What is a Duvet ?

There is often some confusion as to exactly what is a duvet so hopefully this site will set the record straight for those who aren't quite sure.

A duvet, which originated from the French word meaning 'down' as in 'down feathers' is sometimes referred to in the US and Canada as a down comforter but is much more widely known throughout the UK and Europe as a duvet. In fact, in the US and Canada, when someone refers to a duvet, they more often than not are referring to the actual cover rather than the duvet itself.

So, to answer the question as to what is a duvet; it is basically the insert which goes inside the duvet cover which is what the Americans call a duvet - confusing isn't it!.

Simply put, a duvet is a large flat bag, usually made from cotton, which contains material designed to keep a person warm in winter and cooler in summer. Traditionally this material would have been eiderdown, or down from the eider duck. However, this is an expensive material and gradually this has been replaced by other feathers and man made materials. However, many still swear that eiderdown is far superior and they may well be correct judging by the price!

Shopkeepers are likely to ask "what is a duvet?"

The duvet has gradually replaced traditional bedding such as cotton sheets largely due to the ease in making a bed in the morning. They also have the benefit of being much more comfortable to sleep in. Also, providing that a duvet cover is used, this makes washing of the bedding much more simple and easy to do as it is simply a case of removing the duvet cover and washing it before replacing.

Although the words are often intertwined, there is a difference between a duvet and a down comforter in that a comforter should be washed whole where as a duvet should only be washed very occasionally as it is the cover which protects it and therefore gets dirty and needs regular washing.

Duvets also come with different tog ratings which measure the warmth of the duvet, so it is best to buy one with a high tog rating for the winter months and a low tog rating for the warmer summer ones.

From the above you can see that when buying a duvet it is important to be really clear on what is a duvet and what isn't, otherwise you may well leave the shop disappointed and somewhat confused.