How to choose the perfect Duvet

 

Most of us will spend a third of our lives in bed, so choosing the right bedding is a top priority whether you're moving into a new home or upgrading your bedroom. At the core of our sleeping lives is the duvet and with so many weights, fillings and sizes, it can often be a hard choice to make, so we're here to give you some straightforward information and tips about duvets to help you pick the right one.

Duvet Tog Rating

First things first: Weight! All duvets have different tog (thermal overall grade) ratings which rates how warm a duvet is. The higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet. A tog of 4.5 is considered a summer weight duvet that's perfect for those warmer evenings when you need only a light covering. At the other end of the scale are winter weight 13.5 tog or even 15 tog duvets that will keep you warm on those cooler evenings. There's also an array of tog ratings in between to suit your needs as well as the option of all seasons duvets which gives you a combination of duvets, typically 9 tog and 4.5 tog that you can use separately or clip together when you feel the need.

A Natural or Synthetic Duvet?

In addition to choosing the weight of your duvet, you'll want to pick from either natural or synthetic materials. Synthetic materials include hollowfibre and microfibre while natural fillings include duck or goose feather and down.

The most well known naturally filled duvets are feather and down duvets which generally have a higher warmth to weight ratio compared to synthetic duvets. Goose down, coming from a larger bird, has a feather and down quality that is warmer than the ducks and generally more expensive. Most feather and down duvets will have a feather to down ratio. With a higher percentage of down (the fluffier bits!) your duvet will be softer, warmer and more comfortable. The standard ratio, and where most natural feather and down duvets start at, is 15% down 85% feather. The higher the percentage of down, the softer and warmer (and more expensive) the duvet, with some going up as high as 100% down.

The two most well know synthetic duvets are hollowfibre and microfibre.

Hollowfibre filling is made up of strands of polyester that make the duvet light and breathable. These duvets have a flatter and more lightweight feel that do a great job of trapping heat. Additionally, hollowfibre duvets are generally more easy to care for, as they are machine washable and dryer safe which isn't always the case with natural duvets.

Another synthetic option are microfibre duvets which are filled with super fine denier of polyester fibre which can mimic the feel of real goose down giving your duvet a silky-like softness and plumpness.

Both synthetic options provide a more affordable and easy care option when it comes to buying a duvet, as well as being more suitable for allergy sufferers.

 

Duvet Sizes

When choosing the correct size duvet for your bed, it's important to note the sizes of the duvets below. As an example, a standard single bed mattress measures 90cm wide and 190cm long. The single size duvet measures 135cm wide and 200cm long. This won't give you a huge amount of over hang, so you might prefer to buy a duvet size that's bigger than your bed size.

 

 

 

So what duvet should I choose for my bedroom?

Like most considered purchases, your choice comes down to budget and preference.

Hollowfibre duvets are generally the cheaper type. If your home is well insulated with an efficient heating system, you may only need a 10.5 and a 4.5 tog duvet, which you can switch depending on the season. If that's not the case, you should keep a 15 or 13.5 tog, 10.5 and 4.5 tog hollowfibre duvet which you can change throughout the year. These duvets will offer warmth, are easy to care for, non-allergenic and will last you several years if they are looked after.

If you have a little extra to spend on a duvet for a softer more comfortable feel, a microfibre duvet has a similar feel to a down duvet at a fraction of the cost and will offer the same advantages as a hollowfibre duvet such as machine washable, non-allergenic as well being suitable for vegan's.

The more expensive duvets are, of course natural, but will provide the most comfort & warmth. With a naturally breathable material that is thermoregulating, this will allow you remain at the optimal temperature while you sleep. Additionally, natural duvets have a lightweight & luxurious feeling with great warmth that will last for years and years with the proper care & attention.

We hope that our guide to choosing the right duvet for you and your family is helpful and if you need any other help come and chat with one of our bedding experts at our stores throughout Ireland and in Northern Ireland.

Duvets can be purchased in store and online directly from our website.