Duvet, Comforter, Bedspread? Which? Why?

[Waffle]

In the what color thread - there is a lot of talk about Duvet covers.  I have never had a duvet cover - I think I was fairly up in age before I had even heard of a duvet cover.  We always had bedspreads when I was younger.  I've been in a comforter and bedskirt phase of late.  I think the next time I look at bedding- I'm going to see if I can't find a bedspread I like.  I just bought a new bed, with no footboard and I like the way bedspreads hang when there is no footboard.

So which do you prefer - Duvet, comforter or bedspread and why?

[Deleted]

I was "up in age" when I first heard of duvet covers as well. We have a comforter and we got it because it was on sale and matched the room.

We got duvet covers for the kids from IKEA and neither one liked them. They prefer that their favorite blankets remain nekkid. 

[vonna]

I prefer using a quilt as my bedspread.  I like the comfort/weight of quilts, and how easy they are to launder.

[Deleted]

We have duvet covers for our comforters just to make them easier to clean.

[Waffle]

Mar 27, 2013 8:13:57 GMT -5 vonna said:

I prefer using a quilt as my bedspread.  I like the comfort/weight of quilts, and how easy they are to launder.

I forgot about quilts - yet another option.

[michelyn8]

Mar 27, 2013 8:13:57 GMT -5 vonna said:

I prefer using a quilt as my bedspread.  I like the comfort/weight of quilts, and how easy they are to launder.

I prefer quilts too but haven't found one in a pattern I like in over a decade.  The last two bed sets I bought were comforters.  I need to start looking again since I've already tired of the current bed set.  :-( I used the last one for over 5 years before I broke down and bought my current set two years ago.  I hate shopping for these things because I can never find colors/patterns I like and when I do, its in a price range I can't quite stomach.

[grits]

Bedspreads were used to dress the bed. We used blankets for warmth.  I prefer blankets because I can layer them to get just the right warmth.  

[lurkyloo]

I spent a little too much time in Europe; I'm a sucker for a duvet.  I'm also a sucker for down, which more or less requires a duvet cover.  Right now we have a light grey silk/cotton blend duvet cover with a tiny brocaded floral pattern on it, courtesy of overstock--gorgeous and just feels like luxury   Plus you can wash it.

[Waffle]

Mar 27, 2013 9:20:03 GMT -5 grits said:

Bedspreads were used to dress the bed. We used blankets for warmth.  I prefer blankets because I can layer them to get just the right warmth.  

I will absolutely have blankets on the bed - but the blankets will be under something - usually a comforter or bedspread.

[siralynn]

I've had a duvet cover ever since I since I discovered down comforters just after undergrad. Down comforters are the best!

[kittensaver]

We have a down comforter. It has a cover (duvet cover) to protect it. It is easy to strip off and wash if needed. We don't change out the cover, but some people do (holidays, the seasons, etc). The comforter generally goes into the linen closet during the summer months, but it with a variety of blanket weights give us almost endless choices for adjust the "heat" and "comfort" of the bed.

[Deleted]

We all have down comforters and duvet covers. I love our down comforter, and the duvet covers are easy to wash and dry.

We don't switch ours out either, but we have two for laundry purposes. Also, a new duvet cover can be a relatively inexpensive way to "redecorate" a bedroom.

[thyme4change]

Mar 27, 2013 9:40:46 GMT -5 lurkyloo said:

I spent a little too much time in Europe; I'm a sucker for a duvet.  I'm also a sucker for down, which more or less requires a duvet cover.  Right now we have a light grey silk/cotton blend duvet cover with a tiny brocaded floral pattern on it, courtesy of overstock--gorgeous and just feels like luxury   Plus you can wash it.

In the winter we don't use sheets, just a duvet w/ cover.  We wash the cover every week, just as we would a sheet.  In the summer it is too hot, so we use a sheet/light blanket combo, but the duvet stays on the bed for looks. Actually, probably not.  It stays on the bed for storage, we kick it off every night.  I have no closet space to put it away for the summer, so it has to stay on the bed.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

DH insists on hving a down comforter, so we have a duvet cover. I'm on my third one ever--about five years each for the last two. I don't do the different duvets for different seasons thing like some people do. 

[Deleted]

In the summer when it's hot we use the duvet cover without the duvet in it.

[Phoenix84]

I don't even know what the difference is between a comforter, a bedspread, and a duvet.  I'm not even sure what a duvet is....

I think what I have is technically a cmoforter, at least that's what it said on the packaging.  But I usuall;y call it a bedspread. 

