This is the bed I slept on when I was working in Hartford for 2 months last year. That’s a duvet. The apartments I inhabited when I was working there again this past month had duvets. Most of the hotel rooms I have been in have duvets.
I hate duvets.
Well, that’s a bit strong, But I don’t like them. At all. Here’s the thing: I tend to run hot at night. And no, it has nothing to do with menopause. That particular train has left the station. Don runs cold. I run hot. Isn’t that the way with most couples? One tends to get too warm, the other is always freezing. Anyway, because of that, I like layers. I like to be able to add or subtract a layer as needed. On my bed there are the sheets, of course, a quilt on top of that and, in the winter, my heavy crocheted ripple throw on top of that. If I get too hot, the ripple throw is tossed aside or tossed in Don’s direction. If I really get too hot, especially in the spring or summer, the quilt goes bye-bye.
I like options.
A duvet is too darned heavy and bulky and annoying. When I travel out of town for work and encounter a duvet, it usually means there is a top sheet and the duvet. That’s it. Since I run hot, the duvet ends up being too heavy. So I toss it aside. And I’m left with a top sheet. These are my options? All or nothing?
I get why hotels like them. They make the bed look finished. Since I make my bed every day, even when I’m in a hotel, I find myself wrestling with the bulky duvet and a cover that never seems to stay on the duvet correctly. I curse. I find myself dreaming of a simple quilt and a throw. That duvet in the photo above? A pain in the keister.
Here’s my question for the day: Do you duvet or don’t you? Do you like duvets? Do you have one? Or do you, like me, shun them?
In other news: Don is down for the count with the dreaded flu. He’s pretty sick and miserable at the moment.
And concerning Amazon and book reviews by readers, you might want to read this rather ominous article in the New York Times. I find it very troubling.
Happy Monday.
Yes, we have a duvet and love it. It really keeps us warm. We turn our heat off at night and snuggle under it. We live in a very cold winter climate. We got hooked on duvets when we lived in Germany and will never go back to regular blankets!
I live in a cold climate, but because I run hot, cold or not, I can’t handle a duvet. I’m glad you like yours.
I, too, like layers but for the opposite reason: I run cold in the winter, and layers mean that my husband is fine with just the quilt, and I can pile extra throws on my side of the bed! As far as hotels go, I agree that those heavy duvets are quite unwieldy, especially if you get a king bed.
The Times article was interesting. I like reading reviews on Amazon and Tripadvisor, and I generally discount the best and worst reviews and go with the middle. The top stars are usually what I call the “friends and family” reviews, too glowing, and the single stars are usually people with an ax to grind.
Hope Don gets better soon.
What bothers me about those reviews is not what a reader might think, I tend to not read those anyway, but what it can do to a writer. It’s terrible what those people did to that writer.
My bed is right up against the radiator ( steam heat ) So I have a top sheet and a thin quilt ( as in from Target, not handmade or anything ) and that’s it. I have two windows there, above the bed and radiator and most of the time I have the one on the opposite side from where I sleep cracked a half inch to balance the radiator heat. I turn the heat way down at night too. I run hot, lol! Now, it’s probably going down to 5 degrees in the next night or so…and I MIGHT not crack the window then, but it has to be that cold for me to shut it.
I like the window open, too, Debra. But not this week!
Dear sweet friend,
I do not DUVET. Also, I do not like pillow shams…too much trouble…o.k. for a guest bedroom. Personally I prefer sheets and quilts(plural–I am the cold person.) Marvelous Monday to you from middle TN.
I tried pillow shams and gave up. Too much work every day. Have a great day!
I don’t duvet due to the trouble washing them– usually they require commercial type washers which means a trip to a seedy laudromat. Did that a few times– no thanks. Maybe there are posh laundromats somewhere, but not near me! I do admit, however, they make a bed look very nice.
I don’t like anything that might require a trip to the laundromat. I dealt with laundromats for too many years as a renter!
Dear Claudia, Happy Monday! I hope you are bundled up and staying warm with Scout and your quilt beside you! I just finished a business meeting in a room with large windows–we were so distracted by the blowing snow and roar of the wind that we could barely focus on the work at hand! It’s frigid today! But frigid or not, no duvets for this girl! When I end up with one in a hotel room, it’s guaranteed that I will spend most of the night with at least one leg sticking out from underneath the dang thing in an effort to cool off! Hope Don recovers fast–loved the photo of him as Doolittle!
