Your bedroom should be the respite you’re overjoyed to come home to after a long day. To achieve that, dreamy pillows, crisp linens, and the best duvets aren’t just encouraged—they’re integral to a calming room and soothing sleep. Finding a duvet might seem simple, but there are a few things to think about before you invest in this sleep product. After all, a good duvet should last for decades to come.
What’s the difference between a duvet and a comforter?
Chances are you’ve used the term “comforter” and “duvet” interchangeably. The two are very similar, and can technically be used interchangeably since they’re both filled with fluff (like down, microfiber, or cotton), but there are a few key differences between them. First, the comforter originated in the United States while the duvet is originally from Europe. And while the comforter is a filled, standalone cover for your bed, the duvet consists of two pieces: an insert and a cover. Comforters are often thinner for year-round use, while duvets are fluffier and warmer. Comforters are usually paired with a top sheet for hygienic purposes, while duvets don’t need one since they have an easily washable cover (but you can always use one if you want). This cover also means you don’t need to pop your duvet itself in the washing machine, because it doesn’t come in contact with your body.
What should you look for in a duvet?
You’ll first want to decide what kind of duvet filling you want: down or down alternative. Down fill is fluffy and supremely warm, made with goose down and often blended with feathers. We recommend looking for a down duvet that’s made with Responsible Down Standard (RDS) down, which means the goose farms where the down is harvested are held to a humane standard. Down alternative fill, on the other hand, is typically made with microfiber polyester, lyocell, or cotton. This fill is also ideal for those with severe allergies, as non-hypoallergenic down fill contains allergens from the feathers.
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Once you decide on a filling, you’ll want to think about how warm you like to be. Similar to shopping for a comforter, cold sleepers should look for a duvet insert that has a higher fill power or GSM (grams per square meter). The higher the GSM, the heavier the duvet. You might also want to look for baffle box or diamond stitching, which keeps the fill from redistributing over time. You should check to see if the duvet insert has corner ties, so it can be tied to a duvet cover to keep from bunching up during use. Once you’ve found your dream duvet, you can cover it with whatever duvet cover suits your fancy, from breathable linen to crispy percale, in every color and design imaginable.
We’ve scoured hundreds of reviews to find the best duvets for every kind of sleeper. You’ll find top picks at every price point from beloved brands and retailers like Casper, Parachute, Boll & Branch, Brooklinen, and more. The coziest snooze of your life is an order away.
Source: SELF
