According to National Geographic, the first known mattress dates back to around 77,000 years ago. It was discovered in South Africa in 2011 and was made of reeds and rushes. Researchers believe that a ‘top sheet’ made of insect-repelling greenery was used to help ward off the unwanted night-time visitors.

Now that we’ve covered some common materials, let’s go over different weave and knit styles. Remember, sheets made with different weave or knit styles can feel and perform drastically differently — even if they are made from the same material.

The greatest grade (and most costly) is 100 percent Egyptian cotton, distinguished by its extra-long staple fibers, resulting in sumptuously soft yet incredibly long-lasting sheets.

The 19^th century saw the invention of the cotton gin. This machine quickly and easily separates cotton fibres from their seeds which revolutionised cotton production. Thus, the cotton sheet was born. This was the start of a new industry. It became much easier to produce cotton than flax and that in turn made it a cheaper product. Ultimately cotton became the popular choice for bedding, though the name bed linen stuck.