Shopping for bed sheets has become a difficult prospect for many of us. There are just so many choices to make regarding materials, thread counts, and more. Not long ago, I was having tea with a friend and we were discussing this shopping dilemma. She shared a number of tips and ideas with me, and I am now going to share them with you. Listen up!

The first thing you must know is what size of sheet you are shopping for. This may sound silly, but I have had to return my new sheets to the store on a few different occasions. If only I had thought to double-check the size of each bed before I went shopping!

Experts recommend that you measure the length, width, and height of your mattress before you shop. This may sound extreme, but with so many mattress types on the market it may not be a bad idea. I had to return the last set of sheets I bought because they didn't fit the new pillow-top mattress I had purchased the week prior.

The next thing to consider is what feel you would like your sheets to have. Do you like smooth, pressed cotton? Do you prefer the slippery feeling of silk or satin? Or do you prefer the warmth and comfort of flannel sheets? I usually buy simple cotton sheets for our family beds. They are easy to clean and maintain, and I can usually pick them up at a very fair price. And I never buy sheets with a thread count of less than 280.

The last thing you might want to consider is the type of laundering your sheets will need. Last year, I bought a set of sheets that I felt were perfect. They fit well, and they were wonderful to the touch. The problem was that they needed to be dry cleaned, and by the time I discovered this it was too late. I put them through the washer and dryer and when I took them out they looked like they would barely fit a single bed, much less my massive queen size mattress!

These are just a few points to consider when purchasing new bedding. The other things, I feel, are a matter of taste. I have a preference for solid colored bedding, but there are many wonderful patterned sheets out there. Whatever you preferences may be, please keep these ideas in mind. Now get out there and shop, shop, shop!