Ever wonder what you could do to improve your sleep? Well, last month, I was invited to an overnight sleep retreat by the lovely folks at Dunelm. The trip's aim was to highlight the brand's vast range of the best mattresses and bedding, and to meet Dunelm's sleep experts. The day would end with everyone spending the night in their own personal treehouse cabin furnished top-to-toe in Dunelm products, along with a bed that has been completely tailored to each individual's needs, ensuring we had a perfect night's sleep.

Now, buying a mattress, duvet or pillow isn't a one-size-fits-all affair. Choosing the wrong product can completely ruin your chances of a good eight hours of shut-eye. So I was intrigued to find out how Dunelm plans to help inform its customers on how to find the right products to buy.

No surprises, then, that I found myself on a train last Thursday, bound for the beautiful Wildhive at Callow Hall in Derbyshire, where Dunelm was hosting its special Sleep Retreat. In advance of the stay, the brand's expert team sent me a questionnaire, asking detailed questions about how I sleep to find my ideal bed and bedding setup.

After we arrived, and were shown the beautiful treehouses where we'd be spending the night (pretty much everything in the rooms apart from the painted cupboard in the corner was from Dunelm!) and then we headed off for a special sleep presentation.

Here, Dunelm's experts talked us through the brand's sleep ranges and the wealth of products that it offers. To say that it stocks a wide selection is an understatement - there really is something for everyone, covering all bases in quality, affordability and practicality.

Dunelm's sleep ranges are split into five brands

To understand the options available at Dunelm, you need to get your head around some names, as its bedroom collections are split among five in-house brands.

At the most affordable end of the scale, you have Dunelm's core collections, which feature basics at great prices, including rolled and lightweight mattresses, pillows, duvets and bedding protection.

Next, there's Dunelm's Comfort Zone range, which focuses on products that offer extra support - these will include lots of memory foam and gel fillings, as well as body and support pillows. Comfort, here, is key.

Right in the middle is Fogarty, a heritage brand that Dunelm has owned for over a decade. It specialises in technical bedding, including synthetic and natural materials, as well as anti-allergy and cooling ranges.

Next, Hotel is one of the brand's more luxurious collections, and as the name suggests, it aims to bring a boutique hotel vibe to your bedroom. It specialises in pocket-sprung and memory foam pillow-top mattresses, as well as cotton bedding with high thread counts.

Finally, there's Dorma - a heritage brand dating back to 1921 (almost as old as Ideal Home!), which has been owned by Dunelm for 18 years.

Naturally, this is the brand's top-end bedroom collection (it holds a royal warrant, after all) with luxe materials including silk, merino wool, cashmere, alpaca and high-thread-count cotton, alongside premium pocket sprung, split tension and hand-finished mattresses.

Admittedly, you won't find every single product at your local store - there are several warehouses' worth of product available on the Dunelm website. But even I was surprised at the sheer volume of products available, as well as the variety, that you can choose from.

The number of bedding options that Dunelm has to offer is pretty vast

Before I went on this trip with Dunelm, I knew the brand sold a selection of mattresses, duvets and pillows. But I really had no clue how large this offering was. As I type this, a quick search on its website shows that there are over 640 double mattresses to choose from, over 1,000 double duvets and more than 150 of the best pillows.

Thankfully, Dunelm acknowledges that there's a lot to choose from, so it's currently rolling out special questionnaires (rather like the one I filled in before the sleep retreat) to help point people in the right direction when shopping for the ideal mattress, duvet or pillow.

Unsure of what you might need? Try it out yourself - search for 'mattress' on the Dunelm website, and its Mattress Matchmaker quiz will pop up.

No matter how you sleep, they have you covered

When choosing a mattress, you need to look at the way you sleep, as this will inform the best option to guarantee a good night's sleep. Whether you sleep on your side, back, or front (or a combination of these), Dunelm has a variety of options for all.

Take Dunelm's Comfort Zone memory foam rolled mattress, £219, for instance. It's a great mattress for side sleepers as the memory foam provides a decent amount of pressure relief for shoulders and hips as you drift off. Team that with a high-profile pillow to give your neck and head ample support, like Dunelm's Dorma Full Forever Side Sleeper Pillows, £20 for two.

Meanwhile, front sleepers, like me, need a medium support mattress (the Dorma Natural 10000 Pocket Sprung Horsehair Mattress, £1,259 is a great option) and a squishy, low-profile pillow so we don't get neck strain, so the Dunelm team selected a range of products to help me sleep like a baby.

Personally, the Dorma luxurious goose down soft support pillow, £60, was a total dream to sleep upon, so much so, I pretty much begged the team to let me take it away with me when I left...

What's more, the brand also stocks a great selection of body pillows, perfect for pregnant women or those with back, neck, or hip issues. There are huggable V-shaped designs, foam-filled wedge backs and knee wedges.

They're really good on eco cred too

Something that Dunelm does really well, which it tends not to shout about enough, is its commitment to using sustainable products.

The brand has a wide range of products made from natural materials - 70% of the cotton in its own-brand bedding ranges is responsibly sourced.

And while it will still stock products made using synthetic materials - as they're ideal for those with allergies or on a low budget - 75% of the polyester used in its own-brand bedding products is recycled.

What's more, Dunelm mattresses are built to last, too, and the brand backs that up with guarantees on every mattress sold, from 5 to 20 years. And when you're ready to upgrade yours, ​Dunelm has partnered with the British Heart Foundation to collect and give your old mattress another home, ensuring it doesn't automatically end up in landfill.