[lurkyloo]

I think the main difference between a bedspread and a comforter is that the comforter is puffy (the bedspread is thinner and may also be fitted to the corners of the bed).  A duvet is a fluffy insert (often down, sometimes poly filling) usually with a white cover that isn't really meant for contact, so you put it inside a pocket-like thing that covers it--that'd be your duvet cover.  Duvets are pretty much de rigeur in Europe.

[formerroomate99]

A duvet cover is basically a big pillowcase for your beadspread.  It allows you to have a big fluffy beadspread with a covering that can be easily washed in a regular washing machine and not have the annoyance of washing the whole thing.  And since down generally can't be put in a washing machine, a duvet cover is a must for a down comforter.   

[Phoenix84]

Thanks for the explanation, decorating really isn't my thing.  I generally go for function over style. 

[Waffle]

A bedspread also generally falls to the floor - where the comforter falls over the sides of the bed, but not all the way down to the floor.

[Deleted]

I don't even know what the difference is between a comforter, a bedspread, and a duvet.  I'm not even sure what a duvet is....

I think I need to turn in my girl card.

[happyhoix]

Mar 27, 2013 9:40:46 GMT -5 lurkyloo said:

I spent a little too much time in Europe; I'm a sucker for a duvet.  I'm also a sucker for down, which more or less requires a duvet cover.  Right now we have a light grey silk/cotton blend duvet cover with a tiny brocaded floral pattern on it, courtesy of overstock--gorgeous and just feels like luxury   Plus you can wash it.

Me to. I got used to having a bottom sheet and a duvet inside a duvet cover when we lived in Europe.  You wash the bottom sheet and duvet cover weekly. I ADORE down filled duvets as they are light and yet very warm, not heavy like a pile of blankets, and I've gotten to where I can barely stand the top sheet (I move around a lot and it always gets wound up around my legs, for some reason). I also love how making the bed just means straightening out the duvet. (I knew a Danish girl who folded her duvet into a box under her bed and used her bed as a sofa during the day).

DH and I have two sets of duvet covers/sheets, a flannel set for winter and a cotton set for summer. 

When DH and I got married he was luke warm on whether or not he wanted to give up the standard sheets and blankets for a duvet, but he very quickly adapted to how light weight and washable they are (good for his dust allergies).

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Yup, I also describe a duvet as a big-ass pillow case.
it is functional in the sense that if you like to and/or need to wash your comforter a lot, it's better to have the duvet as its easier to wash than a queen/king sized comforter. 

The fashion comes in when you actually care what color/pattern you want, if you want the buttons hidden, if you have more than one duvet to change them with the seasons, etc. 

[Deleted]

Quilt like thing

[Peace Of Mind]

We prefer comforters and have a lighter one for summer and a heavier one for winter.  I get why Duvets are popular but I don't like them at all.  Trying to stuff the comforter inside them is beyond my capabilities and DH won't even try.  But to change out looks, colors, storage... they make sense. 

We also have blankets that we can throw at the end of the bed on really cold nights or if sick and chilled. 

I find bed spreads too flat looking on the bed or too heavy and claustrophobic.  I just don't like them. 

[lexxy703]

I had a down comforter in a duvet for awhile but the comforter got old & was tossed.  The duvet cover is flannel & I use it as a blanket under my comforter.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I've had duvets on my down comforters for years.  It's a lot easier to find them today, but I really had a rough time finding what I wanted 13 years ago or so.  The one I have now is one I bought back in 2000, paid an obscene sum for the set and is a linen/cotton combo.  I still love it, have no intention of changing it out for another set.  And in reality, I have paid as much for that set as I would have for 3-4 other cheaper sets during that time.  

I think it is too hot to have down on the bed during the summer, so I usually pull it off and use a quilt during the warmer weather instead.

[973beachbum]

Mar 27, 2013 10:27:23 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

I don't even know what the difference is between a comforter, a bedspread, and a duvet.  I'm not even sure what a duvet is....

I think what I have is technically a cmoforter, at least that's what it said on the packaging.  But I usuall;y call it a bedspread. 

Don't feel bad.  I don't know what a duvet is either.

We use comforters with afghans in the winter and air conditioners in the summer.

[Gardening Grandma]

We have a duvet.  I had a comforter in it, but it was too warm.  Now I just have a blanket in it.  We allow our dogs on the bed so I wanted a duvet I could wash regularly.

For looks I like a quilt, but just not practical with dogs.

[Deleted]

We have pets, so the duvet cover/comforter combo works for us. Also, our comforters are down, so by putting them in a cover, it keeps down the amount of feathers we see flying around. We wash the comforter every so often and the duvet every time we change sheets (which admittedly is not as often as it should be....)