A duvet cover is a pouch for the duvet insert that protects the insert from getting dirty. A duvet cover is a versatile piece of bedding that can add to the style of the bedroom. Duvet covers come in handy because you can easily throw them into the wash without worrying about washing the plump and voluminous duvet itself.
People often confuse a duvet with a comforter but these beddings have different structures and usage.
In this guide, you will learn what a duvet cover is, the difference between a duvet and a comforter, and how to choose a duvet cover.
What is a Duvet?
A duvet is a blanket typically made of down extracted from under the wings of the geese. A duvet is a light quilt used to cover up while sleeping. A duvet is warm and cozy because it has a natural fiber filling. Duvets can also have polyester, synthetic fabrics, or down alternatives filling.
Duvets are known to be light in weight, fluffy, and comforting. Duvets are available in various fill power. As per the season, whether it is winters or summers, you can determine the type of fill of the duvet. The standard range of 400-600 fill power works the best for duvets.
A duvet is generally classic white. It is stitched in patterns to ensure even distribution of the fill throughout the duvet. A duvet in itself is not enough, unlike a comforter that is one-piece bedding. They need duvet covers to protect them from stains, wear and tear, and sweat.
What Is a Duvet Cover?
A duvet cover is an external protective layer of the fluffy duvet. It keeps the duvet from getting spoilt and makes bed-making manageable and fuss-free.
So how does a duvet cover work?
A duvet cover is open from one side and has ties, a zipper, or a button to keep the duvet from slipping out of the duvet cover. People use duvets without the top sheet making them more prone to stains or spills. A duvet cover is useful, as it absorbs all the immediate spills and dust, eliminating the need to dry clean the duvets often.
Duvet covers are thin and light in weight, much like a top sheet of the bed. Their thinness also makes them machine-wash friendly. The duvet cover is versatile. It can accommodate a thicker duvet during winters and a lighter duvet during summers.
Traditionally white duvet covers have been in use. Now people prefer buying colorful duvets to add a spark to the interiors of their bedroom.
Benefits of a Duvet Cover
A duvet cover is a protector of the duvet insert. It also has several benefits that make it more usable, pocket-friendly, and preferable. Here are some benefits of a duvet cover:
Affordable
Changing a duvet or a comforter costs very little. Duvet covers are affordable. A duvet cover can be changed multiple times during the year, giving the duvet a new and fresh look.
Machine-Washable
Duvet covers are light and easy to store and manage. You can wash duvet covers in washing machines at home. It also saves up the laundry expenses of getting duvets dry-cleaned.
All-season usage
The best part about a duvet cover is that it is used all around the year. During summers, the duvet cover can accommodate a light duvet. During winters, the duvet cover can accommodate bulky and voluminous duvets.
Hassle-Free Bed Making
Duvet covers have simplified the process of cleaning and bed making. You can replace the duvet cover instead of a duvet for a fresh look.
All-inclusive Variety
Duvet covers come in various colors, patterns, and designs. They are a good fit in master bedrooms in the standard white, whereas the colorful variety is a good fit for children’s rooms.
What Is a Duvet Insert?
A duvet insert is nothing but the duvet itself. This is a way of referring to the duvet. A duvet insert is the piece of bedding that goes inside the duvet cover.
A duvet insert standardly comes in shades of white. People prefer to buy the duvet cover in the same material as the duvet insert. A duvet insert is a preferred bedding item because of its quality of being soft, fluffy, and snuggly. Duvet inserts are quilts that have a high thread count.
A duvet insert differentiates from a comforter and a blanket by having another significant half- the duvet cover. Duvets have running stitches that form compartments that hold the filling in their place. These stitches protect the thermal properties of the duvet insert. You can also opt for buying a complete duvet set that consists of a duvet insert, duvet cover, and pillow shams.
What Are Duvet Covers Made of?
Duvet covers can be both natural as well as synthetic materials. Based on your preferences, you can choose the material and type of duvet that suits you the best.
Cotton
Cotton is a natural and breathable fabric. Cotton is soft on the skin and does not cause allergies or rashes. It is a temperature regulating fabric which makes it an ideal fit for both winters and summers. Cotton is a low-maintenance fabric that can be machine washed at home.
Silk
If you like the royal feel, silk might be a good choice for you. Silk is a luxurious fabric that gives warmth. It is better-insulated which makes silk perfect for winters. Silk is dust-repellant, making it an ideal fit for those with allergies.
