How to change a duvet cover

Turn the duvet cover inside out.

Reach until you can grab onto the two top corners of the cover near the head of the bed. Grab the left corner with your left hand, and the right corner with your right hand. Pull these two inside corners toward you, out through the duvet cover opening, to turn the cover inside out.

In the video, Anna turns out the duvet cover and places it evenly across the bed. She then places the duvet, or blanket, as she calls it, on top before ‘rolling it up to the side of the cut of the duvet cover’. Finally, she then turns out both the edges and rolls it back out across the bed.

Since the duvet cover is two separate layers of fabric, it can be used alone as a light bed covering, taking the place of a summer blanket or quilt. Depending on the fabric, the duvet may not be as cozy as a traditional blanket as it was designed for protection, not necessarily warmth.

A blanket is a generic term that refers to almost any bed covering thicker than a sheet, including quilts, duvets, and comforters. It can also refer to a more utilitarian woven covering that is sandwiched between a flat sheet and another layer primarily for warmth. A blanket drapes over the sides of the bed.

A duvet (aka: comforter) is a term that hails from France and technically means comforter cover—but here in the U.S. it’s used synonymously with comforter. So a comforter is just a lofty, warm blanket consisting of a (usually quilted) shell filled with down, feathers, or a synthetic fiber.

What is a duvet? A duvet (aka duvet insert) is essentially a bag filled with goose or down feathers, down alternatives or silk. It is oftentimes referred to as a comforter in the US, although a duvet and a comforter are clearly different.

Duvets vs Comforters

The duvet cover makes it easier to change bedding looks and styles. You won’t need to wash your duvet very often, just wash the cover regularly. Additionally, duvets tend to be fluffier than comforters, and can simplify bed making if you choose the European style. Comforters tend to be flatter.

A duvet cover is a protective layer that slips over the duvet and has a closure. Because duvets and comforters can be expensive and difficult to clean, duvet covers are useful because they protect your comforter during use and are easily removed and easy to wash.

The Main Difference Between a Comforter and a Duvet

The insert fits into the duvet cover like a pillow in a pillowcase. A comforter is ready to use once you buy it — it does not need a duvet cover or cover of any kind. A comforter can work as the insert for the duvet.

Besides the added amount of fabric needed to cover the duvet and drape larger beds such as queen and king beds, the reason duvet covers are so expensive is because of the higher fabric costs related to quality, easy-care and wrinkle-resistant home bedding fabrics.

As water would ruin the stuffing, duvets usually are mostly not washable and therefore duvet covers are needed. A duvet cover is simply a large pillowcase for your comforter! It has buttons, zip or strings to keep the cover secure. The reason one would need duvet cover is to protect an expensive down comforter.

Based on a standard queen comforter size of 90 inches wide by 95 inches long, you need a bare minimum of 11 yards, but 12 yards adds extra for straightening the fabric. Purchase an additional one to two yards if the fabric has a pattern or stripes you must match.

Place a King–sized duvet insert (down or down alternative) inside a Queen–sized duvet cover. The look will be fluffier, without the extra heat and weight, because of the larger duvet insert placed inside the cover.

First, lay the cover out making sure it is flat and there are no obstacles in the way. Second, fold the cover in half horizontally and then do that step a second time in the same direction. Put the cover aside and lay out your quilt making it nice and flat.