Understanding Luxury Bedding: The Duvet

If you're new to the world of luxury bedding, you're probably a bit confused by many of the terms that are thrown about as if everyone and their brother are going to know exactly what they mean. One of the first terms that you'll encounter is the duvet. The word duvet is pronounced "doo-vey "; the T on the end is silent. Let's take a look at the duvet, and how it fits in to the world of luxury bedding.

What Is A Duvet?

A duvet is much like a comforter, or bedspread, and might be confused as such by those who are not familiar with various luxury bedding terms. In reality, the duvet is actually intended to be a replacement for all of the blankets, comforters, and quilts that may be on your bed. Some people may use a duvet with luxury bed sheets, although many prefer to sleep with it covering them directly, without anything in between. Because of this, duvets can actually be money savers when compared to traditional luxury bedding sets. Those looking for a discount luxury bedding set should take note.

Duvet: The Origin

Although there is no known town or city of origin for this luxury bed linen, the duvet most likely came from rural Europe. The word itself is French, but some think that the French actually acquired the word from the Norse. The word "dunn" is the Norse word for down, such as the down used in the duvet, and is believed to have been subtly modified by various dialects over the centuries until it became duvet. The Australians typically refer to a duvet as a "doona", referencing an IKEA product that was made popular in the 1960's. Prior to this, the term most often used in Australia was "continental quilt". The Australians, like the Americans, have a tendency to lump most luxury bed linens, such as quilts, comforters, and duvets all in to one term, even though they are quite different.

What Are Duvets Made Of?

Traditionally, duvets are made using eiderdown, although some companies do use other material. Eiderdown, which is a product of elder ducks, is the very soft feathers that lay near the skin which the ducks use for insulation. The harvesting of eiderdown does not harm the ducks. The ducks, which are typically wild and nest in areas that humans harvest the down, are actually very friendly and sociable creatures because of their interactions with humans. Considering this, duvets which use eiderdown can be seen as a very green way of making luxurious bedding.

The Purpose Of The Duvet

The usual reason people use a duvet is for warmth. Duvets are usually warmer than comforters and, in colder areas, can usually keep a person warm by themselves. Of course, duvets are not the only things one can use to keep warm. The duvet is usually preferred by people that can afford to buy luxury bedding ensembles and have no reason to worry about their bed linens getting soiled. Most duvets spend the day covered to prevent them getting dirty, but they are quite hard to clean should they become soiled. Most people that use them do so because they like the feel of a duvet compared to a typical blanket and bedspread combination. Comfort, after all, is exactly what luxury bedding is purchased for.