Spending one-third of your life in bed makes it crucial to invest in the best duvet or comforter for a good night’s sleep.
Are you curious about the best duvet brands? Confused between down and feather duvets? Or unsure about the difference between lightweight and thick duvets? Our 5-step guide will help you choose the perfect duvet, quilt, or comforter for your needs in 2024.
**Duvet Buying Guide: Table of Contents**
1. Choose your duvet filling material
2. Opt for an anti-allergy duvet or ensure hypoallergenic properties
3. Select your duvet structure
4. Understand TOG and choose the right duvet TOG
5. Different types of duvets for Hong Kong weather
6. Other things to consider when shopping for duvets and quilts
**Choose Your Duvet Filling Material**
There are two types of duvet fillings: synthetic and natural.
– **Synthetic Duvets and Quilts**: These are ideal for those allergic to natural fibers, as they are designed to be hypoallergenic.
The term ‘synthetic’ indicates that the fibers are created by scientists and researchers instead of being taken from animals. These fibers wick sweat away from your body, ensuring a comfortable night’s sleep. Duvets with synthetic fillings can be washed at home without damage. There are two main fillings to choose from.
Microfiber Duvets: Known as down alternative filling, this is one of the most popular duvet filling options in the market. The fine fibers of a microfiber filling create a luxurious feel similar to down-filled duvets but at a more affordable price. The lightweight texture results in a lighter duvet overall. The tight weave of the microfiber duvet reduces staining and prevents liquid from passing through. Additionally, microfiber is more durable than materials like cotton, enabling users to use the duvet for a long time without sacrificing softness. Microfiber provides perfect temperature regulation all year round, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer.Choosing the perfect duvet is crucial for comfort and warmth. Microfiber filling is an all-season solution, eliminating the need for seasonal switches. This type of filling is not only economical but also easy to clean and machine washable, as it doesn’t shrink easily.
Microfiber offers the perfect balance of warmth, breathability, weight, and durability, making it the best choice for most people. At Hush Home, we take pride in our high-grade down-like microfiber filling. Our duvets are crafted with millions of microfibers, each 1/5 the diameter of a hair strand, to replicate the temperature profile of natural down.
Hollow Fiber Duvets, as the name implies, use wire-like fibers that create hollow spaces for heat retention, providing excellent insulation. While they may not offer as many benefits as microfiber duvets, they are a budget-friendly option that appeals to cost-conscious customers.
When considering value, microfiber duvets are comparable to down in terms of weight, comfort, and breathability, making them an excellent hypoallergenic alternative.
Hollow fiber duvets are hypoallergenic versions of feather-filled options, offering similar benefits without the allergenic concerns.
Natural fillings for duvets and quilts include duck or geese down, wool, and silk. Duck and geese down are popular due to their origin in cold climates, providing excellent insulation and warmth.
Wool and silk are also warm, animal-based natural fibers. Some natural fillings are lighter than synthetic ones and allow for better breathability, which is beneficial for your skin.
However, feather and down can cause allergies and are the most expensive options. Fortunately, wool and silk are hypoallergenic, making them suitable for those with allergies who prefer natural fills.
Feather-filled duvets are a cost-effective choice, but they tend to be heavier and bulkier due to the thickness of feathers.
Heavy duvets make people feel safe as they wrap around you. This is especially beneficial for babies and children as they have a calming effect and help kids sleep. However, feather-filled duvets trap heat better than wool or silk ones but can make you too warm in summer. Down-filled duvet: Down feathers are the light fluffy furs under the exterior feather of birds. Think of down as the “undercoat”. Similar to feather-filled duvets, down duvets keep you warm. Generally, a down duvet is lighter and lasts longer than feather-filled ones. But be aware that people are more likely allergic to down than synthetic materials. Also, down duvets are very expensive and beyond the affordability of most people. Canadian down is a popular option for keeping warm in extremely cold weather. Note that due to concerns about down feather collection on farms, animal lovers usually don’t buy down.
When choosing the best duvet, consider the type of filling. A feather and down-filled duvet offers perfect warmth and weight, typically consisting of 80% feather and 20% down. This option is more cost-effective compared to a purely down-filled duvet.
Wool duvets are a popular choice for their temperature-regulating properties. Wool keeps you warm in winter and removes excess heat when your body has warmed up, making it suitable for allergy sufferers.
Silk duvets provide a luxurious feel and, like wool, regulate temperature for year-round comfort. They are hypoallergenic and have good insulating effects, keeping the duvet lightweight.
Keep in mind that washing natural fillings can be costly, as specialist cleaning materials are often required. These materials may not last as long as synthetic alternatives.
Choose an anti-allergy duvet or ensure your duvet is hypoallergenic to avoid allergens such as dust mites, mold, and dust, which can disrupt your sleep and cause symptoms like a runny or itchy nose.