You don’t need to wash silk duvet covers very often, but whenever you do, ensure to wash them as per the instructions on the label.
Flannel
A flannel duvet cover is perfect for those living in hilly regions or areas with cold conditions. Flannel is a mix of wool and cotton, two natural fabrics. It is machine-washable and also does not hold wrinkles.
The wool element in the flannel duvet covers makes them warm and toasty. Flannel duvet covers can be suffocating to use during summers.
Duvet vs. a Comforter: What Is the Difference?
A comforter is a ready-to-use, single piece of bedding. Comforters are thinner and less filled than duvets. They differ from duvets as they don’t need a cover. You can directly use a comforter to cover yourself.
Duvets are quilts made of down feathers and have a casing of cotton or polycotton. Duvets pair up with duvet covers that protect the fluffy duvet from spills and stains. You can machine-wash the duvet covers instead of a duvet when dirty.
Duvets and comforters differ on the basis of the following factors:
Fill
Comforters are thin and lightly filled. Duvets are soft, fluffy, and have large volumes of stuffing that make them fuller.
Covers
Comforters have fine finishing and are ready to use without requiring any additional layer of fabric. But duvets require a duvet cover.
Temperature
A duvet is warmer and cozier than a comforter because of its high fiberfill. Comforters are also cozy, but they won’t suffice alone. You will need an additional quilt during winters.
Care
Maintenance of duvets is easy because the duvet cover can be removed and washed easily. Comforters are not so low maintenance because they will require dry-cleaning.
Style
The comforter is one piece quilt, hence available in various patterns and designs. Duvets have duvet covers that come in patterns and colors.
Price
Duvets are an expensive investment because they have a filling of natural down. Comforters are cost-effective because they do not have a natural filling.
How to Choose a Duvet Cover
Before making the final decision on a duvet, you must consider various factors like thread count, cost, size, maintenance, etc. Following are the factors you can evaluate while choosing a duvet cover:
Fabric/Material
The duvet cover can be cotton, poly-cotton, silk, or flannel. Yet, natural fabrics work best as duvet covers. Natural fabrics are breathable, easy to maintain, and machine-wash-friendly.
Thread Count
Thread count refers to the number of threads in a fabric per square inch. A high thread count reflects the durability and softness of the material. Usually, a 300 - 400 thread count duvet works the best. However, if the quality of threads is poor, a high thread count is futile.
Fill and Construction
Duvets can have either a down filling or a down-alternative filling. Some people who may have allergies should buy duvets with down alternative because it is made of synthetic material.
Different fill powers are suitable for different seasons. The fill for a summer-friendly duvet will be less than the one for winter.
Maintenance & Care
Duvet covers made from natural fabrics are usually easy to maintain. However, for fabrics like silk and flannel, you must read the wash instructions on the label.
Size
Duvet covers can fit standard-sized mattresses like king size, queen size, California king, etc. However, the duvet covers do not have the same size as a duvet. So you must measure the duvet before purchasing a duvet cover.
Cost
A good-quality duvet costs between $50 and $150, usually. The prices of premium quality duvets made of quality cotton can be higher.
How to Put on a Duvet Cover
You can put on a duvet cover in two popular ways. The traditional method is simple and easy. The California roll method is unique.
California Roll Method
Sushi was the inspiration behind this rolling technique. Hence, it got the name “California Roll” method.
Following are the steps to do a California Roll-
- Turn the duvet cover inside out and lay it flat on the bed.
- Put the duvet on top of the duvet cover.
- Roll the duvet from one end to the other. Hold the other end of the roll from beneath and pull it out while stuffing the entire roll into it.
- Zip it up and unroll the duvet on the bed.
Traditional Method
The traditional method is an easy and uncomplicated one. Here are the steps to the traditional method of putting a duvet cover-
- Turn the duvet cover inside out. Insert your hands from the inside and grab the two corners.
- Then hold the two ends of the duvet and flip the duvet cover from the fair side onto the duvet.
- Shake it across the bed and zip up the edges.
Purchasing a duvet is an expensive investment. You must consider the benefits of a duvet and understand the types of filling in a duvet before buying. The purpose of a duvet cover is to ensure easy maintenance and washability.
A duvet can be an ideal choice if you want a fluffy, soft, easy-to-maintain quilt. You can opt for comforters if you want a lighter and more decorative quilt.
