Wondering what sheets to get for your adjustable bed? California Design Den has the answers!

After almost 20 years of using the same mattress and box springs, my wife and I finally decided to “upgrade our sleep” and get an adjustable, memory foam bed. Why? Because we deserved it! They say you should get a new mattress every ten years or so (that could be just the industry pushing sales). While the adjustable bed you decide on is a very personal choice, choosing what bed sheets to get, equally personal, can be a bit overwhelming due to the number of options. Luckily, I knew exactly what brand to look for – California Design Den. Why? Because I used their sheets before and really liked them! (*Disclosure below.)

There are literally thousands of different sheets to choose from. And many different factors to consider when you do so. And, when you throw an adjustable bed, one where the head and/or feet raise and lower, into the mix, it gets even more challenging. I’m not a sheet “expert,” but since I have spent a third of my life in bed, I do have a bit of experience there. So I know what I like and what I don’t. And your decisions could be completely opposite to mine. But I wanted to provide some ideas anyway. And California Design Den does give you the choices and options, allowing you to stay within one particular brand.

But what do you need to consider when looking for sheets, particularly for some of the newer, adjustable beds available on the market? There are a few things that I think you should look for. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list either, and you may have to buy a set of bed sheets, test them out, and then buy some other ones from the same (or a different) maker. Oh, and I did write an article a few years ago that lists out 11 ways to get a better sleep (and one of the recommendations is on bed sheets).

Things to think about when buying sheets

Below is my quick list of things to consider when shopping for new bed sheets, including some recommendations for adjustable beds.

Here’s my shortlist:

• Made for an adjustable bed
• Fabric type
• Thread count
• Color
• Sustainable
• Reputable company

I’m going to spend a bit of time talking about the made for an adjustable bed as I believe this is important, especially if you get some sheets that are NOT good for adjustable beds. For starters, the bed that my wife and I got was a split-king. What that actually means is that it is two twin XL mattresses put together to form a king-size bed. (We do have separate adjustable frames as well.)

What is important to remember if you have an adjustable bed is that bed sheets will slip or slide off as the bed adjusts. That is unless you have the proper type of sheets. Some bed manufacturers sell special versions that have diagonal elastic straps in the corners. Those are ideal but can add extra cost to the sheets. Or, you can optionally get some sheet suspenders.

So, if you are shopping, you need to consider how thick your mattress is. Ours is 13″. Be sure that you look for sheets that have “deep pockets” to allow you to wrap the fitted sheet well under the mattress. Some manufacturers will list out how deep the fitted pockets are (the California Design Den ones we got say 14″ so they were a good match for our mattress).

Another thing to think about (at least in our case) was getting some split-king sheets. This gives you two twin XL fitted sheets and one king flat sheet.

Next up, you will want to consider the type of fabric you want. Again, this is a personal choice, but I’m a huge fan of cotton. I think other types of weaves with polyester or other materials sometimes make one feel too warm. I like cotton for the breathability as well. It’s natural, durable, and biodegradable. Many other types of fabric are available, but again, this is entirely up to your preference.

Once you have decided on the fabric (in this case, I’m talking about cotton here), you will need to figure out the thread count. With the California Design Den sheets, I have tested both a 500 and a 600 thread count sheet. Personally, I prefer the higher thread count, but both feel quite nice.

California Design Den has a graphic of the different types of thread counts.

Let’s talk about color. Honestly, there isn’t too much to say here, as this is completely personal. My wife and I tend to prefer white, but it all depends on the look you are trying to achieve. One thing to think about is that there may be discounts on specific high- or slow-moving sheets of a particular color. Also, a manufacturer may produce a lot of one color based on historical performance or a specific design trend, so if you don’t care too much about the color, you might find some discounts there.

The sustainability factor is relatively closely aligned to the type of fabric of your sheets. As mentioned, cotton is a bit more eco-friendly and biodegradable. However, how the sheets are manufactured or the type of fabric used can determine a lot. And often, that is difficult to determine when shopping around.

