If you wake up warm, kick off the covers and turn the pillow over looking for the cool side, you have probably wondered whether different sheets would help. Silk is often described as cooling, and it is one of the more expensive things you can put on a bed, so it is worth knowing what that word really means before you buy.
The short answer: silk sheets help you stay comfortable, but they do not cool you actively. Silk is a light, breathable natural fiber, so it does not hold heat against your body the way a synthetic can. It feels cool when you first lie down and stays pleasant as the night goes on. It will not lower your temperature on its own.
Why silk feels cool
Three things are going on.
- It is smooth. A smooth fabric lies flat against the skin and feels cool to the touch at first contact, the same way a smooth stone feels cooler than a towel at the same temperature.
- It is light. Silk has very little bulk, so a silk sheet does not sit on you like a heavy layer.
- It breathes. Silk is a natural fiber that lets air and moisture move through, so warmth and dampness are less likely to build up underneath it.
What silk cannot do
A sheet has no way of removing heat from a room. If the bedroom is hot, the air is still, or you are under a thick synthetic duvet, silk sheets will feel nicer than polyester ones but will not solve the problem.
Silk is also not a treatment for night sweats. If you often wake up soaked, or your sleep has changed suddenly, that is something to talk through with a doctor. Better bedding can make you more comfortable in the meantime, and that is all we would claim for it.
Silk in summer and in winter
One thing people like about silk is that it does not have a season. It is light and airy enough for warm nights, and because it lies close to the body, it also feels comfortable when the weather turns cold. You do not need to swap it out twice a year. We go further into this in how silk bedding helps regulate body temperature.
How silk compares with other sheets
| Fabric | How it feels on a warm night | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Silk | Smooth, light, cool to the touch | Needs a gentle wash |
| Linen | Very airy and dry | Textured, wrinkles easily |
| Cotton percale | Crisp and fresh | Easy care, a good everyday choice |
| Polyester satin | Cool at first, then tends to feel warm | Inexpensive, less breathable |
If the choice is between silk and a synthetic satin, silk is clearly the more breathable of the two. Between silk, linen and good cotton, it is mostly a question of the feel you prefer. Linen is hard to beat in real heat and humidity, and we compare the two fairly in silk and linen bedding side by side.
Getting the most from silk if you sleep warm
- Look at what is on top of you. The duvet or comforter usually holds far more heat than the sheet. A light filling matters more than any cover.
- Start with what touches your skin. A flat sheet and pillowcases are the parts you feel most, so that is where silk makes the biggest difference.
- Keep the room cool and the air moving. An open window or a fan does more than any fabric.
- Wear something light, or natural fibers. Synthetic sleepwear can undo the benefit of breathable sheets.
- Wash it regularly and gently. Cold water, a silk detergent, no tumble dryer. Clean silk feels fresher against the skin.
Is a silk blend cooler?
A silk and cotton blend feels slightly different from pure silk. It has a little more body and a touch more grip, with the familiar freshness of cotton. Some warm sleepers prefer it because it feels less slippery. Our Silk and Cotton Satin Bedding is 55% mulberry silk and 45% cotton at 19 momme, and it can be bought as a full set, a duvet cover or a flat sheet on its own.
Questions people ask
Do silk sheets make you sweat?
Silk itself is breathable and should not make you warmer. If you feel hot under silk, check the duvet filling and the room first. Also check the label: polyester satin sold as "silky" behaves very differently.
Are silk sheets slippery?
They are smooth, and some people notice it for the first few nights. Real silk has more grip than polyester satin, and most people stop noticing quickly.
Is a silk duvet cover worth it for a warm sleeper?
It can be, as long as what is inside it is light. We weigh up the cost and the benefits in are silk duvet covers worth it.
If you want to try a full silk bed, the Mulberry Silk Bedding Set includes a duvet cover, a flat sheet and two pillowcases. If you would like to start smaller, a pair of silk pillowcases is the simplest way to feel the difference.
