How to Pick a Duvet and Duvet Cover


I love a fluffy duvet!  They are oh so cozy and look so inviting. They are the marshmallow on the hot chocolate of bedding. They would make an ultimate pig in a blanket!  They are the bedding that shows up in your dreams when you think of snuggling in bed and getting tangled in the sheets.

But not all duvets are the same here are a few tips for picking out the perfect duvet and duvet cover for you!

First – A vocabulary lesson!

Duveta soft quilt filled with down, feathers, or a synthetic fiber, usually used with a cover.

Duvet Cover – The cover you put a duvet in.  It’s like a giant pillow case for your duvet.  It keeps your duvet clean and sanitary and often takes the place of the top sheet and blankets.

Down – Soft fluffy feathers used as the fill in a duvet.  Usually from a goose.

How to pick the warmth of a duvet

Duvets vary in the warmth they provide.  You can find different ones marked differently but typically there are the following.  The value that determines the warmth of a duvet is a balance between the Fill Power and the Fill Weight.  The higher the Fill Power the fluffier the down is that is being used. The higher the Fill Weight the more the down being used in the Duvet.  

All season – a middle of the road duvet as far as warmth.  It will probably do the job for most seasons but if you live in climates that get very warm or very cold you might not be comfortable all of the time.  Typically a Fill Power of 400 – 600.

Winter or Heavy – These are for the coldest climates and will keep you toasty warm.  If you don’t live in areas with a lot of cold or keep your AC cranked down you probably don’t need this one.  Typically a Fill Power of 600 plus.

Summer or Light weight – These provide the lease amount of warmth.  Perfect for warmer climates or if you sleep hot. Typically a Fill Power of 400 or below.

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The Material of the Duvet

You want to check what your duvet is actually made off.  Look for 100% cotton! It will be the softest and age really well.  Also pay attention to the thread count of your duvet. You typically want the highest thread count possible but I feel anything over 500 is pretty good.  The higher the thread count the tighter the weave will be and the material will keep the down contained better.

Pay Attention to the Construction

Most duvets are either baffle box construction or quilted.  This is how the down is held in place inside the blanket. A duvet with baffle box construction has strips of cloth sewn between the layers of fabrics.  This helps the down to stay fluffy. A quilt is just sewing two layers of fabric together.  

Get a Duvet Cover

While you can use a duvet by itself, I would recommend getting a duvet cover to protect your duvet.  It’s easier to wash the cover than it is to wash a big comforter and it will help your duvet last longer.  Make sure your duvet and duvet cover have ties and loops so that you can tie the corners of the duvet to the inside corners of the duvet cover.  If your duvet or duvet cover is missing this part it’s easy to sew something in by hand, but it’s nice to buy it already how you need it.

Also be sure to compare the size of your duvet cover with the size of your duvet.  It’s ok if the duvet cover is a bit larger but you want them to be pretty similar in size so it fits well.

Machine Washable

Check your duvet and duvet cover and make sure they are machine washable.  It’s a pain in the butt to have to drag your bedding to the dry cleaners when it needs it.  And it’s expensive too!

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