And don't forget all the finishing touches...

I can't not mention all the other products that make up a bedroom, as it's pretty much all available at Dunelm, too. As previously mentioned, virtually everything in my sleep retreat cabin was by Dunelm, from the bedding to the headboard to the lighting. As a one-stop shop for a whole bedroom makeover, Dunelm is pretty hard to beat.

So if your sleep setup could do with an upgrade, from the bones of your bedding to the decor that surrounds it, I'd definitely suggest checking Dunelm out.

Have you encountered the trend for coverless duvets yet? If you're wondering what one is, then a coverless duvet is a duvet that doesn't require a separate duvet cover. It's an all-in-one affair, if you will.

The idea is that this saves the faff of putting on and taking off a duvet cover, and you can pop the entire duvet in the wash when you need to. Yes indeed, coverless duvets are machine washable – often at 30ºC or 40ºC.

But should you be replacing a traditional duvet with its coverless cousin? Let’s get into it. As a sleep-product reviewer, I've tested plenty of the best duvets on the market, and I'm here to spill the beans on the pros and cons of a coverless duvet.

Are coverless duvets a good idea?

So, having tested a whole range of normal duvets, and my fair share of coverless duvets – I recently put the Night Lark coverless duvet through its paces – are coverless duvets worth it? First up, the benefits.

Benefits

1. Faff-free bed changing

A coverless duvet is great if you find putting on or taking off a duvet cover difficult for mobility reasons. After all, despite there being plenty of tips and tricks on how to put a duvet cover on in existence, we all know that changing a duvet cover can still be a workout and require a lot of dexterity and physical gymnastics to achieve.

You might even just loathe changing duvet covers full stop. As a mum of three, I'm with you here. The joy of a coverless duvet is that you can just pull the duvet off the bed and stick it in the washing machine. No faffing with fiddly buttons, poppers, or ties, and no heaving a duvet out of the cover.

2. Less bed linen to store

Another great feature of a coverless duvet is that it will streamline your bed linen situation. If you're wondering how many bedding sets the average person has, experts say two to three per bed. In my household of five, that adds up to a *lot* of bedding.

Opting for coverless duvets for my household would reduce my bed linen requirements massively. This is particularly useful if you lack storage or just hate clutter. Even if you don’t opt for a coverless duvet on your own bed, they are really great for kids' rooms and guest bedrooms.

3. No ironing of duvet covers

These days most of us weigh in on team 'no' in the should you iron bedding debate, and no duvet cover means no duvet cover to iron – hallelujah! So if you're someone who doesn't have the time or patience to carefully press their bed linen, but you also dislike the look of crumpled bed sheets, a coverless duvet is a hassle-free solution that's always going to look good on the bed.

Disadvantages

However, there are some drawbacks to a coverless duvet. It may be you just don't like the look of them – I find they can elicit very 'marmite' reactions from people who either love or hate the aesthetics – but there are some other considerations to bear in mind.

1. Limited style options

Firstly, you're going to have a more limited choice of designs to choose from. That’s not to say coverless duvets aren't visually appealing – this is far from the case. You are just more limited in the choice you’ll have in terms of prints, patterns, and textures.

Whilst the coverless duvet market appears to be growing, there are still far less options than there are duvet *covers* on the market, so you'll be more limited in the styles you can choose from.

2. Limited fill options

You'll also be more limited in your duvet fill options. All the coverless duvets I've encountered are synthetic and filled with polyester microfibre or hollowfibre.

Hot sleepers in particular can often find these materials cause overheating. There's also generally less choice of duvet tog ratings available.

3. May require a large-capacity washing machine

Plus, a coverless duvet's main selling point – the fact you can bung the whole duvet in the washing machine – only works if your washing machine is big enough.

You should be fine with a single-size duvet – which is why they can make a great option for a kids' bed or a chair bed for the odd overnight guest – but a double or king-size duvet can get trickier to wash.

And you don't want to overload your washing machine as it may damage your washer and mean that the duvet doesn't have space to be properly rinsed.

4. Longer drying times

If you don't have a tumble dryer – or your coverless duvet requires line drying – it can be a bulky item to find room to hang up and dry.

Plus, drying times are likely to be longer than for a duvet cover. So if you need to get the duvet washed and back on the bed the same day, this could prove more stressful than simply changing a duvet cover.

Verdict

So, all in all, do I think coverless duvets are a good idea? Yes, and no. If you struggle with the faff of changing a duvet cover, then a coverless duvet is a brilliant solution as you can bung the entire thing in the washing machine in one go.

However, this is also the coverless duvet's main flaw in my opinion. If you opt for a single duvet it may not be so much of an issue, but a double or king duvet is a large item to fit in most average-sized washing machines.

Plus, you then have drying times to factor in. And whilst a coverless duvet will dry quickly hung outside on a sunny day, if you don't have an outside drying area or a tumbledryer for the winter months, it's going to take a lot longer to dry than your average duvet cover.

Personally, I wouldn't want the hassle of washing an entire duvet every week or two weeks, depending on how often you choose to wash your bedding. So for me, I'll be sticking to my regular duvet and duvet cover for the time being.

Shop coverless duvets

Hopefully, that's helped you to figure out if a coverless duvet is right for you. If you've decided it is, these are three of my favourites.

FAQs

Does Dunelm sell coverless duvets?

Yes, Dunelm stocks coverless duvets, although the collection is mainly focused on single duvets and children's designs. However, there are a handful of more grown-up sizes and styles.

