How to choose duvet inserts and pillows

There are so many on the market of all kinds of quality and price points. It can be a bit overwhelming and confusing to choose the one just right for you.

We have made a selection of what we think are the best choices in various quality and price points on our websiteThey are all great and you can choose after pinpointing the specifics you might be looking for, first considering these questions:

Are you a warm/hot sleeper, or perhaps you are often cold at night?

Is your bedroom warm or cold? Do you like to keep it cool and use warm covers? Or warmer with less coverage?

What is the climate where you live? A summer weight may be more appropriate for warmer locations, or a heavier winter weight for cooler places. 

first DOWN

Down is for COMFORT, WARMTH, BREATHABILITY when properly cleaned (this is done by our suppliers prior to making the comforters) the down is actually hypoallergenic.

BEST superior down is GOOSE  they are on average larger birds, and have larger down clusters. It’s more resilient, wears better and lasts longer.

The down duvets we offer are all made of white goose down.

The warmth level comes from the actual weight of the duvet, which can be deceiving since a very good quality down duvet is like a light cloud -- the better the quality the lighter it is.  This can be another confusing detail of down.

FILL POWER refers to the amount of space that one ounce of down will occupy in cubic inches.  It is a bit similar to thread count as it is a value of how much down fits into one cubic inch, and refers to the size and quality of the down used to fill that space.

Larger down clusters are used to achieve higher fill powers that have better insulating properties.  The better the insulation, the superior the quality — more softness, warmth, and fluffiness, and better loft retention.  A 700 Fill power is not heavier in weight than 600 — larger clusters trap more air and are actually lighter.

Fill weight on the other hand is how many ounces of down there are inside the duvet or pillow, the actual weight.  This translates into light weight or medium weight as the most common barometer for the warmth level of a duvet.  Or soft or firm if we are talking about pillows.

500 fill power is ok, 600 is better and everything over 700 is lux.  It’s lighter and when you squeeze or flatten, it fluffs up faster the higher the fill.

You should also look for a BAFFLE BOX stitch, the down can not move outside its own 3D “room “ which gives better loftiness with less shift of the fill, this is simply a better quality product.

The cover (also called the shell) on the comforter is also important, best is 100% cotton with over 250TC, it should be a bit tighter in the weave than a sheet to hold the down inside, but still with some breathability to allow the air to circulate and keep the interior from becoming stale.

 

PILLOWS

Come in different fills and various thickness, the fill power idea is similar as with the duvet -- the higher the fill, the softer, lighter, and, yes, pricier the pillow.  Higher fill will also bounce back better to retain its original shape and feel.

The basic rules to guide you to the right pillow are:

Pick a soft pillow if you are a stomach sleeper.

Firm pillows are good if you sleep on the side and need extra support.  They can be too “high” to use if you sleep on your back.

Medium is for everything else, the all-around best alternative.

CARE

"Fluff and air" your duvet as often as you can, this helps keep it fresh.

Always use pillow protectors under the pillowcases plus duvet covers over the comforters/duvet inserts.

Shake to fluff, hang to air out.

When you need, machine wash front load only (or give to a professional cleaner if you feel unsure of this or only have access to a top load washer).

Dry with tennis balls in the dryer that helps to fluff up the down after being wet.

 

DOWN alternative is a great option for vegans.  It essentially works in the same way as down. 

Synthetic insulation is less warm, heavier and less malleable than down but usually also more budget-friendly. The most common down alternative fill is polyester, which comes in different qualities and styles. The polyester is lightweight and lofty (made to mimic down), which makes for a warm and light comforter. Other natural alternatives to down fills are natural fibers such as cotton wadding, wool, and silk.

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MY WISHLIST
DUVET COVERS
twin 68 x 86”
full/queen 86 x 86”
king 104 x 86”

 

FLAT SHEETS
twin 66 x 102”
full/queen 90 x 102”
king 108 x 102”

 

FITTED SHEETS (w/ 14” pocket)
twin 39 x 75”
full 54 x 75” 
queen 60 x 80”
king 76 x 80”
cal-king 72 x 84”

 

CASES + SHAMS
accommodates pillow sizes:
standard 20 x 26”
euro square 26 x 26”
king 20 x 36”
standard body 20 x 60”
king body 20 x 72”

LEARN MORE about bagstyle vs frenchback.

 

BLANKETS + QUILTS

twin 69 x 90”
full/queen 90 x 90“
king 108 x 90”
throws 51 x 70”
xl throws 70 x 90"


THREAD COUNT

Thread count (TC) refers to the number of threads per square inch.
Type and size of individual threads are just as important as the count.

LEARN MORE about thread count
.

 

At AREA we carefully consider how each sheet should not only look but also feel. 
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