Duvets And Duvet Covers
Duvets and duvet covers are definitely inventions of the 20th century with manufacturers either wanting to have something new to sell, decorative purposes or for practicality reasons. Nonetheless, duvets and duvet covers measure up to it all.
What is a duvet cover and how is it pronounced, anyway? A duvet (doo-vay) cover is like a pillowcase for a duvet, another name for comforter. It slips over a comforter and usually zips at the bottom. The origin of duvet covers came from Europe and is still widely used until now.
In the meantime, a duvet cover set is a convenient ensemble that includes a duvet cover, pillow shams, and occasionally a matching bed skirt. This ensemble is different from a comforter set since it usually does not include a comforter – and the lattermost usually includes all bedding accessories. When buying a duvet cover set, make sure you are aware of the entire components to avoid disappointments.
Duvets and duvet covers must have come into advent with the increased popularity of down comforters. Down comforters are good insulators of heat and are very soft, too, so that people in temperate zones love to snuggle under these especially in the midst of the winter freeze.
Down comforters can be tedious to clean and the most practical way to keep them clean for the longest time (also to protect them) is to encase them in a protective cover and, hence, that's how duvet covers were conceived. Duvets and duvet covers are indeed very practical since they are easier to maintain. Cleaning of the cover only requires you to remove it from the comforter and wash it, which provides more convenience than washing the entire comforter altogether.
On the other hand, since a duvet cover is a protective cover for a comforter, manufacturers came up with the idea to make it a decorative cover as well. This is the main reason why a duvet cover set includes pillow shams to realize a complete ensemble especially for the decoratively challenged.
Planning to change the mood of your room has never been easier and economical using a duvet cover. This protective bed cover set is a lot less expensive than a brand new comforter so that changing themes should never pose a problem.
Comforter covers are made of a wide range of materials and textures. The most popular fabrics you can find in stores are those made of cotton. Satin and silk duvet and duvet covers are also quite popular and these can create a gleaming bedroom scene for you.
However, when it comes to cleaning, the only way to safely wash sateen and silk fabrics is through dry-cleaning – not a suitable choice for a child's room. The cotton materials are the easiest to keep since you can simply throw them in the wash and air-dried, as would the ordinary sheets. This can give you great saving because dry-cleaning unprotected down comforters can cost you between 30 and 40 dollars every week.
Cheap duvet covers can be purchased at a price range that is between 20-30 dollars while some such as high-quality luxury duvet covers made of silk can be as expensive as a few hundred dollars.
What determines high-quality fabrics from the cheaper ones is the thread count – the higher it is, the better. Thread count simply stands for the number of threads per square inch of fabric (widthwise and lengthwise) that has become a status symbol pushed no other by the manufacturers themselves. Standard thread count of cotton or muslin is 150. A sheet considered of good quality has a thread count of 180, and those with a count of 200 or higher can be deemed percale.
In duvet covers, you don’t need to be wasting money on fabrics with very high thread counts because in the end, you'd wish to have more duvet cover sets for different looks and feels every week, any season, and for any occasion. Don't be left out. Own a duvet cover now.