Does M&S sell coverless duvets?

While M&S don’t currently stock their own-brand coverless duvets, they do sell a select range of Night Lark coverless duvets. This includes a kid's Percy Pig Coverless Duvet, if your child is a big fan of the brand!

When a heatwave descends, most of us are more likely to get a bad night's sleep as we toss and turn attempting to avoid overheating.

However, there is one hidden 'sleep thief' that sleep experts say could be lurking in our bedding and causing us to get all hot and bothered at night, whether there's a heatwave occurring or not.

Luckily, there's also an easy way to identify the problem, and some simple bedding swaps that sleep experts say can solve the issue and help us to stay cool in bed.

When it comes to how to sleep better on warm nights, one surefire solution is to switch to a summer duvet. However, something we might not consider is the impact that the materials used in our bedding can have on our sleep climate.

'Choosing the right type of bedding will either keep you cool or cause you to become hot and sweaty,' explains sleep expert and co-founder of Divan Beds, Adeel Ul-Haq, and there's one material that can lead to more hot and sweaty nights than any other.

As Adeel explains, 'fabrics like polyester trap heat and moisture against your skin, making it next to impossible to sleep when it's warm.'

Sleep expert and managing director of Woolroom, Chris Tattersall, agrees, saying, 'try to avoid bedding made from polyester, nylon or synthetic materials that will trap heat and hold moisture in during a heatwave, or indeed all year round if you're prone to overheating at night.'

'Moisture from perspiration has to go somewhere, and these materials can leave you feeling uncomfortable and your bedding feeling damp and heavy.'

The easiest way to find out if your bedding contains polyester is to check the care label on your duvet, pillows, sheets, pillowcases, or duvet cover. If you see polyester, nylon, or polycotton (a mixture of synthetic fibres and cotton) mentioned, then your bedding likely won't be as breathable as it could be.

If you want to avoid overheating, then the solution is to swap to bedding made from natural materials, such as cotton, linen, wool, bamboo, or – if you really want to push the boat out – silk.

As Chris explains, 'if you swap from a synthetic duvet to a lightweight duvet made from natural materials, you’ll be amazed by the difference in your sleep quality on hot summer nights.'

'Wool’s natural properties make it an excellent choice for temperature regulation, as the breathability of wool allows air to circulate, preventing heat build-up and promoting a cooler sleep environment,' says Chris.

'By contrast, polyester and feather and down fillings trap heat and moisture, and are therefore better suited for colder, winter months.'

Shop natural-fill duvets

It's also important to consider what you put on and under your duvet. Chris advises that 'cotton or linen bedlinen is a great option to pair with a lightweight duvet.'

'These materials are also breathable and moisture-wicking, with cotton able to absorb up to 10% of its weight in moisture. The natural fibres ‘breathe’ by absorbing the moisture away from your body and releasing it into the air, meaning you stay dry and comfortable all night long.'

'To stay cool when sleeping, stick to natural fibres like cotton or linen,' agrees Adeel. 'These materials allow air to circulate and help wick the moisture away so your body can stay cool even when it's been warm outside.'

So if you’re sleeping on or under a polyester or even a polycotton bed sheet or duvet cover, now is the time to swap it for a cotton or linen option instead. That way our body stands a better chance of maintaining a comfortable temperature through the night, even when it's hot.

Shop natural fibre bed linen

So if you're finding it tricky to sleep due to getting too hot at night, I'd definitely recommend checking your bedding's care labels to see what materials are hiding inside your favourite duvet or duvet cover set.

Eliminate the hidden sleep thief that is polyester, and you could get a cooler and more well-rested night's sleep.

Dreamland has just launched something I've never seen before, a heated duvet that could be the answer to cold winter nights.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've tested multiple heated throws and electric underblankets for my guide to the best electric blankets to shop. I've also tested a whole host of duvets for our guide to the best duvets. But I've never before seen the two combined into a heated duvet, and I think it's a genius idea.

It's a simple concept, but then all of the best ideas usually are. The Dreamland Love Mornings All Season Heated Duvet looks like a regular duvet, but hidden inside is the brand's Intelliheat technology.

This means that you can plug the duvet in, and in five minutes it will heat up to help you beat the winter chill.

It was averaging around 0°c at night when Dreamland sent me a sample of the newly launched heated duvet to test out, so you better believe I was quick to get it out of its bag and onto my bed.

At first glance, the cotton cover and polyester-filled duvet looks and feels like any normal duvet. It was only when I scrunched it up that I could feel any hint of the wires hidden in the filling.

This didn't surprise me, as after testing numerous Dreamland electric blankets – like the Dreamland Snowed In Dual-Control Heated Mattress Protector – I've always found them to be the most comfortable and user-friendly heated blankets on the market.

However, there are many bonuses to opting for this heated duvet over an electric blanket. I think the biggest is that, unlike an electric blanket, you can use this heated duvet on top of a memory foam mattress, without affecting how the memory foam performs.

Many people think a memory foam mattress is the best mattress they've slept on, and that's partly because of how well this material responds to body heat. As our body warms the memory foam it moulds around us to cradle and cushion our joints.

However, if you add an electric blanket over the top, you're warming the entirety of the mattress surface, and you lose some of that cocooning comfort. Not so, if you have this Dreamland heated duvet over the top of you instead.

Even better, if you share a bed, Dreamland has cleverly designed this heated duvet to cater to both sleepers. The duvet has six temperature settings, and if you opt for the double or king size the duvet comes with dual controllers.

