A high-quality mattress and matching pillows can make your bed comfortable and inviting for hours on end. Aside from these bed components, there are other items you can add to your sleeping area to customize its overall feel and, at the same time, enhance its appearance to your liking.
Your bedding plays a key role in determining the level of comfort you will enjoy while in bed. The right bedding and accessories can enhance the warmth of your bed for a more comfortable sleep during cold nights or can keep things breezy and cool if overheating is a bigger concern. Duvets and coverlets are just some of the great additions you can add to your bed setup to give it a more customized feel. These coverings allow you to adjust your comfort level without drastic changes such as springing for a brand-new mattress. Duvets and coverlets also provide you with the chance to change or upgrade the look of your bed without too much effort.
A duvet is a fluffy bag that is filled with feathers, down, or down-alternative materials. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with a comforter because of the two bedding items’ similarities, but there are unique characteristics that differentiate these two. While a comforter can be used on its own, a duvet needs a duvet cover for protection and aesthetic purposes. The duvet itself comes in a plain white or off-white shade, hence the need for a separate duvet cover that will dictate the appearance of your bed setup.
Added Warmth
Duvets are placed on top of the sheets and can be your go-to bedding piece when you want additional warmth, especially during the cold weather season. The warmth that the duvet provides will be affected by the type of filling material used, with feathers and down usually providing the coziest level of warmth to keep you snuggled comfortably even during chilly nights. The additional bulk of the duvet can also contribute to a cozy feeling and be a comforting presence that may help you fall asleep faster or stay peacefully asleep for the whole night.
Eliminates the Need for Other Beddings
A duvet is designed to provide a comforting layer with additional warmth that sits on top of the bed. With a duvet in place, the bed can have a comfortable and finished look without the need for separate blankets, quilts, or top sheets. The presence of the duvet can save you a lot of time and effort because you will not have to place separate layers one by one on the bed and worry about keeping them all clean! With the help of a duvet, the complete bed setup can be finished in no time at all!
Can Easily Change the Look of the Bed
Duvets come in plain structures and are meant to be used with covers. These covers come in a wide variety of colors and prints so you’ll be able to easily choose one that will match your style preference or even your mood at any given time. This will save you from making more drastic and expensive aesthetic changes like changing your bed frame or headboard.
Durable
The strength and durability of a duvet are significantly affected by the presence of the cover to keep the duvet insert protected from dirt and accidental spills. As the duvet itself does not need frequent washings (only the duvet cover needs to be regularly cleaned and washed), the material can stay intact for a long time. The position of the duvet on top of the sleeper’s body means that it is not exposed to the weight and movements of the person, so it will be easier to maintain the structural integrity of the duvet for years to come.
Difficult to Clean
The duvet insert is a bulky structure that is filled with feathers, down, or synthetic materials. While the duvet cover can easily be machine-washed, the duvet itself is usually cleaned only with professional dry cleaning. This is because the standard washing machines for residential use may not be big enough to accommodate the bulk of the duvet. The continuous agitation that is used by regular washers may also damage the components of the duvet, so it will be best to have it professionally dry cleaned to prevent problems.
A coverlet is designed to have a more lightweight structure compared to comforters and duvets. It is used as a bed’s top layer and is made to hang over the sides of the bed to entirely cover the box spring but without quite touching the floor, as it is shorter than a bedspread. Coverlets often have a quilted or woven pattern, although there may be some patterned options that address the coverlet’s role as a decorative layer.
Light Structure Ideal for Warm Settings
A coverlet is much thinner than other beddings such as comforters or duvets. It offers a lightweight presence that can provide just a little warmth without an uncomfortable stifling feeling. The coverlet is especially ideal for summer nights or areas with hot climates. The lightweight structure can easily be placed on top of other bedding and removed just as easily whenever you wish to do so.
Decorative Enhancement
The presence of the coverlet is mainly for decorative purposes, since its lightweight profile is not enough to provide the much-needed warmth that duvets and comforters can deliver. It is designed to add a splash of welcome color to the bed layout without the need to change all the sheets or even the duvet cover. The coverlet can also be used as a subtle accent piece that can be placed at the foot of the bed, leaving the rest of the sheets and duvet cover to be showcased on their own at the same time.
Easy to Care For
A coverlet is thin and does not weigh much so it is easy to put on the bed, remove, and place in the washer (depending on the material). Even if the fabric needs to be hand-washed, the task will be much easier compared to washing other beddings by hand since the coverlet is lightweight.
Does Not Provide Enough Warmth
A coverlet’s thin structure will not be able to provide enough warmth and bulk to ward off the cold, so it is ideal only for use as an accent piece or for warmer nights.
| Duvet | Coverlet | |
|---|---|---|
|
Primary Use |
Eliminates the need for separate covers/beddings |
Decorative |
|
Structure |
Thick and bulky |
Thin and lightweight |
|
Warmth |
Provides cozy warmth |
Offers very minimal warmth |
|
Aesthetic Enhancement |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Length |
Lies on top of the bed |
Can reach almost to the floor |
Q: Is a duvet the same as a comforter?
A: No, a duvet is different from a comforter. Both of these bedding options provide additional warmth, but the duvet needs a separate duvet cover while the comforter can be used on its own.
Q: Can the coverlet be used the same way as a duvet?
A: No. A coverlet has a thin and lightweight structure so it will not be able to provide additional warmth in the way a duvet or comforter can.
Q: What is the role of a coverlet on a bed?
A: A coverlet’s main purpose is to provide a decorative enhancement to the bed since it is not thick or warm enough to provide a cozier bed setup.
Q: How can you keep the duvet clean?
A: The easiest way to maintain the cleanliness of the duvet is to keep it protected with a duvet cover. The cover can easily be removed and washed as frequently as needed, leaving the duvet insert intact, clean, and protected for a longer time.
Duvets and coverlets are bed coverings that have different roles but have the same power to conveniently change the appearance and comfort level of your bed. Knowing the difference between the two options can help you maximize the benefits that each product can deliver to your overall bed setup.
Johns Hopkins Medicine – https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/choosing-the-best-sleep-position
Diva Portal SciMed Central – http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1081315/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Harvard Health Publishing – https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/anxiety-and-stress-weighing-heavily-at-night-a-new-blanket-might-help
American Psychological Association – https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1990-28897-001
Digital Commons Kennesaw State University – https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1419&context=etd
American Academy of Sleep Medicine – https://aasm.org/study-shows-weighted-blankets-can-decrease-insomnia-severity/
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