Which Custom-Made Bedding Material Should You Choose? TENCEL™, Lyocell Cotton & Cotton Sateen Compared
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There is no single “best” custom-bedding material. For Simple ol’ Me’s current made-to-measure range, the useful comparison is between four different hand-feel directions: 100s TENCEL™ Lyocell, 120s Fine-Denier Lyocell Cotton, 100s Long-Staple Cotton Sateen, and 140s Cotton Sateen.
SIMPLE OL’ ME · FIRST-HAND MATERIAL ASSESSMENT
How we compare custom-bedding materials in real orders
Our bedding team works with made-to-measure fitted sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases for deep mattresses, toppers, IKEA and imported sizes, platform beds and other non-standard dimensions. We first confirm the actual measurements, then compare material by fibre composition, fabric body, drape and preferred hand feel.
100s, 120s and 140s are not a universal quality ladder. The numbers are not directly comparable across different fibre compositions as if a higher number automatically means a better product.
Quick comparison of the four materials
| Material | Composition | Main feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100s TENCEL™ Lyocell | 100% TENCEL™ Lyocell | Softer, smoother, lighter and more fluid | Maximum Lyocell smoothness and drape |
| 120s Fine-Denier Lyocell Cotton | 60% Lyocell + 40% long-staple cotton | Smooth, fuller, more structured and substantial | Lyocell lovers wanting more body |
| 100s Long-Staple Cotton Sateen | 100% cotton | Smooth, dense and more substantial | Classic premium-cotton feel |
| 140s Cotton Sateen | 100% cotton | Finer, lighter and more refined | A more delicate premium-cotton direction |
100s TENCEL™ Lyocell: the softest and most fluid direction
100s 100% TENCEL™ Lyocell is the most distinctly soft, smooth and flowing option in the current traditional custom range. Its drape is more pronounced, so it suits customers who prefer bedding that feels lighter, softer and more naturally fluid around the body.
120s Fine-Denier Lyocell Cotton: more body without leaving the Lyocell direction
120s Fine-Denier Lyocell Cotton is made from 60% Lyocell + 40% long-staple cotton. Compared with the pure-Lyocell option, the added cotton gives the fabric more body and structure. In our current range, it feels relatively fuller, firmer and more substantial while still retaining a smooth Lyocell-led surface direction.
It is not an “upgrade” from 100s TENCEL™. These two products answer different tactile preferences.
100s Long-Staple Cotton Sateen: classic premium cotton
100s Long-Staple Cotton Sateen is the more classic pure-cotton route. It has a smooth, dense surface with a somewhat more grounded and substantial hand than the pure-Lyocell option. It suits customers who want a refined cotton feel rather than a more fluid Lyocell drape.
140s Cotton Sateen: a finer, lighter cotton direction
140s Cotton Sateen moves the pure-cotton direction toward a finer, lighter and more delicate hand. It should not be described as automatically superior simply because the yarn-count number is higher; fibre quality, spinning, weave, fabric weight, dyeing and finishing all affect the final result.
100s TENCEL™ vs 120s Lyocell Cotton
- Choose 100s TENCEL™ if you prioritise softness, fluid drape and a relatively lighter hand.
- Choose 120s Lyocell Cotton if you like Lyocell smoothness but want more fabric body, structure and substance.
100s Cotton Sateen vs 140s Cotton Sateen
- Choose 100s Cotton Sateen for a smooth, dense and more substantial premium-cotton feel.
- Choose 140s Cotton Sateen for a finer, lighter and more refinement-focused pure-cotton feel.
Why yarn count alone is not enough
Yarn count is useful information only within context. It does not replace fibre composition or actual fabric construction. A 120s Lyocell-cotton blend and a 140s pure-cotton sateen are different materials, so treating them as positions on one simple 100→120→140 quality scale would be misleading.
Fit comes before fabric
For made-to-measure bedding, material selection matters only after the correct dimensions are established. Measure the mattress, duvet insert or pillow itself rather than relying only on labels such as Single, Double, Queen or King.
- Fitted sheet: mattress length × width × height; include a topper in the total height if it stays on the bed.
- Duvet cover: actual duvet insert length × width.
- Pillowcase: actual pillow length × width, with notes for unusual shapes where needed.
How to measure a mattress for custom fitted sheets →
Shop the four custom materials
For the full made-to-measure structure, including zipper fitted sheets and Custom Photo bedding, visit the Hong Kong Custom-Made Bedding collection.
Related guides
Hong Kong custom bedding complete guide · Thick mattress and topper guide · Odd-size mattress guide · Custom duvet cover guide
Written by Simple ol’ Me Bedding Team. This guide reflects the material-selection framework we use when discussing made-to-measure bedding for Hong Kong and imported mattress sizes.