This means you can make your side of the bed as cosy as you like, whilst your partner can choose to have their side of the duvet on, off, or at a different warmth level to you.

Seeing as hot sleepers and cold sleepers seem destined to pair bond, this is a great way to ensure everyone gets their best night's sleep. And to save on bedtime fallings out over the controls!

Worried about washing a heated duvet? You needn't be. Just like how to clean an electric blanket, it's easier than you might think. The Dreamland Love Mornings All Season Heated Duvet is machine-washable at 30°c on a delicate cycle, and can even be tumble-dried on a low setting.

Plus, if you're hoping to save money on your energy bills this winter, each side of this heated duvet uses just 150W of energy. You can find out more about how much an electric blanket costs to run in our guide, but that means that based on current average energy prices, this winter warmer could cost from just 4p per hour to run.

I put the Panda Cloud Duvet to the test to see how its bamboo-and-microfibre filling fares compared to the best duvets on the market.

In a nutshell

The Panda Cloud duvet has a lot going for it. Its mix of bamboo and recycled polyester microfibre filling offers the best of both worlds, incorporating the luxurious and temperature-regulating properties of bamboo with the easy-to-care-for properties of a synthetic duvet.

I'm a hot sleeper, and for me, this is the best synthetic mix duvet I've tested in terms of temperature regulation. To my mind, it can't beat the breathability and superb temperature regulation of a wool-filled duvet like the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet, but it does a far better job than any other synthetic duvet I've tested. And, it's vegan-friendly.

I also loved the touch of luxury the bamboo fibres delivered. Although the Cloud duvet wasn't as light as I expected from its name, I loved that extra bit of weightiness and the silky feel of both the cover and the filling itself. The Panda Cloud duvet feels like a premium product – almost as luxurious as a high-quality feather and down duvet, but without the use of animal byproducts.

If you want a duvet that can be machine-washed and line or tumble-dried and put back on the bed the same day, the Panda Cloud Duvet also delivers.

The only real downside I found is its limited tog options, but the 10.5 tog is good warmth rating for spring and autumn, and the 4.5 tog is good duvet tog for summer.

If you're a hot sleeper, you might just find this synthetic mix lacks the breathability you need, but, Panda's 30-night sleep trial offers a great way to test it out for yourself.

Overall, I think this duvet offers a great mix of attributes. I'm not usually a huge fan of a synthetic duvet, but it's definitely the best synthetic-mix duvet I've tested, and if you're looking for a vegan-friendly duvet, I think the Panda Cloud duvet is a great buy.

Specifications

• RRP: £99.95 / £129.95 / £144.95 / £159.95
• Sizes: single / double / king / super king
• Tog rating: 4.5 or 10.5
• Materials: bamboo rayon cover, filling 50% bamboo microfibre and 50% recycled polyester microfibre
• Care: Machine wash at 40°C, line dry or low tumble dry
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 30 nights

Feel

The Panda Cloud Duvet looks smart, with black piped edges and an embroidered Panda face on one corner, and it feels a lot more luxurious than your average synthetic duvet.

The cover is made from bamboo rayon and the filling is 50% bamboo microfibre and 50% recycled polyester microfibre. The addition of the bamboo gives the cover and filling a silky feel which makes it feel like a far more premium product than a regular microfibre duvet. The quilted surface is also a nice touch as it gives the duvet a good drape that's reminiscent of a feather and down duvet.

All in all, this feels like a nice duvet to climb under. The cover and filling barely make any rustling noise and the duvet is very malleable so I found it easy to wrap around me and tuck in to keep out any draughts.

I tested the 10.5 tog Panda Cloud duvet, and the only thing I'd mention regarding the duvet's feel is that I'm not sure I'd agree with Panda's assessment of it as light and airy in feel. Bamboo is a fairly heavy fibre, so I think this duvet has more weight to it than most 10.5 tog synthetic duvets.

For me, this slight extra weightiness is a positive, as I find I tend to sleep better under a heavier-weight duvet so I can often find pure microfibre or hollowfibre duvets too light. But, as 'clouds' go, Panda's Cloud Duvet feels denser and weightier than Emma's Cloud Duvet – a pure polyester duvet which really is feather-light.

This won't be an issue for most people, but if you're specifically looking for a very light duvet, in my opinion, this duvet may not be quite the best fit. Overall though, it feels great to sleep under.

Temperature regulation

Synthetic duvets aren't usually the best at temperature regulation, but Panda says that the bamboo component of the Cloud duvet offers enhanced thermoregulation.

After sleeping under the Cloud duvet every night for a week, I'd agree with this. As a hot sleeper, I usually find I struggle to sleep well under a synthetic duvet, often finding them too cold when I first climb into bed but then overheating after a few hours and kicking off the covers. This pattern is then repeated throughout the night, making for a restless sleep.

I tested the 10.5 tog Cloud duvet, and initially I found it a little chilly when I climbed into bed. This said, it was winter and my bedroom was between 16°c and 18°c overnight, so it may have been asking a little much of a 10.5 tog duvet. Panda does also offer 4.5 tog warmth duvet, and says you can combine the two duvets together with 'SnuggleSnaps', although I couldn't find a way of purchasing these on the website.

However, I did soon warm up enough that I found the 10.5 tog option a good duvet tog for me. And, I didn't become roasting hot like I find I do with most synthetic duvets. I tended to find I woke up once during the night because I was on the warm side, but it was a far cooler sleep than I've experienced under most synthetic duvets so that bamboo mix did seem to help combat polyester's biggest drawback.

