What is the Difference between Duvets, Quilt, Comforters, Doonas, and Duvet Covers?

 

First things first, what is the difference between these items, are they actually the same thing, or just called something different in different parts of the world? Or are they different items? Essentially a duvet, comforter, quilt, and doona are all the same thing with a few small differences – it just depends on where in the world you are, or what your mum calls it.

 

In essence, the duvet is a British term, and is the mainstream term in England, New Zealand, and other parts of the Commonwealth, however in Australia it is called a doona (which is unique to Australia). In the US, this same item is either called a Quilt, or a Comforter.

The term duvet refers only to the internal part of the two-piece element. Which is essentially the interior (Duvet), and exterior (Duvet Cover) often combined just called a duvet, but in fact they are two different elements. The inner piece, the duvet, is technically a soft flat bag filled with either down, feathers, wool, cotton, silk, or a synthetic alternative, with a removable cover – the duvet cover. The cover itself is similar to a pillowcase, in that it envelopes the inner, and has one open end that is then closed with buttons or a zip. Comforters and Quilts can vary to the above, in that sometimes the outer casing of the comforter or quilt inner, does in fact have a patterned or coloured finish, and can be used independently without the need for a duvet, quilt, or comforter cover, this structure then makes it closer to a blanket, in that it is a single piece, as opposed to a two piece system.

 

 

How to care for your Duvet Covers, Duvet, Doona, Comforter, or Quilt?

 

The use of a duvet cover makes the maintenance of this element a lot more user friendly regarding laundering and maintenance. The duvet cover is the outer casing, the lightest, and can be easily removed from the duvet inner. This means that that duvet cover, similar to a pillowcase, is simply removed from the inner, and cleaned as per the washing and drying instructions.

 

All of Aspen and Ferns duvet covers are linen, and made from the same linen composition as our sheets and pillowcases, this means that to care for them you can use the same care instructions as per our guide to looking after linen

 

Because of this ease of cleaning and drying, the duvet cover acts the same way as a top sheet, and users will often forgo the use of the top sheet as the linen duvet cover has the same feel, and is essentially doing the same job as the linen sheet.

 

 

How to Select and Style these....

 

More often than not, the bed is the centerpiece of the bedroom, and so the duvet cover becomes the focal point of that space. The use of pattern and colour here can make or break a room, add energy and charisma, and make a statement about the inhabitants and their personality.

We spend 30% of our lives in our beds, so why not make this space as glamorous, comfortable, and as easy on the eye as possible. Our French linen duvet covers are about colour, pattern, and style. Go eclectic and mix and match colours and patterns, or emphasise your patterned duvet by contrasting against neutral or block colour sheets and pillowcases – it’s your space so add a duvet cover that adds your own flair and flavour. 

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Eco-Friendly and Sustainable

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Grown from the flax plant in the temperate climates of France, Belgium, and Holland – flax uses four times less water to grow than cotton and is one of the most sustainable natural fibres on the market today. With improved processes regarding soil health and cultivating the plants, linen continues to be a market leader for sustainability in the textiles industry. The lack of harmful substances is endorsed by the Oeko-tex certification, the market standard for clean healthy fabrics for human use.

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Not only is all that stuff brilliant, but it’s also a super healthy textile to use indoors. Breathing naturally, not holding moisture or mould, and naturally repelling pathogens and bacteria, linen can be easily air dried and softens with age, more on that here.

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