Me too. I end up waking up constantly because I’m too warm! Apparently Don got a great review in the LA Times, a reader wrote me about it.
I hate duvet! And most hotels do not offer a blanket option. In my house I use the empty duvet covers as a topper, I like the particular designs of these two and the light weight is nice?
I also discount the top and bottom reviews, the reviews I respect most are on some of the book club blogs.
Good idea to use them as a topper!
As for the reviews, unfortunately, these were particularly lethal to the book sales and terrible for the author, who had done nothing wrong and had worked very hard to research that book. Not fair. There’s nothing worse than a rabid fan who can’t see reason.
Poor, Don. I read that onions especially red kept out in a bowl help with getting the flu? Not sure why? Anyway, Get well Don ;)
Ok, I’m putting it out there.. I hate duvets. In my experience with them they don’t work for me. I toss and turn at night. So, duvets don’t work for me at all. In the winter, I like comforters. And when it’s really bitter out , I add a crochet blanket under. I’m the cold one in the house.. Hum, sometimes?
Have a great week,
xxx Liz
It sure is cold out here this week, Liz!
Hi Claudia, I prefer a few layers as well. We have the sheet, of course, and then a thin thermal ‘waffle weave’ blanket, and on top of that a cotton matellasse coverlet (which is sometimes replaced by a heavier quilt for the winter months, although this year it’s still the coverlet). On the other hand, my girls LOVE LOVE LOVE thicker, puffy comforters on their beds! To each his own, I guess! … Donna
Same with us, Donna. I know that there are many duvet fans out there, but I’m not one of them.
Oh, and I feel SOOOO bad for Don!!! Just a few nights ago they were saying that the flu may have hit its peak here in Massachusetts, but that the west coast is getting hit hard. How sad for him… When you’re sick, you just want to be at home in your own bed… Saying a prayer he gets over the flu in record time!… Donna
I know. He keeps saying he wishes I were there with him. And I do, too, but then….at least this way I’m not being infected!
Hi Claudia, I have a little of both going on our queen sized bed. I have a matelasse quilt over the top sheet and folded at the end of the bed is a down comforter covered in a duvet if we need it. I do love a down comforter although they are terribly expensive. My duvet cover is Simply Shabby Chic from Target was one dollar at a thrift store so that off sets the cost somewhat. I hope Don recovers rapidly. Flu can be dangerous, take care. Olive
I hope so, too. He sounds miserable. Today his throat is real sore, as well.
Claudia,
I have a duvet and I love it! Well…..actually I love a good down comforter! It’s wonderful on a really cold night!
blessings,
karianne
PS And down pillows and throws, too!
Good for you, Kari!
We don’t duvet. We have a big quilt, top sheet, and throw on another blanket if needed. I am usually too hot….my husband is usually cold. This is a new thing for me to be hot. And my train has left the station a long time ago. I also sleep on the couch alot as well, because I don’t sleep well.
I’m so sorry that Don isn’t well. It must really kill you not being there to help him. Tell him to take care of him self and get well soon.
I will read the article you suggested.
It’s a beautiful snowy day here in Ohio…….but very cold. The snowflakes are beautiful.
Yes, it’s hard not to be there to help him. He’s really, really miserable. Sore throat, chest congestion, fever, the whole nine yards.
I do not duvet…I like layers, because I run cold. I add more covers, my hubby throws them off…we can’t duvet! ;) Sorry to hear about Don…hope he feels better fast. Sad article, very disturbing…
Very disturbing. What is the problem with some people?
They are a pain to get on, but I think hotels use them because it is a lot easier and less bulky to launder a duvet than a bedspread. I agree that hotel rooms are usually too hot, and what is usually under that duvet is a down comforter.
I hate that.
nancyr
No down for me, Nancy! At least some hotels supply a blanket (usually in the closet) and if they do, I use that instead.
