Sateen

Sateen is woven so that more of each thread lies on the fabric's surface than in a plain weave, which is what gives it a smooth, almost silky hand and a subtle sheen. It is a weave style, and can be made from cotton, bamboo viscose, or blends.

That denser, closer surface structure is exactly what makes sateen feel warmer than percale in practice. With more fiber packed onto the outer surface, air has a harder time moving through, so heat and moisture stay closer to the skin longer. Many people still like sateen for its texture and choose it for cooler months or bedrooms that already run cold.

The mistake hot sleepers make is picking sateen purely because it is marketed as luxurious or high thread count, without noticing the weave name. If overheating at night is the main problem, checking for percale, a looser weave, or a moisture-wicking fiber blend usually matters more than surface shine or thread count on a sateen label.