For me, the temperature regulation couldn't compete with a wool-filled duvet – as a hot sleeper, I still think wool is by far the best duvet filling for me, so the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet is the one that will be staying on my bed longterm.

But, if you want to benefit from some of the advantages a synthetic-mix duvet filling offers – such as machine washability, quick drying times, and a (slightly) lower price point – I do think the Panda Cloud Duvet offered a better-balanced sleep temperature than most of its synthetic competition. For instance, I found the Panda Cloud Duvet a cooler and more enjoyable sleep experience than the Simba Hybrid Duvet with its cooling 'Stratos' layer, and far cooler than the Emma Cloud duvet.

Ease of care

One of the big plus points of the Panda Cloud duvet, just like any synthetic-filled duvet, is how easy it is to care for. It can be machine washed at 40°C (as long as you have a large enough washing machine for your duvet size), and then line-dried or tumble-dried on a low setting.

This makes the question of how to wash a duvet far easier to manage and means you should be able to wash the Cloud duvet and get it back on the bed the same day.

I found it far easier to freshen up than a feather and down or a wool duvet, both of which tend to take a long time to air dry (if they can be washed at all).

Value for money

As of writing, the 10.5 tog Panda Cloud duvet costs £129.95 for a double, which I do think is fairly expensive in the grand scheme of things.

For comparison a double in the synthetic polyester M&S Supremely Washable Duvet or the John Lewis Synthetic Soft Touch Washable Duvet is around £35. Both of these duvets are made from recycled polyester microfibre, like the Panda Cloud duvet, but they lack the bamboo element that the Cloud incorporates.

And I do think that bamboo mix makes a difference. The Panda Cloud duvet feels more luxurious to the touch, with a silky sheen that feels more premium than your average microfibre duvet. It reminds me of the feel of the Dunelm Fogarty Touch of Silk Duvet, which I was really impressed by.

The Dunelm Touch of Silk duvet is cheaper, at £50 for a double, but it doesn't feature recycled polyester, and, it doesn't benefit from bamboo's cooling powers.

Unlike all of the above alternatives, the bamboo element of the Panda Cloud duvet resulted in less overheating if you're a hot sleeper.

Overall, if you're looking for a vegan-friendly or an easy-to-care-for duvet that feels more premium than your average synthetic duvet, or you're after one that has above-average temperature regulation, I do think the Panda Cloud Duvet is worth the extra expense.

How I tested

I tested the Panda Cloud Duvet at home on my own bed, sleeping underneath it for a week to see how it performed.

Whilst testing it I assessed the duvet's feel – this includes how malleable and squashy it feels to scrunch up in my hand, how well it tucked in around my body at night, if it made any noise when doing so, and how well it drapes on the bed.

I also assessed the duvet's temperature regulation and breathability. In doing so I made sure to keep my bedroom at the ideal bedroom temperature recommended by sleep scientists to help us sleep better – between 16°c and 18°c. I also made sure to use the same breathable cotton duvet cover I use to test every duvet we put through Ideal Home's duvet testing process.

As a hot sleeper who is prone to overheating, I then set to snoozing to see if I slept comfortably throughout the night, or whether I woke up hot and sticky under the covers and had to fling a leg out of bed or throw the covers off myself to cool down. And, alternatively, if I woke up too cold.

I also assessed the duvet's ease of care, and where possible made sure to wash the duvet according to its care instructions to see if it came out of the washing machine looking and feeling as good as when it went in.

Lastly, I considered the duvet's price point and value for money, as well as researching any third-party reviews to see what a wider selection of owners think of the product, before giving the duvet a score out of five.

I put Woolroom's Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet to the test to see how it fares compared to the best duvets on the market.

In a nutshell

From the first night I slept under the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet, I've barely taken it off my bed. Suffice it to say, it's one of the best duvets I've tested, and as Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've now slept under well over 30 duvets to find the best-in-class, so that's saying something.

The reason this duvet impressed me so much? Its first-rate temperature regulation. As a hot sleeper, this is one of the few duvets that keeps me warm and cosy every night without causing me to overheat at 3am and wake myself up in my rush to kick off the covers and cool down.

That's thanks to the uniquely breathable properties of the 100% traceable British wool that this duvet is filled with. And that same filling also makes this one of the most eco-friendly duvets I've found. Renewable, biodegradable, and produced to the highest ethical standards, this wool-filled duvet is one of the most sustainable ways of keeping warm at night.

Those high-quality materials do make this duvet an investment. Still, the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet has some unique selling points that I think make that price justified, namely the fact this is one of the only wool duvets that is machine-washable, and the only wool duvet I've come across that benefits from a sleep trial. You get 30 nights to test out this duvet on your own bed before you commit.

That's a priceless opportunity to ensure that, like me, you find this duvet to offer the best night's sleep you've ever had.

Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet review

Specifications

• RRP: from £144.99 - £599.99
• Sizes: single (135 x 200cm) / double (200 x 200cm) / king (225 x 220cm) / super king (260 x 220cm) / emperor (290 x 235cm)
• Tog rating: light / medium / warm / all-seasons
• Materials: unbleached organic cotton cover and 100% traceable British wool
• Care: wool/delicate machine cycle at 40°C and 800RPM then line dry
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 30 nights

Feel

I have to admit that first impressions aren't where the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet excels.

