How to Choose the Right Comforter for Your Bed
Equip your bed with the right comforter for the season. You can use a comforter alone or as a duvet insert with a duvet cover. These bedding pieces can be coordinated with bed sheets, bed skirts, and decorative pillows. Keep reading for comforter-shopping tips and bedroom-style inspiration:
Comforters for Spring
Spring can be a season of fluctuating temperatures, depending on where you live. That’s why we recommend a temperature-regulating comforter. These comforters are typically made from a cotton and polyester blend. What makes them so unique are embedded active particles that help maintain optimal humidity next to your skin to prevent overheating. These comforters are great for spring and summer, especially if you’re prone to feeling hot and cold during a single night.
All-season comforters are suitable for spring, too. As the name suggests, these bedding essentials can be used every season. In spring and summer, layer one over a lightweight flat sheet. In fall and winter, you can add a blanket between the sheet and comforter if extra warmth is needed. Some of these versatile comforters are made from a TENCEL™ blend that’s durable and eco-friendly.
A cotton sateen comforter with a pretty floral print is another spring option. The lustrous finish and botanical motif can be your bedroom’s focal point for the season. Add a coordinating rug and window treatments, then finish with seagrass baskets (/shop/seagrass-storage-organization/S-xf8-yk6-xec) to keep the space uncluttered and wall art that expresses your style.
Comforters for Summer
Many of the same comforters recommended for spring are good for summer, too. The temperature-regulating and all-season comforters are two styles mentioned above you can keep out for summer. If you want the same comforter with the look of something new, simply change the duvet cover. If you don’t already have one, you’ll find duvet covers in many fabrics, colors, and prints to match your bedroom décor.
Remember that the higher the fill power, the warmer the comforter. This applies to both down and synthetic-down comforters. Although you’ll see some all-season comforters with 700-plus fill power, you might only need 330 or 400 for summer. Thread count refers to the threads per square inch on sheets and comforter covers. A higher thread count translates to a smoother, sturdier fabric.
Comforters for Fall
You can move up to a higher fill power when shopping for a fall comforter. Anything 550 or above is excellent for fall and even into winter. If you’re looking for a comforter to use on its own, consider a solid autumn-inspired color with stitched detailing. Or choose a versatile, muted neutral such as ivory or oatmeal that you can layer with fall-hued throw pillows and blankets.
There are two main options when shopping for a fall comforter, or one for any other season. You’ve got down comforters, typically made with cleaned and sanitized goose feathers. Although goose down delivers premium loft and warmth, some people are sensitive to down. A synthetic material such as Pureloft can mimic the best qualities of a down comforter without any animal products.
Comforters for Winter
During the coldest months, you need a comforter that provides plenty of warmth. Any fill power between 550 and 750 should be enough for winter. If it’s not, you can layer on additional bed coverings. You may wonder if there’s a difference in warmth between down and down-alternative duvet inserts, such as those made with Pureloft. The two materials deliver the same warmth as long as the fill power is the same, so it’s simply a matter of preference.
Along with adding an extra blanket, choosing flannel sheets for fall and winter can warm things up. Flannel sheet sets come in multiple colors and styles, including holiday motifs. They’re brushed for plenty of softness and deliver more warmth than a cotton percale or sateen knit, which are good for spring and summer.
Choosing a Duvet Cover
Once you’ve chosen a comforter, you’ll need to decide if you’re using it on its own or with a cover. Duvet covers make it easy to change the look of the room simply by changing the bed cover. Plus, they’re easy to remove and launder. Some are equipped with ties to keep your insert from shifting and some have zipper closures. Whether or not you use a duvet cover is up to you, although we recommend it to keep your comforter in like-new condition longer. When it comes to duvet cover fabrics, there’s everything from Supima cotton and flannel to luxe flax linen.
More Bedding Tips
Explore the selection of comforters to find the brands and styles you prefer. There’s bedding for every season to keep you comfortable all year. Even if you don’t change your comforter every season or year, you can change the home décor pieces in the room to freshen the look. You may want to wash your comforter at times throughout the year. Refer to the care instructions on the label, as some bedding is machine washable and some require professional laundering.