How to Choose Your Duvet in 5 Steps

Posted on 4 April 2022 

After spending 13 hours comparing 20 products by writing our comparisons, here are the steps we advise you to follow to choose your duvet properly.

 

Step 1: The dimensions, adapted to the size of your bed

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WE ADVISE YOU
  • To adapt the size of the duvet to the size of your bed
  • Opt for a larger duvet if the sleepers are heavier or if they tend to move around a lot at night
WE DO NOT ADVISE
  • A duvet that is too small, because the impact on comfort is too great

The best choice of duvet starts, of course, with fitting it to the size of your bed. You have two options in terms of aesthetics: either it comes to the edge and falls slightly to the sides, or it really envelops the bed and falls low to the sides.  

  • For a single bed of 80 or 90 cm, a duvet of 140 x 200 cm is required.
  • For a 140 cm bed (standard double), a 200 x 200 cm duvet is the most classic choice, but you can opt for a 240 x 220 cm duvet if you want it to fall.
  • For a Queen Size bed (160 cm), the minimum is 240 cm x 220 cm.
  • For a king size bed (180 cm), you should choose a duvet of 260 x 240 cm.

 

Step 2: The filling, natural or synthetic

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WE ADVISE YOU
  • A synthetic filling, because it is generally affordable and easy to maintain
  • A natural filling if you like the puffiness of the duvet
WE DO NOT ADVISE
  • A natural filling if you are sensitive to allergies

There are two types of filler:

  • The natural filling consists of feathers and down. It gives the duvet a puffy effect and is intended to be both warm and durable. It is, however, less easy to care for, both for washing and drying. The more down there is in the duvet, the higher the price. The price also depends on the origin of the down (goose or duck).
  • The synthetic filling consists of polyester, of which there are many different types of fibre. The duvet has a flatter appearance and is generally heavier, but it is really easy to maintain. It is cheaper and is also the most recommended for allergy sufferers. On the other hand, it is less durable.

 

Step 3: The weight, depending on the temperature of your room and your sensitivity to cold

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WE ADVISE YOU
  • Alternate between two duvets of different weights, depending on the season
  • Opt for a 4-season duvet if the temperature of the room varies very little over the year
WE DO NOT ADVISE
  • A duvet that is too dense if you get hot quickly and sweat a lot

The weight of the duvet represents the density of its filling. Some manufacturers add a heat index to help you choose.

  • The warmer it is in the bedroom, the lower the weight should be: the less dense the duvet is, the more breathable and lighter it is, the denser it is, the more warm it is when the temperature drops.
  • The grammage of a natural filling is necessarily lower than that of a synthetic filling.
  • In summer, it is advisable to choose a weight of 180 g/m² for a natural duvet and 200 to 250 g/m² for a synthetic duvet.
  • In winter, 270 g/m² will be sufficient for a natural duvet, but the weight can vary from 300 to 450 g/m² for a synthetic duvet, depending on whether you heat the room a little or not at all.
  • Four-season duvets can be a good compromise in areas where there are few temperature variations. This is a double duvet, one for summer and one for mid-season, which once assembled is very suitable for winter.

 

Step 4: The cover, important for the durability of the duvet and its filling

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WE ADVISE YOU
  • A weave with a density higher than 100 threads/cm², for a good resistance to wear and tear
WE DO NOT ADVISE
  • A too rough seam, which endangers the good distribution of the filler in the long run

The role of the cover is to ensure that the filling is well distributed and that the duvet will last for a long time. Two factors must therefore be taken into account:

  • The quality of the textile depends on its density. A cotton percale fabric, for example, has a density of 120 to 150 threads/cm², which ensures good strength and makes it easy to iron. Synthetic fabrics usually have a thread count of about 90 threads/cm².
  • Stitching refers to the seams on the surface of the quilt. It can be made with different patterns (lines, squares), but it is not purely aesthetic: its function is to prevent the filling from spreading in the duvet. If it is well distributed, the thermal comfort remains intact.

 

Step 5: Cleanliness, more complicated than it seems

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WE ADVISE YOU
  • Check the compatibility of the duvet with the washing machine and dryer (not guaranteed with a natural duvet)
  • Program an extra rinse and limit the spin to 1000 rpm
  • Add two or three tennis balls to the washing machine drum to keep the duvet evenly filled
WE DO NOT ADVISE
  • Forcing the duvet into your washing machine (better to opt for a laundromat or dry cleaner)

It is necessary to wash your duvet about once or twice a year and to air it (to remove dust) at the same frequency. Despite this time frame, it is always best to keep such tasks as simple as possible.

  • As with all types of linen, the label should be checked to see whether or not it is compatible with the washing machine and tumble dryer. Most synthetic duvets can be washed and dried, but this is not necessarily the case for natural duvets.
  • Even if the duvet can be machine washed, your washing machine may not have the capacity to handle such a large item. If you have to force it in and it’s very tight in the drum, you’re better off going to a dry cleaners or laundromat, where the machines have a larger capacity.
  • An additional rinse may be useful to dissolve any remaining detergent. However, the spinning speed should not exceed 1000 rpm, as this could damage the duvet cover.
  • Putting two or three tennis balls in the washing machine drum will prevent the filling from settling in one area of the duvet.

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