Since we have to spend a third of our lives sleeping, let’s sleep under quality duvets. A good duvet is one that keeps you warm but doesn’t make you sweat, one that is breathable but doesn’t make you cold. Check a guide on how to buy a quilt and check Linens & Hutch, where you can buy quilt cover set and other bedding.
Duvet construction: which is the best?
The type of construction is important because it affects how evenly the filling is distributed within the duvet. It is important that the filler has room to move and does not clump. Otherwise, hollow places will form in the duvet, which will let the cold in and look sloppy.
Most often, blankets are sewn in two ways: baffle box and box stitch.
The baffle box in the section looks like cubes, sewn together side by side. Box stitch (or “sewn through”) looks more like stuffed pockets sewn together.
The first ones are thicker and more voluminous, so this design is typically chosen for warm winter quilts. The second ones are thinner and lighter.
When choosing, pay attention to the following details:
- The size of the boxes. They shouldn’t be too small or large; otherwise, the filling will clump or will be stuffed too tightly to let air through. The box should be soft and elastic to the touch.
- Quality of seams. Give them a gentle tug to make sure they don’t tear. If the seam between the boxes diverges, they will merge into one large one. The filler will freely move in a large space and won’t warm you.
- Filling. Check for filler fibers or fluff coming through the seams.
Which filler to choose?
Fillers for blankets can be natural and synthetic. Let’s consider the most popular options.
Natural:
- Down, feathers, or a combination of both. Duck (cheaper) or goose (more expensive) down and feathers are usually used. Down blankets are light, breathable, warm, and usually quite expensive. Feathers are somewhat cheaper and less warm.
- Silk. Light filler balances body temperature well. It retains heat well and removes moisture.
- Wool. Such blankets are warm and breathable, although they are quite dense and somewhat heavy.
Synthetic:
- Microfibre. Very soft to the touch, fluffy, and light compared to down blankets.
- Hollowfibre. They retain heat well but are thicker than microfiber blankets.
Both options are suitable for people with allergies.
Characteristics of natural and synthetic duvets
Both natural and synthetic fillers have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s consider their main characteristics.
Natural:
- Serve up to 25 years;
- Have good air permeability;
- Not suitable for people with allergies (down and feather);
- As a rule, need dry cleaning;
- More expensive compared to synthetic ones.
Synthetic:
- Hypoallergenic;
- Usually cost less than the natural ones;
- As a rule, suitable for machine washing and drying;
- Remove moisture from the body;
- Have worse air permeability than natural ones, so they are not suitable for people who are prone to night sweats;
- Are a derivative of plastic, so they are usually not recyclable.
Any duvet should be cleaned every 6–12 months so that it does not accumulate dust, sebum and sweat.
If you wash the quilt yourself (especially a synthetic one), make sure that it dried well. Otherwise, the filler may stick together and be damaged.
How warm are duvets?
The warmth level of a duvet is usually measured in tog. The higher the number, the warmer the blanket. Summer blankets have an indicator of up to 4.5 tog, off-season — 7–10.5 tog, winter — 12–15 tog. If you are looking for something universal and year-round, pay attention to products with an indicator of 10.5 tog.
If you need any kind of bedding, check Linens & Hutch. There are dozens of high-quality bedding sets, pillowcases, sheets, and duvet covers that are durable and have an attractive design.