I do know that California Design Den does push cotton on their site as well as with their packaging, and they tend to downplay if not criticize microfibers. But, the choice is yours. If a microfiber weave feels better than cotton, you might want to go with that.

The company does state, “All our sheets are STANDARD 100 certified by OEKO-TEX®. What this means is that our linens are ethically manufactured and don’t have harmful substances and synthetics.”

Lastly, and this is probably difficult, you want to go with a reputable company. If you encounter bad manufacturing or a not-good design, you may need to contact the company to do a return or an exchange. Again, look for good ratings on sites like Amazon and read through some of the reviews.

California Design Den has 10’s of thousands of ratings, and most are above 4.5 stars.

Why I like California Design Den sheets

Ok, yes, I did get a free set of sheets courtesy of California Design Den. But I did explicitly reach out to them because of all the sheets I have used over the years; I did like their feel and design a lot. And their design has evolved and has been fine-tuned.

Here are a few things that I like about both the 500-thread count (which I bought) and the 600-thread count (that I got for this review).

These sheets are well manufactured. The ones I got back in 2018 seem to have held up much better than others that I got around the same time.

The deep pocket design works very well with our new adjustable beds. They have not slipped off despite us using multiple angles of the bed. They wrap around the 13″ mattress nicely and are quite snug, even after a week of sleeping on them.

They have a “head/foot” tag on each end of the sheets. While with twin fitted sheets, it is easy to tell what orientation the fitted sheet should go, when you have a king- or queen-sized sheet, having this tag is very useful. In fact, I took a marker and crossed out the “feet” to always know what part should be the head.

California Design Den recommends a long initial wash before using them. This helps remove minor smells as well as soften them up. Both the 500- and 600-thread count sheets are very soft and extremely comfortable to sleep in. However, I do prefer the 600-thread count (and honestly would now like to try the 800- or even the 1000-thread count!).

Lastly, I like how the pillowcases are extra wide to fit all sizes of king-sized pillows. They are wide enough, so the pillow stays well inside. Similarly, the king-sized flat sheet seems to be extra wide. This is important for some of the thicker mattresses out there. You need to have enough of an overhang to allow it to be tucked in. With our 13″ mattress, there is plenty of fabric left to tuck it in.

Shop on HighTechDad

The product shown below (and related products that have been reviewed on HighTechDad) is available within the HighTechDad Shop. This review has all of the details about this particular product and you can order it directly by clicking on the Buy button or clicking on the image/title to view more. Be sure to review other products available in the HighTechDad Shop.

Getting inexpensive sheets usually comes at a “price.” Yes, they could be less expensive, but they could also be made with other types of fabric, not cotton. Or the manufacturing might not be of high quality. They might use sub-standard elastic for the fitted sheets. Or they simply might feel awful.

Shop around to get the best prices and wait for sales! Below are the two split-king sheets that we got (Amazon links):

• Luxury Split King Size Sheets for Adjustable Bed, 100% Cotton 500 Thread Count – $89.99
• Luxury Split King Sheets for Adjustable Bed, Soft & Crisp 600 Sateen, 100% Cotton – normally $179.99 but currently $99.99

The 600-thread count sheets are a deal, in my opinion! And there are many colors to choose from in either style.

On the California Design Den site, here are those same sheets:

• Luxe Smooth Sateen Solid Sheet Set 600 Thread Count – $99.99
• Silky Soft Sateen Solid Sheet Set 500 Thread Count (note – these are striped) – $89.99

So, do yourself a favor. If you need a new set of sheets, treat yourself to some from California Design Den. They are great for adjustable beds, feel wonderful, and are well manufactured.

Disclosure: I have a material connection because I received a sample of a product for consideration in preparing to review the product and write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review period. All opinions within this article are my own and are typically not subject to editorial review from any 3rd party. Also, some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate” or “advertising” links. These may be automatically created or placed by me manually. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item (sometimes but not necessarily the product or service being reviewed), I will receive a small affiliate or advertising commission. More information can be found on my About page.

HTD says: Don’t just settle for any type of bed sheet, especially if you have an adjustable bed. California Design Den sheets are comfortable, well-made, hug the mattress, and hold up over time!