Although I was very impressed by Woolroom's cotton packaging (no plastic used here), when I unzipped the protective bag and took out the duvet itself, I was surprised how thin and flat it felt.

Admittedly I had just been testing a luxurious and super squishy feather and down option, but, in comparison, the Woolroom duvet felt quite basic and utilitarian.

It's clearly a well-made duvet with good attention to detail in the design, but its unbleached cotton cover and quilted surface don't scream luxury in the same way other options might.

However, although it may be a lot thinner than I was expecting, and it looks fairly flat on the bed, it still drapes well.

Plus, it has plenty of malleability to tuck in around your body to keep out the draughts, and it's one of the quietest duvets I've tested, with no rustling noise to disturb you if (like me) you're prone to fidgeting until you find exactly the right position to drift off.

The only other slight downside to its appearance is its corners, which are rounded. It could be quite a nice touch, except for the fact I've never come across a duvet cover with rounded corners, which means it doesn't quite fit the duvet case as well as it could.

Temperature regulation

I'm a hot sleeper, so, for me, a duvet that offers good breathability and temperature regulation is a must.

In my role as Sleep Editor for Ideal Home I've now slept under many great duvets, from synthetic duvets with cooling technology, such as the Simba Hybrid Duvet, to super lightweight duvets, such as the Emma Cloud Duvet, and luxury feather and down options from scooms and Soak & Sleep.

But the one issue I've encountered time and time again with all the other duvets I've tested is overheating at night. I might go to sleep comfy and cosy, but come 3am I'll find myself waking up hot and sweaty and kicking off the duvet to stick one leg out from under the covers to cool down.

That was until I slept under the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Duvet.

Woolroom has a lot to say about wool's brilliant insulating properties, and as someone who previously struggled with overheating, I've found it all to be borne out in practice. This is the only duvet I've slept under where I've never struggled to regulate my temperature at night.

According to the brand, 'Wool's standout natural attribute as a bedding fibre is its exceptional ability to regulate and maintain temperature. Fluctuating in temperature is often one of the main causes for disrupted sleep, with one in five [respondents to the brand's Clean Sleep report] people reporting being too hot or too cold as the number one factor interrupting their sleep'.

'Unlike synthetic materials or feather and down, wool has the remarkable ability to transport moisture away from the body and regulate temperature, keeping sleepers comfortably warm in winter and cool in summer. Its breathability and insulation properties make it an ideal choice for achieving a balanced and restful sleep environment, regardless of external temperatures'.

However it does it, I just know that it works. This wool duvet eliminated night-time overheating for me, and it's clear wool is the best duvet filling for my sleep needs.

The fact the wool-filling does such a good job at regulating temperature also makes a wool duvet a great choice if you share a bed with someone with a different internal thermostat. Instead of one of you sweltering whilst the other one shivers, a wool-filled duvet can create the right microclimate for both individuals. That means no puzzling over which duvet tog to opt for as a couple.

Ease of care

Usually one of the biggest downsides of a wool duvet is that they can't be washed. Instead, most manufacturers recommend you air your wool duvet on the line on a sunny day to let the UV rays freshen and a gentle breeze freshen it up.

That's because wool fibres felt together when washed at high temperatures, which is what causes your favourite wool jumper to shrink if you don't wash it carefully by hand!

However, the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet is one of the only wool duvets I've come across that can be machine-washed.

It's not quite such an easy process as bunging a synthetic duvet, like the M&S Supremely Washable Duvet or John Lewis Soft Touch Washable range, in the washing machine at 60°C. But, thanks to Woolroom's innovative technology, this duvet is now a lot easier to care for than any of its competition.

Woolroom recommends washing the Deluxe washable on a wool/delicate cycle at 40°C using wool detergent, a spin speed lower than 800RPM, and then line drying. The brand doesn't advise tumble drying.

During testing, we found the duvet washed well, although due to the low spin cycle it does come out of the machine very wet and so it needs a good length of time to dry. I definitely recommend waiting until a sunny and breezy summer day to wash it so you can hang it outside to line dry if possible.

Value for money

This isn't the cheapest wool duvet you can buy (Slumberdown's Wonderfully Wool Duvet is the most budget-friendly I've found), but, it also isn't the most expensive wool duvet on the market (that accolade goes to the premium Floks Luxury British Winter Wool Duvet which does feel thicker and more premium, but lacks some of this Woolroom duvet's other benefits).

And, whilst there's still no denying this Woolroom duvet is an investment, it does feature multiple USP's that I haven't found elsewhere.

Those unique features include materials with an exemplary ethical and sustainable provenance (an unbleached organic cotton cover and traceable British wool filling), the fact that this wool duvet is machine washable, a wide range of sizes and warmth options (you can opt for the light, medium, or warm duvet in sizes from a single to an emperor), and one last USP I haven't seen available anywhere else – a 30-night sleep trial to test out if a wool duvet can help to improve your sleep.

How I tested

I tested the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet at home on my own bed, sleeping underneath it for a week to see how it performed. However, that testing period has since been extended for far longer as this is now the duvet I choose to sleep under every night.

Whilst testing it I assessed the duvet's feel – this includes how malleable and squashy it feels to scrunch up in my hand, how well it tucked in around my body at night, if it made any noise when doing so, and how well it drapes on the bed.

I also assessed the duvet's temperature regulation and breathability. In doing so I made sure to keep my bedroom at the ideal bedroom temperature recommended by sleep scientists to help us sleep better – between 16°c and 18°c. I also made sure to use the same breathable cotton duvet cover I use to test every duvet we put through Ideal Home's duvet testing process.

