Prepare before hitting white sales

January is the ideal time of year to buy new bedding. Ever since John Wanamaker – founder of Philadelphia’s famous Wanamaker’s department store – introduced the first-ever “white sale” in 1878 as a marketing strategy, retailers have blanketed the month in deep discounts. Unsure of what to look for when purchasing nice new linens? We rounded up a few tips.

Figure out your fiber. A polyester-cotton blend is affordable, durable and less prone to wrinkling, but 100 percent cotton in a long-fiber variety – say Pima or Egyptian – is considerably softer and cooler and won’t pill like short-fiber cotton. Any all-cotton sheet will be pricier than a blend but not as expensive as fine linen sheets, which can last for decades.

Think about your thread count (but not only that). Thread count refers to the number of threads woven into a square inch of fabric. A higher number – i.e., 250-300 – yields a softer and smoother sheet. Some experts say to choose at least 200 for pure cotton (or 220 for poly-cotton blends), but be wary of anything over 400. Only so many threads can fit into a single square inch – 400 is the max – but some companies sell 1,000 thread count sheets by using multi-ply threads and a little creative math. Ultimately, the quality of the thread and how it’s made is more important than the count.

Buy individual sheets rather than sets. Sets tend to be more expensive than marked-down individual sheets, whether fitted or flat. Plus, they can be easily mixed and matched with pillowcases and duvet covers, especially if you choose a neutral color, such as white or off-white. This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule but could help save you money, nonetheless.