What actually changes between 300 and 400
Thread count is the number of yarns woven into a square inch. Adding a hundred of them makes the cloth slightly denser, which shows up as a smoother surface, a touch more weight in the hand and a closer drape over the mattress.
It does not make the cotton better. Long-staple, single-ply cotton at 300 outperforms a padded high count every time, which is why both of our sateens sit in the 300-500 range rather than chasing a bigger figure.
- 300: lighter, airier, a more relaxed drape
- 400: denser, smoother, more presence on the bed
- Fibre length and ply decide longevity, not the count
Vilanova 300 and Windsor 400, side by side
Both are 100% cotton sateen, both are made to the same specification, and both are offered across sheets, sheet sets, duvet covers, pillowcases and shams so a bed can be dressed in one collection.
How to choose between them
Start with your bedroom. If you sleep warm, keep the room warm, or simply like sheets that feel weightless, the 300 is the better night's sleep. If you like a bed that feels dressed and a sheet with a bit of substance, take the 400.
Then choose on detail, because the borders read very differently. Vilanova's twin nautical lines are clean and graphic; Windsor's braided embroidery is quieter and more traditional.
- Warm sleeper or warm room: 300
- You want a fuller, more tailored bed: 400
- Graphic border: Vilanova. Understated border: Windsor
How each wears over time
Both sateens soften with laundering rather than thinning, provided you skip bleach and fabric softener - softener coats cotton and dulls the sheen that makes a sateen worth buying.
Wash warm or cool with a mild detergent, give the drum room, tumble dry low and take the sheets out faintly damp. Press from the reverse and keep the iron off the embroidery or the striped borders.