As a hot sleeper who is prone to overheating, I then set to snoozing to see if I slept comfortably throughout the night, or whether I woke up hot and sticky under the covers and had to fling a leg out of bed or throw the covers off myself to cool down. And, alternatively, if I woke up too cold.

I also assessed the duvet's ease of care, and where possible made sure to wash the duvet according to its care instructions to see if it came out of the washing machine looking and feeling as good as when it went in.

Lastly, I considered the duvet's price point and value for money, as well as researching any third-party reviews to see what a wider selection of owners think of the product, before giving the duvet a score out of five.

If you're hoping to give your guest bedding a quick spruce before having any visitors to stay this Christmas, you might be wondering if you can wash a duvet in the washing machine. In short, as long as the label on the duvet states that it is machine washable you should be able to pop it in the washing machine.

When washing a duvet as a rule of thumb you can put any duvets made from with synthetic fillings or natural materials, like down, in a washing machine. But if you invested in one of the best duvets always double-check the care instructions first as this can vary.

Just because many duvets can be put into the washing machine doesn't mean you can just lob them in the drum and whack them on a normal wash. Bedding experts have shared three things you need to consider if you're planning to wash a duvet in a washing machine.

1. Check you have the right washing machine

If you're wondering if you can wash a duvet in the washing machine in your home you'll have to check the size of your washing machine.

'Be mindful that your washing machine’s capacity will determine how efficiently it cleans your duvet,' says Katy Roberts, washing machine expert at AO.com. 'For example, with a double or king-size duvet, you’ll need at least a 9kg drum to ensure you don’t damage either your duvet or washing machine.'

You should be able to find out the capacity of your machine by searching online. Once you know it's big enough to handle your duvet, you're good to proceed.

2. Choose the right detergent

When learning how to wash a duvet in the washing machine, it's important to select the right detergent. 'If you can fit your duvet into your washing machine, then wash it using a non-bio (enzyme free) detergent, using a third of the usual amount that you would use for a normal laundry load,' say Emily and Jonathan Attwood, founders of scooms.

There are plenty of mild detergent options available on Amazon. Products that are marketed for wool and cashmere are a pretty safe bet, as these are formulated to be really gentle.

'Avoid using fabric softeners as they can mess around with your duvet fibres and reduce its breathability,' Katy from AO.com advises.

3. Select your cycle

There should be a recommended temperature cycle in the care label. It's always best to stick to stick to these guidelines to protect the duvet filling.

'Use cold or warm water depending on the duvet’s care instructions and add an extra rinse cycle to ensure all detergent is removed, especially for thick or down-filled duvets,' Polya Petrova, a cleaning expert at Fantastic Services advises.

40°C is the maximum recommended temperature for washing a duvet in a washing machine.

'In order to protect your duvet fibres, you should really be washing it at either 30°C or 40°C,' Katy says. 'Make sure you check the care label for any feather or down duvet as some may require 30°C on a delicate cycle.'

You'll need to ensure your duvet is completely dry before putting it back in a duvet cover. If most of it is dry but the corners still feel a little damp, we recommend using one of the best dehumidifiers to help finish the process.

After washing and drying your duvet, leave the door of the machine open to let fresh air circulate. This will help to stop your washing machine from smelling.

Our favourite machine-washable duvets

FAQs

How often should you wash your duvet in the washing machine?

'Try to wash your duvet once every six months,' Katy Roberts from AO.com advises. 'Though if you have allergies or pets to consider, try upping this to once every three to four months.'

Six months is the ideal amount of time to be washing your duvet, but if not, the experts recommend at least once a year. Maintaining a hygienic sleep set-up is really important, so aside from cleaning a mattress, learning how to wash a duvet in the washing machine is the next best thing you can do.

Can you wash a 13.5 tog duvet in a 7kg washing machine?

If your washing machine has a 7kg capacity, Katy says that it's best to err on the side of caution when it comes to washing a 13.5 tog duvet.

'Typically speaking, a 7kg drum will be too small for a 13.5 tog duvet – particularly if this is a double or king size. Try to avoid this where possible, as this can lead to uneven washing or perhaps damage your duvet and washing machine.'

This does make it learning how to wash a duvet in the washing machine a little more tricky. We recommend airing it out frequently - this helps to deodorise and refresh - and when it needs a clean, taking it to a dry cleaners.

Changing a duvet might sound like a simple job, but if you’ve ever ended up stuck inside your bed linen while trying to change the covers you’ll know it’s not always as easy as it sounds.

Whether you're upgrading your bedroom with the best duvet on the market or stripping the bed ahead of laundry day, learning how to put a duvet cover on quickly and easily can make a big difference to your housework (and stress levels).

In this easy-to-follow guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of changing a duvet, the different methods you can use, and some nifty buys to make it even easier, all with some top expert tips along the way.

How to put a duvet cover on

'When changing your bed or duvet, there are several important things to consider,' says Petya Holevich, cleaning expert at Fantastic Services.

'First, make sure you have a clean, fresh set of bedding ready to go [to] help avoid prolonged exposure to dust mites and allergens'.

'Additionally, consider the size and weight of the duvet. A lighter duvet can make the process quicker and easier. Heavier duvets can be more challenging to handle'.

This is also something to consider if you're pondering what size duvet to buy. A king-size duvet will offer more coverage for a couple, but they can be more awkward to manouevre than a double.

