What is in a Down Comforter Set?
Down comforter sets come in many variations. The basic and smallest set is comprised of 4 pieces (3 if purchasing a twin set), the down comforter itself, a comforter cover, or duvet cover as it is commonly called, and 2 pillow shams. You may run across larger sets comprised of 8, 10, or even 20 pieces. Bed Sheets, pillow cases, decorative pillows, and bed skirts are generally the items added to the set to increase the size of the set. Often times the larger sets are referred to as a “Bed in a Bag” set.
One thing in common with all these sets is that there is usually only one comforter no matter how many pieces the set contains. The comforter can be made of natural down coming from geese or ducks or can be made from a synthetic material also referred to as down alternative. Generally the comforters found in a comforter set are down alternative and are lightweight. This is done in attempt to keep the price of the set affordable. If you are just starting out this may be a good option for you. You can always add a natural goose down comforter to your set at a later time.
There are so many fabrics options when selecting you bed linen sets. Knowing what your options are is half the battle. Listed below are some of the more common materials to choose from.
- Cotton – usally made from Egptian cotton or pima cotton and comes in Sateen, Percale and Jacquard weaves.
- Bamboo – made from the Bamboo tree and is very absorbant.
- Silk – has a shiny finish and requires special cleaning
- Satin – has a shiny finish on one side and is made of many different materials
- Flannel – warm and cozy but has a tendency to pill
- Jersey knit – like sleeping in your T-shirt and stretches out easily
- Linen – is woven from flax and considered to be the best material for sheets
- Wrinkle Free – usually a poly / cotton blend that has gone through a special coating process to prevent wrinkling
Other things to consider when selecting your bed linen sets are, size, color and thread count, typically the higher the thread count the softer the sheets will be.
No bed is complete without a pillow. Many of us have several, one for your lower back, one to go between the knees and probably one or two for your head and neck. Pillows help to align the spine for a more restful and refreshed nights sleep.
If you like a soft bed pillow then you will probably do best with a high fill power down pillow that has a low feather ratio. A firmer pillow will have a higher feather to down ration. Just to keep things straight down is different than feathers. Down is the light fluffy feathery stuff that has the ability to “poof” or loft thus allowing it to hold air. Feathers do not loft and have a stiff quill that provides firmer support. So when you hear people say that like a soft feather pillow, they probably more than likely like a down pillow.
If you have been following my posts this week I’m hoping by now you have realized that I’m helping you to make your bed from start to finish. So far we have covered the mattress pad, sheets, blankets and comforter. This leads me to discussing the importance of having a cover for your comforter. The french word for comforter is duvet, hence duvet cover.
The best deal is to purchase a Down Comforter Set. Typically a minimum set will include a comforter (duvet), duvet cover and pillow shams. You can purchase a duvet cover set and then add your own comforter, but the better deal is to purchase the comforter in a set. The purpose of the duvet cover is to protect your down comforter from spills, wear and tear, odors and many other mishaps. Many of them are machine washable and dryer safe and can be removed easily for laundering. What’s more you can afford to change the look of your bed by just simply changing out the duvet cover and shams.
I see and hear goose down and then I run across duck down, so which is it? There are several factors to consider, one being the fill power and/or the loft.
Fill power is the number of cubic inches that an ounce of down occupies. The higher the fill power the softer and warmer the down will be. The next thing to consider is the loft. The loft is the ability of the down down cluster to trap air and create a layer of insulation. Goose down clusters are typically larger that duck down clusters, therefore giving goose down the ability to trap more air and create a thicker layer of insulation. This is not to say that goose down is better than duck down. Down with the same fill power and loft is of equal quality. So you decide, duck or goose?
There are so many fabric options when it comes to sheets, silk, Cashmere, Flannel, Jersey, Bamboo, Cotton, the list goes on. Once you decide on a fabric then you have to consider what quality to choose whether it be thread count or weave. Take cotton sheets for instance, you can select thread counts of 250, 300, 450, 550, 600, 800, 1000 ,1200, 1500. Generally the higher the thread count the softer the fabric, however the weave of the fabric also has a great impact on the quality of the sheets. Quite often you see Percale or Sateen listed along with the thread count . This refers to weave process used to create the fabric. The yarns in Percale are woven one over one, while the yarns in Sateen are woven four over one. The Percale weave is much stronger, denser and softer than the Sateen weave, so 300 thread count percale sheets could actually be better than 600 thread count sateen weave sheets.
You get what you pay for. Have you seen the roadside vendors or ads for high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets at blowout prices? Be sure to check the weave of the fabric. While the thread count may be high the weave may be of lesser quality which is how these vendors are able to give you such a great price.
A bed without a mattress pad is kinda like going commando. Just as underwear provides an extra barrier between you and your clothing, a mattress pad provides an extra barrier between you and your mattress. While taking a shower or bath is rather simple for one to do, washing a mattress, well not so easy. Using a mattress pad will help protect your mattress from spills, dirt, dandruff, odors, wear and tear and countless other small disasters. Mattress pads slip onto your mattress pretty much like a fitted sheet does. They are easy to take off and wash on a regular basis.
The degree of protection depends on the quality and type of the mattress pad you decide to purchase. Of course this has a great impact on the price you pay. Generally speaking mattress pads are cotton. A good choice would be one that is machine washable (as opposed to dry cleaning or professional laundering), otherwise what’s the point. You may opt to go with a waterproof pad, an organic pad or even a magnetic pad. Whatever your choice a mattress pad is essential in providing another layer of protection for your mattress.
Most people spend about 1/3 of their day in bed. So why wouldn’t you want it to be one of the most comfortable and appealing places to be in your home then? If you’re one of those people who just throws on a set of sheets let me introduce you to some of the finest bed linen sets on the internet.
Hate shopping from store to store to find all the accessories to put your bed decor together? You can find all the bedding you need from start to finish in one place. From everyday to luxury, from Twin to Cal-King sizes, from white to black, from 300 thread count to 1000 thread count and everything in between, from mattress pads to pillows we offer it all.
Fall is in the air and the nights are getting colder. It’s time to add additional blankets to your bed. Why not add one of our down blankets to your bed? Our down blankets look much like a comforter but do not have the big and bulky look.
We offer four very neutral colors, white, cream, blue ice and clover, that will work well and compliment any existing bedding your currently have. We offer twin, full, queen and king sizes. Our blankets are machine washable for easy care.
Duvet cover sets offer a great way to protect your down comforter from dirt and body oils produced while you sleep. Duvet covers typically come with a button closure at the foot so that you can remove your comforter and wash just the duvet. Duvet covers allow you to change up the look of your bed ensemble without the expense of purchasing a complete bedding set.
We offer a wide range of duvet sets from everyday use to an elegant setting for a guest room. Our Duvet sets come in thread counts of 300, 550, and 600. Duvet covers are available in a wide assortment of colors and bed sizes .