Here at Sunday Citizen, we’re all about empowering the population to step up their bedding game. Your bed has the potential to be your sanctuary and safe haven, in a world where stress and anxiety play an increasingly significant role in so many of our lives. So, getting into bed at the end of the day (or let’s face it, in the middle of the afternoon – work from home perks, anyone?) should be the comfiest, softest, and most luxurious experience it can be. You deserve that.
The key ingredients for the ideal bed vary from person to person, depending on factors like preferred sleep temperature, whether you’re a back, side, or front sleeper, which part of the world you live in, whether you prefer one or two pillows, how much weight you like to feel on top of you as you sleep, and so on.
But one thing is for sure – snuggling down under some sort of cozy blanket is an integral part of a zen-like bedtime experience, and one that should not be neglected.
Which type of bed covers should you pick?
The two main, readily available options for bed covers are duvets and comforters. These two terms are often used interchangeably and indiscriminately, but there are actually key differences between them, as well as various pros and cons to both.
That’s why we’re going to break them down for you today – after all, it’s always best to make an informed choice. We wouldn’t want you losing sleep over this! Let’s begin…
What is a Comforter?
Put simply, a comforter is an all-in-one, stuffed, quilted blanket which acts as a bedding top layer. Comforters tend to come in a variety of colors, textures and patterns, allowing you to showcase your personality depending on your choice. In some cases, comforters can even eradicate the need for a top sheet, making them a complete package solution; Sunday Citizen’s comforters do just that, featuring a smooth, hypoallergenic, viscose from bamboo under layer.
Sounds pretty convenient? That’s because it is!The all-in-one nature of a comforter versus having multiple separate elements - ie a duvet and duvet cover (we’ll get to those later) - can be very beneficial when it comes to things like washing, care, and storage.
Choosing a comforter also means no more struggling to put your duvet back into its cover after washing! (Although we already troubleshooted that little problem for you; check out our helpful guide here).
Comforter Fillers
Stuffing materials for comforters can vary, from cotton to animal feathers (also known as down, with goose down being the most popular), to synthetic down alternatives, to silk, to sheep’s wool... the list goes on. Sunday Citizen’s comforters feature a particularly unique eco-friendly filling made from 50 recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles per comforter - PET plastic is a material commonly used in food, beverage, and personal care product packaging.
As we know, plastic that isn’t recycled often ends up back in our oceans, polluting the environment and causing sometimes deadly harm to marine species. Our ocean-friendly comforter filling is not only incredibly plush and breathable, but also makes a significant contribution to stop this from happening, allowing you to sleep that little bit easier at night.
Which comforter filling is best for you?
Try to consider factors such as preferred filling weight and density, as well as allergies to certain materials – some people are allergic to natural fibers such as down and wool, meaning they should steer clear of these if they don’t want a runny nose or itchy eyes at night!
What’s with the quilting?
Comforters often feature a quilted design either on top, underneath, or on both sides, because this pattern allows a uniform amount of filling to be stuffed into each section of the blanket, to ensure an even, comfortable distribution of weight exerted on the body during sleep.The individual pockets created by this quilting stitch also trap additional air into your comforter, to produce that light, fluffy, and oh so delicious feeling.
What is a Duvet?
A duvet is a common type of bed cover that consists of two separate elements:
The duvet itself, sometimes called an “insert”, which is usually plain white, filled and quilted.
A duvet cover that protects the duvet. This part is customizable (with different patterns, designs, colors and textures) and actually comes into contact with your body as you sleep.
Think of a duvet and duvet cover like a pillow and a pillowcase - to make a full set, you need to have both.
Duvet Fillings
In much the same way as a comforter, there are many duvet filler options out there, and various considerations to be taken into account. While this can be slightly overwhelming when it comes to making a choice, look on the bright side - it means you’re guaranteed to find something to your taste!
Let’s delve into a couple of factors: If you suffer from allergies, for example, steer clear of fillings with irritating fibers or harsh chemicals. If you enjoy the sensation of a deeper pressure exerted on you as you sleep – many find this calming and comforting – you may wish to choose a denser, heavier duvet filling versus a light one.
You might even want to consider a weighted blanket if you find that extra weight is something that helps you sleep better; these are linked to a wide range of physical and mental benefits, including reducing anxiety and joint pain.
Whatever duvet filling you choose, just remember that it should be evenly distributed throughout the insert to ensure maximum comfort. You don’t want to end up with all of your filling bunched up at one end, and just fabric on the other!
Pros and Cons of Duvets vs Comforters:
Pros and Cons of Duvets:
Duvet Pros:
- Easy to switch out or replace one element at a time (insert or cover).
- Can swap out duvet insert for a heavier or less heavy option based on the season.
- Can have multiple duvet covers on rotation, allowing for creativity and fun.
- Duvet covers tend to be easy to clean and fast to dry – for example, Sunday Citizen’s Premium Bamboo Duvet Cover and Snug Bamboo Duvet Cover are both machine washable and can be tumble dried.
Duvet Cons:
- Can be time consuming to re-insert the duvet into its cover after cleaning.
- Duvet insert can clump up and become uncomfortable.
- Duvet insert itself can be difficult to wash and take a long time to dry.
Pros and Cons of Comforters:
Comforter Pros:
- You only need to buy one product, as opposed to multiple.
- Comes with built-in filling that is always evenly distributed.
- Ready to use straight out of the packaging.
Comforter Cons:
- Mostly dry-clean only, making care more expensive and time-consuming (PSA: not Sunday Citizen comforters, though! They’re all fully machine washable).
- One set weight and density for all year round.
Other Factors to Consider for Duvet vs. Comforter
1. Care. We strongly believe that, when it comes to duvets, duvet covers and/or comforters, machine washable is always best. Who has time to hand wash or dry clean their bedding nowadays!? We’d rather give you that hour back, and let you sit on the couch and finish the final episode of your true crime show. That’s why all of our Sunday Citizen comforters and duvet covers don’t just survive but thrive in the washing machine and dryer. You won’t believe how silky soft they come out.
2. Cost. The cost of duvets and comforters isn’t a hugely differentiating factor, as they tend to be sold at a similar price point. However, duvet sets (with both the insert and duvet cover included) can add up to more than an all-in-one comforter purchase, making comforters slightly more economical overall.
3. Hot vs Cold Sleepers. At Sunday Citizen, we know that sleep temperature preferences are key; they’re also one of the most common points of contention when it comes to sharing a bed with a partner.
It is essential to select a duvet, duvet cover and/or comforter made from materials that fit with your preferences. That’s why we have a variety of options to choose from, guaranteed to please hot and cold sleepers alike. Our Premium Bamboo Duvet Cover, made entirely from viscose fabric from one of the planet’s most eco-friendly and sustainable plants, is cooling, breathable, and naturally thermoregulating. Meanwhile, our revolutionary two-sided Snug Bamboo Duvet Cover and entire Comforter Collection provide the very best of both worlds, featuring our signature, warm and cozy, dreamily soft Snug fabric blend on top, and cooling viscose from bamboo underneath. Depending on the season or simply your mood, you can nuzzle into whichever side you like as you effortlessly drift off to sleep.
4. Size Matters. Duvets, covers, and comforters are all typically sold in a variety of sizes, the most common being Queen and King. If you’re stuck between two sizes, we’d recommend that you size up rather than down; cozy covers draped over the side of the bed in a stylish fashion is a good thing. Waking up shivering at 3AM because your covers-hogging partner has tugged them all to their side of the bed? Not so much.
Et voila! Duvets and Comforters, explained. We hope you've learned about the difference between a duvet vs. a comforter.
Happy shopping, Citizens.