What Is A Duvet?

The word duvet comes from a French word meaning “down”, and that’s what duvets are stuffed with. They’re a soft, flat bag, which is traditionally full of feathers or down, or possibly both. Feathers from the Eider duck, or Eiderdown, are the most traditional stuffing. A duvet, also called a doona or a continental quilt, is used on the bed as a blanket, usually without sheets. They originally were developed in rural areas of continental Europe, and were commented on as early as the late eighteenth century. Authors at that time noted that people used their duvets in both the winter and the summer, and were completely comfortable.

Duvets are still common in northern Europe, especially in Scandinavia. However, they’ve also become popular around the world, particularly in cold climates such as Canada and the Northern US. Portions of Australia also use this type of covering, where it’s called a Doona, after a popular brand of duvet. In Pakistan, a type of duvet is referred to as a ralli quilt, and is mostly used in Sindh, a southern province.

You may encounter some confusion about the term “ duvet“. That’s because it means different things in different areas. In some part of Europe, any thick, warm blanket might be called a duvet, and in the US, a duvet might be the cover for the comforter, rather than a down blanket. Several large retailers use this terminology, so be sure you’re getting what you expect when you order a duvet.

If you use your duvet the traditional way, without sheets, making the bed becomes a lot easier. Instead of dealing with many sheets and quilts, you have only to flip the duvet down over the bed and smooth it. Many duvets are used with a cover, to simplify laundering. When dirty, the cover is removed, and you wash it just like you’d wash your sheets. This makes it easy to change the look of a duvet and simpler to clean it. Feather filled coverings can deteriorate if washed frequently, so use of a duvet cover makes them last longer.

Not all duvets are full of down, however. While this is the most traditional filling, there are also duvets containing polyester batting, wool, silk, cotton, and even bamboo. A high loft and good insulating value is desirable in any duvet filling. When pressed with the hand, the filling should spring back into shape. In addition, when you buy your duvet, look for a smooth surface, light weight, and even stitching. Fabrics should be high in thread count, and use a long staple cotton for durability.