What is a Duvet Cover?

Having the appropriate bedding can make your entire bedroom come together. Matching colors and patterns might sound easy, but it can be tougher than it looks. One of the most common bedding accessories is a duvet cover but what is that?

Duvet covers began in Europe but have become quite popular for home décor in the United States. If you want to know more about duvet covers, check out the guide below.

What is a Duvet?

First and foremost: what are duvet covers and what do they do? Basically, duvets are a top-layer, plush blanket that has a soft layer of down underneath the feathers of a duck or goose. Duvets come from the French word for “down,” which makes sense given the down feathers.

Today, duvets are quite commonplace since they can be purchased in other materials like polyester, wool, and other down-alternatives. Duvets are encased in a protective, removable shell, which makes them highly interchangeable as well. The shell is useful because it keeps the fill in place and keeps it from bunching up. Think of it as a protection layer for the fill within.

What is a Duvet Cover?

If you want even more protection for your duvet, a duvet cover is the next choice. Think of it as a pillowcase, another layer of protection for the duvet. There is one size open that makes it easier to access and it can be closed using ties, snaps, zippers, or buttons to ensure that the duvet doesn’t come out.

Duvet covers help to keep the duvet itself much cleaner. Even better, there won’t be a need for anything like a top sheet. Additionally, duvets are quite tough to clean, so having a duvet cover can wind up being additionally helpful because it can just be pulled off and cleaned without having to worry about cleaning the duvet itself.

Duvet Covers Materials

One of the most important aspects of choosing a duvet cover has to do with the material. Something that is breathable and lightweight, like cotton, is the most commonplace option. That said, there are a few other material options to choose from that are a bit more breathable but will cost a bit more. Here are the most common material types:

Cotton. The single most common fabric used. It’s soft, breathable, and light, regulating temperature regardless of what time of the year. Cotton is also the easiest to clean. Cotton duvets also have a variety of choices, including organic for those who care about sustainability.

Flannel. Flannel duvets are great for keeping warm even in the face of the coldest nights. Flannel is not only quite soft but very durable as well. These duvets are also very easy to clean since they are usually machine washable. That said, you might need to have a few of them in order to easily switch them out for each season.

Silk. Silk is the lightest and most breathable duvet material you will find. It feels smooth and cool no matter what time of year. That said, they are so much more expensive than the others. You will also need to follow specific washing instructions, including putting them in a protective bag if you want to wash them in the machine.

Duvet Pricing

Like nearly every other type of bedding, duvets, and duvet covers can run the gamut. There are some relatively affordable duvets to be had but you can also upgrade materials for a bit more money. It all comes down to what you are looking for out of your duvet or duvet cover in terms of price and material.