To keep fine fabrics soft and prevent damage and shrinkage, don’t over dry. Take them out when you think, “gee I could probably go another 5 – 10 minutes.” By the time you shake out the sheets (or other fine fabric items) out they’ll be dry.

How to Pick Sheet Colors

One of the most fundamental questions people have regarding sheets or, for that matter, any decorating project, is color. Choosing the “right” color sheets is partly a matter of taste and partly a matter of strategy. Very broadly speaking, my customers generally fall somewhere on the color spectrum between conservative (or clean) and colorful. Each taste profile requires a different strategy in order to really work.

TASTE PROFILE: CLEAN

There’s definitely a spectrum with regard to decorating taste that runs, broadly speaking, from conservative to colorful. Those who like a clean feel or who are a bit more conservative with regard to color can rest assured that white and cream colored sheets will work with pretty much anything. The one thing I caution these customers about is to know the difference between clean and boring! The old style of a bedspread tucked up under two pillows and hanging down to the floor really comes across as stodgy and stale, not fresh. If a customer has a nice wood siding on their bed, I encourage them to experiment with leaving it exposed, which can really set a strong but subtle tone that works well with neutral colors. We also might explore using a neutral colored dust skirt that has eyelets, texture or a pattern to set the tone. These strategies can help a more neutral bedroom look clean and interesting, rather than stale.

TASTE PROFILE: COLORFUL

Of course, there are also those who are more inclined to bold or vibrant color combinations. The one caution I have for these customers is to remember that the bedroom, ideally, is a place for relaxation. Overly dramatic colors or contrasts can work against that and actually excite rather than relax. That said, the main thing to remember when selecting colored sheets to have a reason for selecting that color. Repeating a color gives it a reason for being in your bedroom and creates a sense of connection and integration. The sheet color you choose may appear in a painting above the bed, a pillow or throw on a chair near the bed, or in the bedroom wallpaper pattern. Sometimes the sheet color is not an exact match but a subtler echo of a stronger version of the same color in an accent piece.

To help customers find a color that works, they will often send me a photo, a paint chip or even a pillow sham (which I’ll return) and I send them swatches (with bolder and subtler options) to test out visually and discuss over the phone. I’ve also had customers who simply fell in love with a particular sheet even though it didn’t match their décor…in these cases I’ve sometimes recommended that they repaint their bedroom to make the sheets work! If they love the sheet enough, we can generally find a way to make it work. Imagination and playfulness are key skills to cultivate if you plan on going bold with colors.

WHEN IN DOUBT

Decorating a bedroom is like dressing up to go out on the town—it’s reassuring to have someone there to tell you what looks good before you step out! So if a customer isn’t sure what color sheets to buy for a bedroom, I always encourage them to email or call me.

I promise…together we’ll figure it out!

Snuggledown in New York!

This week Snuggledown hit the road! I am attending the New York International Gift Fair: NYIGF, where I meet with my linen suppliers and see what new products and ideas they have. It is always an exciting event. This one has not let me down! I found some new colors, fabrics, textures and expanded options for "green", organic and eco friendly linens and will be eagerly awaiting their fabric samples and high resolutions photos so that I can share them with you.

Meanwhile let me share some highlights of the show. The biggest highlight is the celebrating of 120 years of business for Sferra. Here is my photo with Paul Hooker, the president of Sferra. I love Sferra for continuing with their history of high quality, elegance, luxury, beauty and at the same time introducing new fresh patterns and colors. Sferra is now offering 101 colors for their Festival table linens. 101! I will have them all up for you to see very soon.

Traditions by Pamela Kline never disappoints me and always has new, fresh and exciting color, pattern and texture combinations Watch for a section on snuggledown.com featuring Pamela Kline's velvets, florals, plaids and geometrics for everything from a masculine look, to a country estate or cozy cottage feel. And her crisp vintage-style cotton and washed linen bedding with feminine ruffles, Cluny lace and embroidery are all the rage in Paris and so elegant I can't wait to show them to you! Pamela Kline also introduced a new Dutch Euro pillow. It is the width (AKA length) of a king pillow and the height of a Euro pillow. So you only need 2 across the back to fill a king bed instead of the usual 3 Euro or Continental pillows. A nicely tailored and sophisticated look. It will be offered in both a poly fill and a feather/down mix.

Brahms Mount has continually maintained high quality weaving for their blankets, all made in Maine, just a few miles from the owner's home, so he oversees the weaving and production personally. They are introducing wonderfully soft, light weight, warm and washable wool blankets. You will love them! I have picked several out for myself.

Can you tell that this has been an exciting few days? Plus I picked up 2 new table linen lines that I found irresistible. Borum has delightfully colored prints, stripes and plaids that are 100% certified organic cotton with low impact dyes. They also make cotton and cotton/poly mix Jacquards that come in an assortment of wonderful colors. Then I also found Zanotto Nives! They, too, make 100% certified organic linens for the table. These beautiful and elegant jacquard linens are made to the highest European standards with environmentally safe dyed yarns. Gorgeous! Edit: We now have the beautiful Zanotto Nives table linens live on Snuggledown! Come on over and take a look.

To top it all off we enjoyed a delicious dinner with our daughter, her husband, and 2 of our grand kids who met us in New York. Spencer is preparing to return for his second year at SMU and Kathryn will celebrate her "Sweet 16" birthday this week. Here is a photo outside the restaurant. How I love New York's restaurants. I highly recommend EN Japanese Brasserie on Hudson Street and Del Frisco's on 6th Ave. Yum, Yum, Yum.

More later.
Sandra