We have a duvet. Like the first commenter we turn the heat off before we go to bed. Invariably, one or both of us will throw it off during the night and we have a thin (Target) quilt as well, which helps keep the buit-up warmth in. Usually by morning one of us is sleepily pulling the duvet back up again…
In some hotels I’ve stayed in they’ve had the duvet and a thin blanket in addition to the sheet. The thin blanket is just right if we leave the heat on.
We have a separate thermostat upstairs and it’s always turned down. We never turn it up. I still don’t like duvets, even with the window open and the heat turned down!
I totally identify with everything you wrote, Claudia. Hubby is always freezing and I’m always hot. Layers work for us; top sheet, light down comforter and a medium thick bedspread. Even with that, I lower the heat, crack the window and sleep in light knit PJ’s. Gotta love menopause! I had a duvet from Pottery Barn about a year ago and yes, it was heavy but it was more irritating to me to make the bed with the heavy darn thing and keep it smooth. Since I rarely pay full price for things at PB I have to use it again, I’m thinking of not putting the comforter inside and either just laying it on the bed or folding it at the bottom, but I will never get another one again.
So sorry about Don…I hope he gets better rather than worse. It must be terrible to perform night after night when you are feeling ill. I will have to check out that article…thanks.
XO,
Jane
Me too. I often sleep pajama-less. In fact, most of the time. The window is cracked and we never turn the upstairs thermostat up. It’s always turned down.
Thank you for the link to the Times article about Amazon reviews. I never thought of anyone doing that……..
It’s pretty terrible, isn’t it?
Ok you asked….
First is the mattress warmer directly on the mattress, only in winter….with separate dialed warmth settings.
Then comes first top sheet placed on in reverse,
then second top sheet placed on right side up, ( these are folded back over topper)
then handwoven lightweight topper about the heft of heavy tablecloth, folded halfway up bed
then comes linen duvet at foot of bed folded so that with one grab it can unfold up to my chin, if needed
On top of folded duvet is lightweight vintage quilt.
Every bed is made with this system with variations for duvet to comforter to chenille spread.
So..very hot night, one sheet
warm night, two top sheets
getting chilly 2 sheets and topper
freezing my tush? all of the above plus unfurled duvet
naptime? lay on top of it all and use the quilt
always cotton, wool or linen everything..none of that slippery satiny stuff for me
why the two top sheets? one sheet covering me does not have the heft to give me the cozy comfort feel, but two is perfect..
I know different than most..but then my drumming is always different :D
And I like that about you, Z!
I duvet. My bedroom runs to the chilly side during the winter and I’ll generally throw on another blanket of some kind. I find a pile of blankets tends to be heavy.
Sorry to hear about Don, poor guy.
-Karen
He’s pretty sick.
I’m all for duvets. But it’s nothing to do with warmth. I like the freedom of not being tucked in. But then, I sleep alone – it was a different story when my husband was alive. He stole the duvet and wrapped himself in it and left me to freeze! He liked the ‘not tucked in’ bit too, but needed a whole duvet to himself.
Maybe you should get Don a down sleeping bag that he could snuggle into and keep warm while you are free to throw off any of those duvets, blankets, quilts etc that you want…
I don’t think he’d go for that!
No duvet for this girl. I’m too hot natured. I like a top sheet and a thin quilt in the winter & just the top sheet in the summer. You’re right the article is disturbing. Sorry Don is sick, hope he gets well quickly.
I like the same set-up Janie.
Hate them too, for all the reasons you said and the fact our weather is winter one day and spring the next. I need
options as well.
Options are good, Gina!
Hi Claudia! No duvets here – we layer blankets and I can peel them off as needed. I’m always hot and hubby is always cold – Sorry to hear your hubby down with the flu. Hope he recovers quickly.. Have a nice rest of the day. Francine
Thanks Francine. Don is pretty darned sick and I feel so badly for him.
My Beds Don’t Do Duvets. EVERY BED for EVER has HandDone Honey Quilts! I’m glad to hear someone else feels crushed and smothered by Duvets. As a Couple…we are the OneCold-OneHot….but just the opposite of You and Don. My side of the bed has multi layers of quilts along with flannel or fleece jams in the winter and cotton full pj’s in summer….course there’s a fan blowing right on me in summer. The book review article is very troubling on so many levels for not just readers, but for writers as well.