When choosing a duvet in 2024, consider hypoallergenic materials. For example, duvets made from materials like cotton sheets and memory foam pillows can help keep irritants at bay. Natural materials such as cotton resist allergens. For better protection, choose a high thread count as the closely woven fabric provides fewer gaps for irritants to hide in.
A duvet with an all-natural filling may harbour more dust and mites as down and feathers provide tiny spaces for them to flourish. A microfiber filling is a better choice to keep them away. Down alternative fill, also known as microfiber filling, is a great option for allergy sufferers. It is made of synthetic fibres similar to natural down. Hush Home duvets are a type of down alternative filled with high-quality 100% hypoallergenic microfiber to mimic the breathability of down. Our duvets have no irritants and are allergy-free, completely safe to use. Moreover, down alternatives are more affordable than down duvets.When selecting a duvet, it’s important to consider the type of duvet that suits your needs. If you’re looking for anti-allergic options, synthetic duvets such as hollow fiber duvets can be a cost-effective choice.
Understanding Duvet Structure: The stitching on your duvet is not just for aesthetics; it plays a crucial role in the insulation and breathability of the duvet. There are two primary types of duvet structures:
1. Bavarian Structure: Also known as Sewn-Through or Box-Stitch, this stitching method secures the shell fabric (top) and liner fabric (bottom) of the duvet through square patterns. This results in a lightweight and breathable construction, ideal for humid climates like Hong Kong.
2. Baffle Box Construction: This style incorporates an extra layer of vertical fabric between the shell and liner, creating continuous fabric boxes filled with filling. This construction enhances the duvet’s insulation properties.
When choosing a duvet, consider the baffle box design. This style creates walls around each box, allowing the filling to move and preventing cold spots.
Baffle box duvets are warmer and ideal for winter due to their design. However, they are heavier due to the added fabric needed for baffle boxes. Understanding TOG is crucial when selecting a duvet. TOG (Thermal Overall Grade) measures a duvet’s warmth, ranging from 1 (coolest) to 15 (warmest). Your choice should depend on your climate, temperature variations throughout the year, and personal preference. It’s important to note that the tog rating is not related to the duvet’s weight. The better the insulation quality of the filling, the less material is needed to achieve a high tog rating. For Hong Kong’s weather, there are two types of duvets available: summer and winter. Summer duvets have a TOG range of 1 to 4.5. In Hong Kong, summer duvets are popular when the weather warms up and air conditioning is used.Summer duvets are lighter, weighing from 80 to 150 g/m2. That’s why they’re also called ‘aircon duvets’. Make sure your duvet is breathable enough for humid summer nights in Hong Kong. Winter duvets range from 12 to 15 tog and can help you survive the coldest days in Hong Kong. People who are afraid of the cold or children might add a thinner blanket in winter nights. Natural fillings like down and feathers are suitable but expensive for winter duvets as they have good heat insulation and are soft to the touch. Winter duvets can weigh more than 200 g/m2. Some people may choose two different duvets for different seasons. But a duvet that provides breathability and temperature regulation all year round is ideal for Hong Kong’s climate. For those who don’t want the hassle or cost of multiple duvets and comforters, consider the All-Season Duvet with 100% hypoallergenic microfiber filling and 100% long-staple cotton shell.
This popular quilt is a lofty, lightweight and breathable choice. The duvet is rated at 10.5 tog. This means you can use it to replace both your summer and winter duvet, saving space, money and the hassle of switching. Other things to consider when shopping for duvets and quilts. Once you’ve considered all of the above, you might think you’ve found your perfect bed partner. But there are a few more things to think about before purchasing the best duvet or comforter for you. Ticking refers to the material used to cover the duvet’s filling. A high-quality 100% cotton material is essential to maintain temperature control, prevent sweating and allow your skin to breathe overnight. Protecting your duvet makes sense as cleaning takes time and money. Consider a size-matching duvet cover to extend the time between washings. They come in many different patterns, styles and materials and are a great way to add a touch of colour or individuality to your bedroom.
Are you confused about the size of duvet covers in relation to your duvet? Worry not, as duvet covers can vary by up to 15 cm in length and width compared to the duvet itself.
If you dislike the sensation of a duvet sliding around inside the cover, consider our duvet cover with hidden buttons, corners, and ties that keep your duvet securely in place.
When it comes to size, duvets are available in standard sizes such as single, double/full, and queen/king. However, many prefer a duvet one size larger for extra coverage, especially if you’re tall or share your bed. We recommend a larger duvet if your mattress is centrally placed in the bedroom or if you share with a partner. A smaller duvet is suitable for a mattress against a wall.
For more details, refer to our duvet size guide.
With this information, we hope you can find the ideal duvet to keep you warm and comfortable in 2024.