March 28, 2022

What Is A Bed Comforter

Getting a good night's sleep is critical to our everyday lives and our overall health.

Most of us know that we need to get ourselves a good quality mattress and clean, tidy bedding – but one of the most important facets is the comforter.

A good comforter can keep you warm and snug all night and can mean the difference between a happy morning or a grumpy morning!

This guide looks at what exactly we mean by a comforter, why it's important and other helpful things to remember when it comes to your bedding!

So get yourself comfortable as we dive in.

What Exactly Is A Comforter?

Comforters are the pouches of fabric which are filled with things like wool, silk or cotton to keep you warm and comfortable at night.

Europeans refer to comforters as duvets, but there are distinct differences.

Duvets generally are filled with down (duck feathers) whereas a comforter may be packed with a whole host of different materials for comfort.

Having said that, it's possible for a comforter to contain down (or an alternative that feels the same) but they're not usually filled with it.

Because a comforter is quilted, the insides will almost always remain in their intended place.

There's nothing more irritating than the inside of bedding falling around and misshaping the rest of the look of the room – not to mention it's difficult to get comfortable.

Comforters are normally much thinner than a duvet, but that doesn't mean they aren't warm when they need to be.

If anything, they're a more budget-friendly, lighter alternative which provides as much warmth and protection as anything else.

Comforters are as decorative for your bedroom as a duvet is too, along with bedspreads.

Bedspreads are thin, soft coverings to go on top of your comforter in bed, and they do not have the same level of warmth and protection as a comforter alone.

Choosing The Right Comforter

Getting the right comforter is the critical aspect to having a great night's sleep.

You'll need to be mindful of some things before you go out there and buy one though. Consider the following steps:

The Materials Used

Some people often overlook what materials their bedding is made of and this can be detrimental to their sleep quality.

There are times that people are unaware that they might be allergic to some materials used and therefore will find it difficult to sleep.

There might be some political or moral reason that you choose to avoid some materials too.

Additionally, materials that are used might be too warm for where you live, or too cold for where you live.

Therefore it's very important that you pay attention to what the seller is telling you is used for the materials. You need to consider the shell and the filling.

The shell, which is the outside of the comforter, may be made with a blend of different fabrics, and you might see polyester, wool or cotton.

This is the area that will be touching your sheets and will be closest to you. So, you'll have to think of the breathability and the softness of the materials.

Materials that are naturally sourced like cotton tend to be much better for airflow and feel much softer on the skin, even when a sheet covers them.

The filling is also essential to consider.

The materials used may change the price wildly, and it can affect your sleep if you pick materials that are simply not suited to you or the place you live.

The Thread Count

The thread count refers to the number of threads in the material per square inch in the comforter's shell.

Don't get dragged into the false sense of security that a high number means a better quality, because it doesn't necessarily mean that.

You could in theory offer 900 threads, but they might be poor quality.

This means your bedding will rapidly go downhill. If you want a good rule of thumb with it, consider around the 500 thread number with a durable weave.

Temperature

We've briefly mentioned this, but you'll almost certainly need to think about where you live when it comes to choosing the most ideal comforter.

You'll have to think of course about the materials included within but also the thickness of the comforter itself.

Typically, down and wool is warmer, but it does not agree with some people's skin and some people don't like using these materials.

You can get thicker cotton comforters but this will often take away from some breathability of the comforter – so weigh up your options and consider speaking with staff about your needs.

Size

This may seem obvious, but if your bed is large – you're going to need a large comforter.

Sometimes though, the sizes with comforters aren't displayed as simply as small, medium, large and extra large.

This means you may have to measure your bed width and height to ensure you're choosing the right comforter.

Appearance

There are a number of things you could select to do with your comforter when it comes to its appearance.

European duvets typically have duvet covers as the duvet is sold in one color, whereas comforters can come in a range of patterns and designs.

This does not mean you can't get a duvet cover for your comforter though – because you absolutely can!

All you'll need to be aware of though is how your comforter will look when it comes to the overall aesthetic of the bedroom.

Duvet covers are ideal though because you can remove them which allows you to clean them and rid them of unpleasant things like sweat and bacteria, but it also allows you to switch up the appearance of the room sometimes. Perfect!