I agree, Sue. Especially for writers.
I ran into a troubling thing about reviews, too. It had nothing to do with books. I was sent an email to review some products I purchased. I normally ignore such requests but decided to do them. I later checked back and discovered only the absolutely good review was published. The other two items remained unreviewed as far as their website was concerned. They weren’t glowing reviews but certainly didn’t trash the products.
That is simply not right. I’m so sorry that happened.
Hi Claudia,
Sorry to hear Don is under the weather…hoping he will bounce back soon!
I DO duvet!!! I love love love our duvet, so lightweight yet keeps us warm here in Northern North Dakota (currently -35 windchill). We had a mattelasse comforter along with a handmade quilt that we used for several years but those have been moved to our guest room. I thought I liked sleeping under mounds of warmth, but it was just too heavy so we tried a lightweight duvet from Amazon, along with a floral cover and shams (love shams too!) from IKEA. I’m in the minority but happy with my blankies :) Have a warm and cozy day…your quilt is lovely!
I don’t know why but a duvet seems much heavier to me than several layers. I have options with layers. With a duvet, that’s it. That’s my one choice, or so it seems. But I’m happy you like your duvet! You have to go with what works for you! Stay warm – boy it’s cold where you live!!
Have a great day, Lori!
I run hot also but I do have a duvet — at least I think do – I call it a comforter….but maybe that’s a Texas thing? I really like the weight of the comforter so I offset the getting hot part by turning down the heat and switching on the ceiling fan. In the winter we switch to a heavier comforter and I always have a bit of time adjusting once summer rolls around and it’s back to the lighter option.
It’s such a shame that we’ve forgotten the adage our mothers taught us: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything”. It’s not about free speech rights, it’s about politeness and being kind.
I think duvets are different than comforters. But I may be wrong. Duvets usually are filled with down or something like down and they have removable covers. But I may be wrong about this – correct me if I’m wrong, readers!
I love your last statement. It’s not about free speech it about common decency, isn’t it?
Well that’s good to know – my sister has just a duvet/comforter and a bottom sheet. She says it is the easiest bed in the world to make. I’d love to do that too but hubby thinks it’s “wierd” and won’t go for it.
I can’t stand them, Claudia, mainly for the same reason you can’t. I run hot- he runs cold. I also find that they are always “shifting” inside the covering and need straightening. Not my idea of a good time- The place you were in looks very homey~ xo Diana
Oh, you’re right, Diana – the shifting makes me crazy!
So sorry that Don has the flu! I got hit with it last Tuesday night, took over in less than 20 minutes, and just came out of it yesterday! I also had pneumonia with it…nasty business. Hopefully he got Tamiflu, that plus the antibiotic had me on the mend pretty quickly compared to 10 years ago when I had the flu with no treatment. Prayers for his speedy recovery!
He’s on some super antibiotic.
Since you asked…. Before I moved, I had Duvets for my King sized bed..mostly sheet weight..filled with a light weight down comforter..loved it..Matelaisse sp? in the summer…Now I have a down blanket and layers..I needde less stuff to store so I’m going with layers instead..
I imagine duvets might be bulky to store.
PS..All I had on my bed was the duvet/comforter over the sheet..no weight..easy to make…I always had the vents closed (heat) in the bedroom so the temp was perfect..I guess if I had a place to store a down comforter and its Duvets, I would go that route again..
No duvets on downstairs beds here and I hate them in hotel rooms. Then why do I have one in the upstairs guest room? I bet my guests (grown children) never use them when they’re here. Layers downstairs, all the way. I do have one thing on my bed that I absolutely love: a 100% virgin wool mattress pad, almost 2″ thick. It’s even cool in summer. And I can’t bear to sleep on flannel sheets.
Reading the article makes me angry but frustrated because not much can be done about it, I guess.
I guess not but it’s awful, isn’t it?
What I hate is being weighted down by a pile of heavy quilts! We live in Oklahoma where it’s 17 one day and 71 the next so it can be a real challenge. Our solution is a goose down comforter (duvet is the cover on it isn’t it?). It weighs nothing and doesn’t seem to overheat me at all.
That’s good!
