Duvet Covers – For a Quick Bedroom Makeover

by Beverly Marshall

Duvets or comforter covers are very versatile on a bed. If you want something that is different for your bedroom makeover, you may find expense is an issue in fancy, unique, well made fabric. Designer labels are pricey, especially if you aren’t shopping during a white sale. The versatility of the duvet makes them worth having and a necessity for a comforter. Transform an inexpensive comforter into a stylish work of art with a unique duvet cover. Duvets are great for your kid’s rooms. As the child grows, change out a print or pattern. A teddy bear duvet might be good one day but you blink and he’s ready for a NASCAR print. Find fabulous duvets online and in your favorite bedding stores.

If you can’t find exactly what you want, consider making it yourself. Even a novice can pull this off this sewing project. The magic of Velcro and fabric glue can also eliminate the sewing. Just think of a duvet as a giant pillow case with some sort of closure at the end. That doesn’t seem too hard does it? A pillow case keeps the pillow clean as you sleep on it, and the duvet does the same thing. All types of bedding should be soft and supple since it is next to your skin. You are going to be making this yourself, so don’t scrimp on fabric. Find good quality fabric in a soft cotton or blend. I love flannel on the bottom and it is available in lovely colors and prints. It will be repeatedly washed so look for one that is yarn dyed. You can even find two sheets on a clearance table that are a steal. This would be the easiest because no cutting is involved. Wash and dry either fabric or sheets before you begin, as this will curtail shrinking disappointments down the road. If you have not already purchased a comforter, think about how it will look on the bed. Do you want more of an overhang on the sides or is your partner prone to stealing the covers? If so, you might want to buy a size that is a little larger than your size of bed. The completed presentation might look more finished if you do so.
• Measure your comforter and add one and a half inches to the width and three and three fourths inches to the length allowing for seams and hems. If you have sheets, just look at the dimensions on the package.
• If you have chosen sheets, I would suggest not buying two of the exact same thing. Make things more interesting by buying complementary patterns and colors so it can be turned over for a new look. Don’t be afraid to mix it up a little.
• If you have chosen fabric, you must piece it together as you won’t find fabric with the width you need. Here is where creativity comes in. You can choose lots of matching patterns and colors and stitch them together to make the top of your duvet, just measure how big you want your “blocks” of fabric to be and go from there until you have enough for the top of the duvet. If this sounds like too much work, just use one or two fabrics and do the measuring.
• Place the wrong sides together and stitch with a quarter inch seam along the top sides. If a sewing machine is a foreign thing to you, there are many types of glue on the market that will do the job as well.
• You can create a fanciful closure by sewing large buttons at the top, folding it over and stitching ribbons to the other side of the top. Make sure it represents a nice fold and tie the ribbons to the buttons. Nothing could be simpler. For a more country look, take strips of torn fabric and stitch them where you placed the ribbons. They will fray, but that’s the point. Your duvet cover will take on a shabbier chic look.
Let the creative side come out and makeover your bedroom in the style and color that you choose, and save money at the same time.

Beverly Marshall is a successful online publisher and entrepreneur, offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying duvet covers, all sizes of comforters, and other bedding choices. She gives information and tips to help you save money, make informed buying decisions and common sense ideas for changing your life.

Article Source: Duvet Covers – For a Quick Bedroom Makeover

Be Utterly Original With Duvet Covers for Your Bedroom

by Henry Switzer

We all enjoy comfort, so you are going to love what a cuddly, down comforter can do for you! Down has beautiful, insulating qualities and down bedding products come in numerous colors, qualities, weights and sizes for a nice, cool sleep, or to warm you on the coldest of winter nights. It has wonderful properties, as it is lightweight and comfortable. For one of these most sought-after duvets, duvet covers come in many fabrics and patterns. If you're looking for a down-filled comforter and some special duvet covers for your bed, you are best advised to comparison shop and get some basic information first. The first question you need to ask yourself is, how warm are you when you sleep? Many people prefer layers and layers of blankets with the electric blanket turned up high, and others are comfortable with just a light layer over them even on the coldest of winter nights. Remember that comforters come in different weights and fills, so don't purchase a heavy comforter if you live in a warm climate! Depending on the fabric, duvet covers can also add warmth.

Make sure that you take measurements of your bed, so it will be a perfect fit. If you have a queen size bed and end up purchasing a full queen quilt, it may be too small for your liking. Or, if you own a California king bed, then a king-size comforter may not be big enough for this. You may need to check custom made duvet covers for this size. If you purchase one that is too small, it won't drop down the sides of the bed and look very good for decoration purposes. Duvet covers also need to measure up accurately to look nice.

The quantity of down is measured by fill-power. The higher the fill power, the larger and denser the clusters of down are. The larger clusters provide superior insulation, and they last longer, breathe easier, and will outlast the smaller fragile down clusters, too. Compare the fill power among manufacturers because there is no need to buy more than necessary. Finding the right comforter and choosing from many duvet covers can be fun with a little knowledge before hand!

Henry Switzer is a regular contributor to www.blanketscoverssofas.com supplying you with all the information and resources you need to know about wing back chair slipcovers and even surefit slipcovers

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Choosing Duvet Covers Is A Matter Of Taste

by Michael Selvon

Duvets, along with the accompanying duvet covers, weren't always understood. In 1749, Thomas Nugent, an English travel-writer passing through Westphalia, remarked: "There is one thing very particular to them, that they do not cover themselves with bed-cloths, but lay one feather-bed over, and another under. This is comfortable enough in winter, but how they can bear their feather-beds over them in summer, as is generally practiced, I cannot conceive."

Of course, Thomas Nugent couldn't possibly fathom that, 259 years later, most Americans would be living in homes with central air conditioning and large overhead fans to keep them cool during the summer months, even loaded down with several plush layers of comfort. Now, selecting a duvet covers for down comforters is more a matter of taste than serious deliberation.

Materials and brand names range for duvet covers, but you'll definitely want to look for one of high quality. After all, one of the reasons to purchase a duvet cover is to protect yourself from protruding feathers that can poke and annoy you all night like. The higher the thread count, the less chance you'll have of feathers stabbing you in the night.

Another reason is to protect your down comforter from dust, dirt, allergens and grease, so you'll want a machine washable, durable material. Thirdly, you'll want to find a complementary style for your bedroom so you'll need to decide upon the best style, color and mood to represent you. Lastly, you'll need a comfortable material that will rest softly against your skin, lulling you to sleep at night.

Often, duvet covers come in two different fabrics woven together; one for the top that perhaps offers more aesthetic sheen or texture, and one for the bottom, with a soft, comfortable underlying fabric. You can find a horse or hounds-tooth fabric, with brick print piping, that reverses to a saddle micro-suede or you can find 100% cotton, toile patterned luxury bedding with felicity fabric on one side and willow striped fabric on the other side.

Woven plaid chenille jacquard is considered a popular, high-quality, contemporary design as well. Many people go with preshrunk, superior grade covers made of 55% linen and 45% cotton that are machine washable.

One potential pitfall of duvet covers is that people assume the cover will protect their down comforters from all dander, contaminants, allergens and bacteria, which is simply not true. One survey found that people, on average, washed their covers only once every 10 years!

Scientists were horrified with how filthy people's beds were. They recommend washing duvets at 40 degrees at least every three to six months, which will lower bacteria by 55% and decrease dust mite and cat allergens to zero. Pillows should be cleaned once every two months, they add.

Mike Selvon has some informative articles for the creative mind. Find out more about duvet covers at his resourceful site. We appreciate your feedback at our blanket patterns blog.

Article Source: Choosing Duvet Covers Is A Matter Of Taste