Duvets come in all shapes and sizes. Many of them offer different levels of warmth. With so many options available, it’s not easy to choose the right one... As experts in natural bedding, we’ve compiled all the key information you need to help you find the duvet that’s right for you. Buying a duvet made easy!
The Right Duvet Size
If you want to buy a comforter but can't quite remember the size of the original one, choosing the right size can be difficult.
To choose the right size for your comforter, measure your comforter cover. This will ensure that the comforter cover fits the comforter perfectly. That way, you’ll avoid any unpleasant surprises when making the bed.
If this is your first time buying a comforter and you aren't limited by the size of your existing bedding, we recommend purchasing a comforter measuring 200x220 cm or 240x200 cm (for a double bed).
For single beds, we recommend the following sizes: 135x200, 140x200, and 155x200 cm.
For large beds (queen-size 160x200 cm and king-size 180x200 cm), however, we recommend choosing a comforter that measures 260x240 cm.
Buying a Duvet: Choosing the Right Material
To choose the material for your comforter, you need to understand its composition. A comforter always consists of two parts:
The Cover: This is the part of the comforter that comes into contact with you while you sleep
The filling: This is what "fills" the comforter—the material placed inside it that provides warmth.
There are 3 main categories of comforters:
100% Synthetic Duvets
When choosing a comforter, you'll mainly find 100% synthetic comforters. Synthetic comforters have a 100% synthetic cover and a polyester filling (listed as polyester fiber or microfiber).
These comforters are lower-quality products, which have the advantage of being sold at a very low price. On the other hand, they have the disadvantage of creating a “steam effect” while you sleep: they trap heat and cause you to sweat at night. In addition, they do not last as long.
Duvets made from synthetic and natural materials
It is less common to find comforters made from a combination of synthetic and natural materials. These are comforters with a synthetic filling (polyester fiber or microfiber) and a natural cover (cotton or organic cotton).
The brands that manufacture this type of comforter capitalize on the material of the cover (often cotton) to claim that the comforter is “natural.” However, the filling is synthetic, and consumers can easily be misled. Be wary of this type of comforter, whose characteristics are similar to those of a synthetic comforter, even though the cotton cover has the advantage of preventing you from sleeping in direct contact with polyester.
100% Natural Duvets
100% natural comforters are made from high-quality materials and are therefore often more expensive than synthetic comforters. The most common types of natural comforters are feather and down comforters, which are of animal origin. These comforters all have a filling of duck or goose feathers and a cotton cover.
They are breathable and lightweight and offer excellent comfort. However, their production is not ethical. The feathers and down come from the duck meat industry, particularly from foie gras production, and are usually plucked from the animals shortly before slaughter.
Of course, there are also natural vegan comforters. Kipli offers a comforter made from purely plant-based materials, thereby avoiding the use of petrochemical-based materials and animal suffering.
The filling of the meubleauthentique.liveforter is made of Lyocell (TENCEL™), also known as cellulose. This innovative material is a textile fiber derived from wood pulp. The resulting fiber is very soft and has excellent thermal properties. The cover of the meubleauthentique.liveforter is made of organically grown cotton.
By choosing to make its duvet from plant-based fibers, Kipli is committed to creating an ethical, sustainable, and healthy product. To learn more, read our article “The Benefits of a Lyocell Duvet.”
A mite-repellent comforter
When looking for a dust-mite-resistant comforter, people tend to seek out synthetic materials or comforters that have been treated to repel dust mites. However, this approach has its drawbacks from both an environmental and health perspective.
Synthetic comforters are made from polyester fibers, a synthetic material. Their production is harmful to the environment, and at the end of their useful life, these comforters become waste that must be recycled. In addition, night after night, you inhale tiny particles when you sleep in direct contact with polyester or any other chemically treated product.
Natural, non-vegan comforters are often chemically treated to combat dust mites. This is partly due to the structure of the feathers, which tend to trap dust easily and thus promote the growth of dust mites.
The meubleauthentique.liveforter does not have this problem, as its filling is not prone to collecting dust. In addition, the filling is arranged in such a way that it creates an “air cushion” inside the comforter, which improves its breathability. You should know that a natural comforter that is properly cared for—that is, washed regularly and stored in a well-ventilated room—significantly reduces the presence of dust mites. Read more here about cleaning your comforter.
Which heat setting should I choose?
The warmth rating of a comforter depends on the material chosen for the filling and the amount (weight) the manufacturer uses. We recommend that you follow the manufacturer's recommendations, as they know their products inside and out.
Please note the seasonal recommendations! The Kipli winter comforter, for example, is designed to provide excellent warmth in the winter, but it’s also perfect for your nights in the spring and fall. For warm summer nights, the Kipli summer comforter is an excellent choice for you.
Conclusion
We really hope that our short guide has helped you when it comes to buying a comforter. Natural comforters made without animal products are best for both people and the environment. Pay attention to the comforter’s warmth rating, because not every comforter is suitable for both summer and winter.
If you have any questions, please visit us on chat, call us at +49 (0) 32 21 22 96 570, or send us an email at kontakt@meubleauthentique.live.