Claudia I’m a layer girl also. The duvet is almost always too hot for me and I freeze with just the sheet. I feel your pain! So sorry Don has the flu! That can’t be fun being so far from home. I read that article about Amazon book reviews and that is awful. Use to be you really read ‘reviews’ of books, not social media campaigns ! Sad!
Stay warm or cool or somewhere in between!
Linda
I do notice a difference without Don being here. I get a bit colder than normal.
Like you, I don’t like comforters or duvets. Too warm. I like layers. I do have a comforter on my bed right now, but the first layer is a sheet, then a thin blanket, then the comforter. It’s how I start out on these cold nights, but then i end up folding down the comforter on my side where it’s just bunched up at the end of the bed. Brian runs colder than me at night (I can blame my being too hot at night on hormones/menopause!), so he keeps his side of the comforter over him while he sleeps.
So sorry to hear that Don has the flu. Do they have back-up actors in cases like this?
Read the article you posted. Maddening and frustrating!
Well they should have understudies, but apparently they don’t. I don’t get it – this is the theater in which I worked for 8 years and in those days they always had understudies. It’s ridiculous that they don’t. No actor should have to feel guilty because he or she is sick.
Hi Claudia – I run hot too but it’s due to menopause so I’m hoping that will change in the future. Regardless, I like layers and regularly have sheets, flannel blanket, quilt and comforter on my bed. I sleep with my window open (yes even in the freezing cold) and can add or subtract as needed. I too hate duvets. I used to have one and I found it looked sloppy and never seemed to fit well. I must say that I always ask for a duvet at a hotel. At least, they take those covers off and wash them whereas Lord knows how long the bedspreads go before being washed.
I love duvet’s! In fact, I just tweaked my my bedroom by adding new lamp shades, a new duvet, pillows and a quilt coverlet. I also added new pictures frames and some new accessories. My duvet is nice and light. Actually, the duvet is a cover for a down quilt. What I love about the down quilt is that it’s not too hot. The duvet is from Pottery Barn and I love the fabric! Hubby loves it too. Since I updated the bedroom (just a week ago) he says he loves it much better than before. All the materials are 100% percent cotton and the duvet is a cotton and linen blend. The pillows are divine with a nice lofty feel. Yes, I love duvets especially from Pottery Barn when they’re on sale!
P.S. Hope Don feels better soon! There are some nasty viruses going around right now! I hope he has a comfortable place to sleep and access to some homemade chicken soup! There’s no place like home, especially when you’re not feeling well.
Sorry to hear about Don – blasted flu!
I do. Duvet. I like the fact that I can wash the cover as easily as I wash my sheets (my covers come from IKEA). We have a lightweight comforter for warmer weather and a heavier weight one for now. I am a warm person too and I usually sleep with no covers on except to cover my feet – unless it’s REALLY cold. True story. No matter what the weather my husband is huddled under the covers, with his feet sticking out. Opposites attract.
Will go read about Amazon now… Ann
I picked up a Duvet a few years back. To cover up my favorite comfort that was running out of life. I didn’t use it very long because I too thought it felt too hot. Now how can 2 little layers of sheet add so much heat? ( I AM THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA WHEN IT COMES TO MY BED.) I was thinking of bringing it back out to cover my new comfort for the winter. We have 2 dogs that jump on the bed and I have washed it 3 times since Christmas. Getting old.
So no I don’t duvet Hope you don’t get sick.
I hate duvets! They always bunch up regardless of what you do.
So sorry Don is ill. Hope he gets better real soonl
Judy
Good morning
I am cold a lot. So I have two duvets, one for summer and one for winter, which gives me three options as I can take the summer and winter duvet at the same time if it is really freezing. However, we insulated the attic floor in fall, and the bed room is much warmer now. So I use the winter duvet and a very light duvet on the bottom in order to keep the feet warm too. I hate sheets because I always get tangled during the heavy dream phasees. ;-) Have a nice day! Regula
My experience with duvets is very limited, Claudia. I tend to have layers on the bed….. sheets, blanket, and quilt with a 2nd quilt at the foot of the bed in case it’s particular cold. The Amazon article is troubling. I’m surprised they allow anonymous reviews. That would seem to invite abuse. I hope Don is entirely well soon.