In America, the terms "duvet" (pronounced "due-vay) and "comforter" are practically interchangeable. There is no doubt the terms are similar. But they don't mean exactly the same thing. The term "duvet" is French, and it actually refers to a soft quilt that is typically filled with down from an eider duck. The term "comforter" has a wide range of meanings, but for our purposes it refers to a type of bedding made from two pieces of fabric stretched over some type of filling and stitched together.
One difference becomes clear right away. Comforters can be filled with many different things, such as cotton, silk, or polyester batting as well as with feathers or down. Duvets are always filled with down. Eider down is the preferred filling, but any down will do in a pinch. In the old days a duvet was filled with whatever was available. We have to remember that they did not have central heat and so had to get creative.
Another difference that is noted depends upon the culture. Americans, along with some other cultures, will use sheets and blankets on the bed. Then the entire thing is covered with the comforter or duvet. Other cultures throughout history and possibly still today use the duvet as the only bedding on the entire bed. Thomas Nugent was touring Westphalia and 1749 and made a telling comment. "There is one thing very particular to them, that they do not cover themselves with bed-cloaths, but lay one feather-bed over, and another under. This is comfortable enough in winter, but how they can bear their feather-beds over them in summer, as is generally practised, I cannot conceive." - The Grand Tour 1749, vol II. p. 66.
It turns out that practically all people, regardless of culture or upbringing, like feather and down comforters. They've been around forever, but the names have changed over the years. In England in the seventies they were introduced as "continental quilts." This is what Australians have always called them. But Australians also call them "doona," especially in the eastern regions of the country. Doona is actually a brand name that has become popular. (This is somewhat similar to Americans referring to tissues as "Kleenex.") The Scandinavians call them "dyne" thanks to IKEA popularizing the term. In India and Pakistan they call them "ralli quilts." Everywhere you go you can find some version of the down comforter.
This was an interesting fact for some added humor. There are places in England that have created "duvet day." Duvet day is one day a year when an employee can call in sick. They don't need to give a reason. It is like their one "Get out of Jail Free" card for the year.
A duvet's warmth level is measured in "togs." The tog is the measurement of thermal insulation. The tog level assists us, the consumer, so that we know what we are paying for. If we are shopping for a good summer-weight duvet cover, we want to look for a rating around 4 or 5 togs. An Autumn-weight duvet cover would carry a rating of around 9 or 10 togs. A duvet for winter use would be rated around 14 togs. But we've discovered that not all manufacturers use this rating system. Some of them just refer to them as "summer-weight," etc...
We often hear about duvet cover sets. This is a phrase that can be swapped with the phrase "comforter cover sets." Think of a duvet cover as a "pillow case" for your comforter. It is made up of two pieces of material sewn on three sides. One side remains open to allow a comforter of any kind to be slipped inside. Normally they will snap or button closed.
Duvet covers are designed to protect the main comforter from stains or spills. They are easy to put on, remove and wash; much simpler than washing the actual comforter inside. Because they are so easy to use they have become very popular. Duvet cover sets make a good investment because of their ability to protect that expensive comforter. Normally they are less expensive than an actual comforter so some shoppers will purchase more than one in order to occasionally swap them out. This allows them to wash one while still protecting the comforter with another one. Or they might change them out in order to adjust the look of the room.
One difference becomes clear right away. Comforters can be filled with many different things, such as cotton, silk, or polyester batting as well as with feathers or down. Duvets are always filled with down. Eider down is the preferred filling, but any down will do in a pinch. In the old days a duvet was filled with whatever was available. We have to remember that they did not have central heat and so had to get creative.
Another difference that is noted depends upon the culture. Americans, along with some other cultures, will use sheets and blankets on the bed. Then the entire thing is covered with the comforter or duvet. Other cultures throughout history and possibly still today use the duvet as the only bedding on the entire bed. Thomas Nugent was touring Westphalia and 1749 and made a telling comment. "There is one thing very particular to them, that they do not cover themselves with bed-cloaths, but lay one feather-bed over, and another under. This is comfortable enough in winter, but how they can bear their feather-beds over them in summer, as is generally practised, I cannot conceive." - The Grand Tour 1749, vol II. p. 66.
It turns out that practically all people, regardless of culture or upbringing, like feather and down comforters. They've been around forever, but the names have changed over the years. In England in the seventies they were introduced as "continental quilts." This is what Australians have always called them. But Australians also call them "doona," especially in the eastern regions of the country. Doona is actually a brand name that has become popular. (This is somewhat similar to Americans referring to tissues as "Kleenex.") The Scandinavians call them "dyne" thanks to IKEA popularizing the term. In India and Pakistan they call them "ralli quilts." Everywhere you go you can find some version of the down comforter.
This was an interesting fact for some added humor. There are places in England that have created "duvet day." Duvet day is one day a year when an employee can call in sick. They don't need to give a reason. It is like their one "Get out of Jail Free" card for the year.
A duvet's warmth level is measured in "togs." The tog is the measurement of thermal insulation. The tog level assists us, the consumer, so that we know what we are paying for. If we are shopping for a good summer-weight duvet cover, we want to look for a rating around 4 or 5 togs. An Autumn-weight duvet cover would carry a rating of around 9 or 10 togs. A duvet for winter use would be rated around 14 togs. But we've discovered that not all manufacturers use this rating system. Some of them just refer to them as "summer-weight," etc...
We often hear about duvet cover sets. This is a phrase that can be swapped with the phrase "comforter cover sets." Think of a duvet cover as a "pillow case" for your comforter. It is made up of two pieces of material sewn on three sides. One side remains open to allow a comforter of any kind to be slipped inside. Normally they will snap or button closed.
Duvet covers are designed to protect the main comforter from stains or spills. They are easy to put on, remove and wash; much simpler than washing the actual comforter inside. Because they are so easy to use they have become very popular. Duvet cover sets make a good investment because of their ability to protect that expensive comforter. Normally they are less expensive than an actual comforter so some shoppers will purchase more than one in order to occasionally swap them out. This allows them to wash one while still protecting the comforter with another one. Or they might change them out in order to adjust the look of the room.
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Want to find out more about duvet cover sets, then visit Norita Sieffert's site on how to choose the best duvet cover sets for your needs.
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