Is a Duvet Better Than a Comforter?
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Contrary to popular belief, there is a difference between a duvet and a comforter. If you thought the terms were interchangeable, don't worry—this a judgment-free zone. Either may feel heavenly the moment your body hits the pillow-soft covers, but when you need to buy bedding that appeals to your sleep style, it's time to pull your head out of the clouds. The two have more differences than meet the eye. Before you shop for these bedroom essentials, consider which one's benefits work for your lifestyle, aesthetic, and comfort.
"Nowadays shoppers and retailers are distinguishing less and less between comforters and duvets," says Leo Wang, CEO of Buffy. "That doesn't mean they're the same, so it's important to understand the difference."
We tapped Wang and Maddy Howey, cofounder of another one of our favorite bedding brands, Pippen House, to learn about the differences between a duvet and a comforter, how to choose which one is right for you, and how to take care of them. Prepare for a cozy, chic night of sleep.
What Is a Duvet?
A duvet is a two-part bedding system consisting of a duvet insert and a duvet cover. A duvet insert is soft and pillowy, often filled with either duck or goose feathers. More attainable and accessible versions of the luxurious bedding essential are now available in various vegan fillings or alternatives such as cotton, synthetic materials, or silk. Duvet inserts typically are plain white or natural and come in different weights to suit your temperature preferences. A duvet cover is like a large pillowcase; you can slide it off to machine wash it, swap it out for a new cover in a different color or design, or fluff up the insert. Duvet covers typically open and close using ties, buttons, or zippers along the bottom. You can buy stylish duvet covers in practically any color, design, fabric (flannel, linen, cotton, or silk), and preference for hot or cold sleepers.
"The cover allows you to have a little variety (changing colors, prints, or embellishments) while keeping the insert clean," says Howey. "It doesn't hurt that duvets are pretty and usually add another design element to your bed."
Duvet Pros:
Makes swapping out bedding easy
Various color and pattern options
Easy to keep clean
Cover protects insert to help it last
Can be used with only a fitted sheet; no top sheet necessary
Duvet Cons:
More expensive than a comforter
Duvet can shift out of place inside cover
Changing cover can be difficult
Covers typically sold separately from insert
To avoid waking up with your duvet insert bunched up in the end of the cover, choose a quality duvet and duvet cover of the same size so they meet in each corner like puzzle pieces. Some duvet inserts and covers have ties at the inner corners to hold the insert in place.
What Is a Comforter?
A comforter doesn't require a cover and can be used as-is on your bed. As Wang explains, "A comforter is really an evolved form of the blanket. It takes this one step further by sewing two fabric covers together to form a shell, into which an insulating material (for example cotton) is filled."
The filling is what makes your comforter a lightweight but cozy quilted blanket. If you sleep cold, choose a comforter that offers more insulation and a higher fill count. A comforter stands alone, so if you're washing your bedding at night and find the comforter is still wet, your bed will be bare except for your sheets as you wait for it to dry.
Comforter Pros:
Inside fill doesn't shift
Design can be ornate and colorful
Often sold in a set with pillows and fitted sheets
Easy to put on and remove from a bed
Covers more of the bed
Best used with a fitted sheet and top sheet
Comforter Cons:
Not as easy to swap for another option
Can lose structure over time
Bulky
May require outsourced care, such as dry-cleaning
"With a comforter you 100 percent need to double check whether it is machine washable in the care instructions. If so, great, you can pick up the whole comforter, throw it in your washing machine," Wang says. "If it's not advertised as machine washable, then things can get complicated." A comforter's filling can clump or its fabric can rip if it isn't made to whirl in your washer and dryer. You'll need to take it to a dry-cleaner, which can be pricey and a hassle.
How to Choose Between a Comforter and Duvet
Which is better—a comforter or a duvet—depends on your lifestyle, design and sleep preferences, and idea of convenience. Both bedding options have benefits that take either more time or money. For instance, you can't use a duvet on its own without a cover like a comforter because it'll get dirty.
If you're shopping and unsure whether the item you're considering is a duvet or a comforter, Wang suggests looking at the corner to see if it was designed and built to function with a duvet cover. "The simplest way to distinguish between the two is to check whether the comforter has "duvet cover ties" or "corner ties" (typically a fabric "hook" located in each corner on the outside of the duvet). These ties are known as "duvet cover ties" because they can be tied to fabric ties in each of the four corners inside a duvet cover," says Wang.
A major fan of duvets, Howey says their quality and flexibility are worth the investment. "We believe that duvet covers should be like sheet sets—you should be able to swap them out on laundry day," she says. "It's always nice to have a second duvet cover so you can remake your bed in one fell swoop."
How to Clean a Duvet and Comforter Properly
Take the time to read the care label thoroughly before cleaning a duvet or comforter. You can wash many down comforters and duvet inserts at home in your washer. If yours isn't machine washable, it will likely be "dry clean only" or "spot clean only" or "hand wash and hang dry," says Wang. As a result, you'll need to deal with the additional work or cost—or sleep under something that can't be entirely cleaned. Duvets need to be cleaned roughly once a season, much less frequently than comforters.
Howey advises consumers to consider the capacity of their washer and dryer and size of their bedding. Laundry day will be more challenging and take longer if your king comforter won't fit in your machines. (A washer that can hold 5 cu. ft. of laundry is ideal; some washers hold only 4 or 4.5 cu. ft.) Shove bedding in too small an appliance, and the filling can clump, the outer cover can tear, or you might even damage your appliance. Taking a comforter to a laundry with commercial machines is a better bet.
Not sure where you stand? Howey suggests skipping the debate altogether. "A number of people "run hot" and use blankets or coverlets in lieu of comforters or duvets. Duvets or comforters aren't necessary, but always nice to have them folded at the foot of the bed in the event you get chilly," she says.
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