What Is A Duvet Cover?
[Question] What is a Duvet Cover? [Answer] A Duvet Cover is a bedding protecting cover for a Duvet Blanket. Imagine the duvet cover as the pillowcase and a comforter (including down alternative comforters) or duvet blanket as the pillow. You insert a duvet inside a duvet cover for protection and to change the look of your bedroom.
So, what exactly is a duvet?
Duvets originated in the northern coast of Norway and are constructed of a bag filled with down, wool, feathers [1] or synthetic fibers. Flat, stuffy, and restrictive of airflow, duvets were a popular bedding choice until the advancement of today’s comforters.
Table Of Contents
What is a Duvet Cover • Comforters vs Duvets • Storage of Duvet
Duvet Fillings • Maintenance Of Duvets • How Much Do Duvets Cost
How do I choose between a modern comforter and traditional duvet?
Both comforters and duvets are designed to provide warmth while you sleep, and each has its advantages and drawbacks. To help you choose between the two we’ve identified six differentiators.
The Functionality Of Comforters vs Duvets As Bed Covers
Comforter considerations:
- Comforters do not require a duvet cover and generally feature a pattern or design.
- It’s recommended, though not required, to use a flat sheet with a comforter (We recommend a high-quality Supima cotton sheets set)
- Comforters are designed to be larger than your mattress and can function as a decorative cover for the sides of your bed.
- Comforters are easy to clean and maintain you can wash them at home
- Comforter’s can also be used with duvet covers to update their day-to-day look
- Comforter’s are easy to find decorative pillows to accompany your memory foam pillow or plush pillow
Duvet considerations:
- Duvets require an additional protective cover linen
- It’s easy to change the look of your bedding by replacing the duvet cover
- Duvets are designed to be the same size as your mattress. With modern mattresses standing at 10″ tall, a traditional duvet may not provide the decorative covering that you prefer.
- Duvets usually require dry cleaning and can be difficult to maintain (i.e. wash at home)
Table Of Contents
What is a Duvet Cover • Comforters vs Duvets • Storage of Duvet
Duvet Fillings • Maintenance Of Duvets • How Much Do Duvets Cost
Storage Of Duvets During The Summer Time
As both comforters and duvets function as your primary warming source throughout the night, they tend to be the bulkiest piece in your bedding set. Duvets tend to restrict airflow, keeping your body too warm in the summer and require ample space for storage.
Tomorrow Sleep’s down alternative comforter does not require summertime storage as its temperature-regulating thermoball filling ensures a comfortable sleep environment all year round.
Table Of Contents
What is a Duvet Cover • Comforters vs Duvets • Storage of Duvet
Duvet Fillings • Maintenance Of Duvets • How Much Do Duvets Cost
What Type Of Materials Are Used In Duvet Fillings?
Most duvets sold today still utilize the traditional fillings from the 16th-century such as down feathers and wool. These filling served a great purpose in the past when a home was heated with a single fireplace. Today, these dated materials designed for ample warmth and stagnant airflow have been replaced with technologically advanced comforters.
Table Of Contents
What is a Duvet Cover • Comforters vs Duvets • Storage of Duvet
Duvet Fillings • Maintenance Of Duvets • How Much Do Duvets Cost
What Is The Difference Between A Comforter vs A Duvet?
Both comforters and duvets are designed to keep you warm at night but only modern down-alternative comforters have innovative insulators that help regulate your temperature while you sleep.
Traditional duvets tend to sleep hot and are usually filled with allergy-triggering down and often require expensive dry cleaning.
Table Of Contents
What is a Duvet Cover • Comforters vs Duvets • Storage of Duvet
Duvet Fillings • Maintenance Of Duvets • How Much Do Duvets Cost
Maintenance Of Duvets In Relation To Comforters
Most comforters nowadays are machine washable since most of their fillings are made of synthetic materials. However, the whole comforter must be washed. Most only need to cleaned monthly and can be spot-cleaned when necessary.
Duvets are usually used with a cotton duvet cover that can be easily washed at home, but duvets themselves often require dry cleaning.
Duvets and covers were once the leading bedding option but they are quickly falling behind comforters due to the additional work required to maintain them. Savvy consumers do not want to have to dry clean their bedding monthly and will usually opt for a comforter instead.
Table Of Contents
What is a Duvet Cover • Comforters vs Duvets • Storage of Duvet
Duvet Fillings • Maintenance Of Duvets • How Much Do Duvets Cost
When Shopping, Is There A Wide Range Of Duvet Sizes?
Yes. Both duvets and comforters are available in all standard bed sizes. They duvets and comforters bed size so they can be placed on top of the bed but without adding too much bulk on the sides (or at the corners).
Mattress Size | Inches |
---|---|
Twin Size Mattress | 39″ x 75″ |
Twin XL Size Mattress | 39″ x 80″ |
Full Size Mattress | 54″ x 75″ |
Queen Size Mattress | 60″ x 80″ |
King Size Mattress | 76″ x 80″ |
California King Mattress | 72″ x 84″ |
Table Of Contents
What is a Duvet Cover • Comforters vs Duvets • Storage of Duvet
Duvet Fillings • Maintenance Of Duvets • How Much Do Duvets Cost
How Much Does A Duvets Cost?
The cost of a duvet or a comforter varies considerably, depending on its material, quality, size and design. Prices range from as low as $85 and can exceed $500.
However, most comforters come as part of bed-in-a-bag sets. On average, comforters tend to run less expensive than a premium duvets. The key factors that influence the price of duvets are materials used, size, designer patterns and branding.
Table Of Contents
What is a Duvet Cover • Comforters vs Duvets • Storage of Duvet
Duvet Fillings • Maintenance Of Duvets • How Much Do Duvets Cost
What is a Duvet Cover And Is It The Same Things As Bedding Shams?
No. Duvet covers are used to keep the duvet placed inside the cover clean from dirt, sweat and daily use (especially in the corners). A bedding sham is referred to as a ‘false front’ used commonly on decorative pillows to add an element of design and flair. When designers work on a bedding collection, they design matching fabric patterns for the duvet cover and bedding shams.
Table Of Contents
What is a Duvet Cover • Comforters vs Duvets • Storage of Duvet
Duvet Fillings • Maintenance Of Duvets • How Much Do Duvets Cost
What Is The Best Choice For Your Bedroom When It Comes To Duvets Or Comforters?
It’s all a matter of personal preference. In the end, what matters is having the right bedding so you can sleep better at night.
What is a Duvet Cover; Fabric / Duvet Insert Resources;
[1] International Down And Feather Bureau; Choose Down and Feather and Choose a Healthy Sleep, January 4, 2013.