In America we find people using the terms "duvet" (pronounced "due-vay") and "comforter" interchangeably. No doubt these two terms are similar. But their meanings are not exactly the same. The word "duvet" comes from the French and it refers to a soft quilt that is filled with down from the eider duck. The word "comforter" has a much broader meaning, but for this topic it refers to a type of bedding where two pieces of material are laid over some type of filling and then the whole thing is 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 is interesting to find that just about everyone, whatever their culture and upbringing, likes feather and down comforters. It appears they have been around for centuries, although their names have changed over time. In the Seventies, the British introduced them as "continental quilts." This is the term the Australians have always used for them. But it turns out that the Australians, especially in the eastern regions of the country, also call them "doona." Doona is a brand name that has been popularized. (This is no different than Americans calling tissues "Kleenex.") In the Scandinavian countries the term "dyne" has been popularized by IKEA. They are known as "ralli quilts" in both India and Pakistan. Regardless of where you find yourself, there will be some version of the down comforter there.
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 also hear people refer to duvet cover sets. This phrase can be substituted with the phrase "comforter cover sets." Picture the duvet cover as a "pillow case" for the comforter. It is constructed of two pieces of material sewn together on three sides. The fourth side is left open to allow any type of comforter to be slipped inside. Usually they snap or button closed.
Duvet covers protect the comforter from spills and other stains. They are easy to remove and wash; much easier to wash than the comforter inside. Because they are easy to put on and remove they are very popular. Duvet cover sets are a good investment because of their ability to protect your priceless comforter. They are also usually cheaper than a comforter so some people will buy a few and swap them out occasionally. This lets them wash one while keeping the comforter protected. Or they change them out to alter 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 is interesting to find that just about everyone, whatever their culture and upbringing, likes feather and down comforters. It appears they have been around for centuries, although their names have changed over time. In the Seventies, the British introduced them as "continental quilts." This is the term the Australians have always used for them. But it turns out that the Australians, especially in the eastern regions of the country, also call them "doona." Doona is a brand name that has been popularized. (This is no different than Americans calling tissues "Kleenex.") In the Scandinavian countries the term "dyne" has been popularized by IKEA. They are known as "ralli quilts" in both India and Pakistan. Regardless of where you find yourself, there will be some version of the down comforter there.
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 also hear people refer to duvet cover sets. This phrase can be substituted with the phrase "comforter cover sets." Picture the duvet cover as a "pillow case" for the comforter. It is constructed of two pieces of material sewn together on three sides. The fourth side is left open to allow any type of comforter to be slipped inside. Usually they snap or button closed.
Duvet covers protect the comforter from spills and other stains. They are easy to remove and wash; much easier to wash than the comforter inside. Because they are easy to put on and remove they are very popular. Duvet cover sets are a good investment because of their ability to protect your priceless comforter. They are also usually cheaper than a comforter so some people will buy a few and swap them out occasionally. This lets them wash one while keeping the comforter protected. Or they change them out to alter the look of the room.
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Learn more about duvet cover sets. Stop by Norita Sieffert's site where you can find out all about duvet cover sets and what they can do for you.
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