However, whatever duvet you're working with, there are two main methods we'd recommend for changing your duvet cover: the Inside-Out method (also known as the Traditional method) and the Burrito method (also known as the Roll-and-Stuff method).

The Inside-Out method

First up, is the Inside-Out method of changing a duvet cover. Here's a step-by-step guide to how to do it.

1. Remove the old duvet cover, and turn the new duvet cover inside out completely. Make sure all corners are poked out properly.
2. Lay your duvet over your bed, and then your duvet cover flat on the bed over the top of it, aligning the corners and edges.
3. Starting at the foot of the bed, place your hands inside the duvet cover and grab the top corners. Pinch each corner — making sure you have both the insert and the cover — and flip the cover right side out.
4. Keeping each corner of the duvet cover in your hand, lift up and slide the cover down on top of the rest of the insert. You might want to pick up the duvet from the bed as you do this. Hold the duvet cover and adjust as you go.
5. Use the poppers or buttons to secure the duvet in the cover, give your duvet cover a good shake and a fluff. This helps distribute the filling evenly and ensures the duvet is smooth inside the cover.

Benefits of the Inside-Out method

If you want to get the job done quickly and efficiently, it’s hard to go wrong with the Inside-Out method when changing a duvet cover. It’s the classic way to do things for a reason, ensuring a smooth and even spread of the duvet within the cover. However, there might be a quicker way to do things (more on that later).

Disadvantages of the Inside-Out method

If you have shorter arms (and/or a large duvet) then this method of changing a duvet can be somewhat taxing, and you may not be able to hold onto all the corners at the same time as you change the duvet.

Having to tackle each corner separately as a result will slow down the duvet changing which takes some points off this method.

The Burrito method

Here's how to change a duvet cover using the Burrito method.

1. Place the duvet cover flat on the bed, inside-side out, with the opening at the foot of the bed.
2. Place the duvet on the top, aligning the corners. Roll the duvet and cover tightly from the top to the bottom into a compact roll.
3. Put your arm through the opening of the duvet cover and grab both corners of the cover and duvet. Then flip the bottom of the corner over the roll. Repeat this on the other side. Unroll the "burrito" back towards the top of the bed, so the duvet cover covers the duvet.
4. Shake and fluff the duvet, then smooth it out on the bed.

Benefits of the Burrito Method

What’s not to love. The roll-and-stuff method, aka the Burrito method is potentially even quicker and more efficient than the traditional Inside-Out method.

It’s also super handy if you have a small bedroom as everything is done on the bed without the need to go full-on ghost as you try and match up the corners doing the Inside-Out method.

Disadvantages of the Burrito method

The middle step of the method – tucking the corners of the cover over the edges of your duvet before you unroll – can be a bit of a puzzle if you don’t have the knack. Try it a few times though and we think you’ll soon find it easier than the traditional method.

Quick solutions

To make changing your duvet cover even easier, we've rounded up three of the Ideal Home team's top picks for simplifying the process even further; from useful quilt clips that hold your duvet corners in place to coverless duvets that eliminate the problem altogether!

FAQs

Which is the fastest method to change a duvet cover?

'The fastest method to change a duvet cover is typically the Burrito method,' says Petya Holevich, with the Inside-Out method coming in a close second.

A duvet cover that fits well with durable fastenings will make this method even more effective, while any job is made quicker with an extra pair of hands. Two people using the Burrito method on either corner will certainly get you close to changing your duvet in under 90 seconds.

How to change a duvet in 90 seconds?

However, if you are indeed going to change a duvet in 90 seconds flat, you’re going to need to practice until you’ve made perfect.

'Both methods can be done in under two minutes with practice,' says Holevich, 'but the Burrito Method often works best for speed and ease'.

How often should you change a duvet cover?

'As the duvet cover is the first line of defence against dirt, sweat, and oils, it should be changed regularly,' says Alison Jones, sleep expert at Sealy. 'I recommend washing and changing your duvet cover at least every two weeks, similar to how often you should change your bed sheets'.

'This routine helps maintain a clean sleeping environment and can reduce allergens' continues Alison. 'Some people prefer to change their duvet covers seasonally, opting for lighter, breathable fabrics like cotton in the summer and warmer, cosier materials like flannel or brushed cotton in the winter. This not only enhances comfort but also allows you to refresh the look of your bedroom.'

You can tie this in with switching out your duvet tog too. Opting for a warmer duvet in winter and a cooler tog in summer.

So there we go, everything you need to know to get this essential household task completed with minimal time and effort.

For this review, I put the Emma Cloud Duvet to the test on my own bed to see how it fared compared to the best duvets on the market.

In a nutshell

The Emma Cloud Duvet is a microfibre duvet with a polyester cover filled with polyester fibres.

During testing, I found it to be a super lightweight (it really does feel as light as a cloud), easy to care for thanks to the fact it can be machine-washed, and, potentially, a good option for cold sleepers as I got toasty super quickly under the covers.

However, I did find I needed to stick one leg out from under it to cool down only five minutes into bedtime. So if you're a hot sleeper the Cloud Duvet's lack of breathability could mean you're likely to overheat.

The lack of clarity on its tog rating also makes it a bit of a confusing purchase.

All in all, I thought this was an OK duvet, particularly if you're looking for a washable and lightweight option. However, there was nothing about the Emma Cloud Duvet that made me feel like it was a premium product.

The fact Emma hasn't chosen to use recycled polyester is disappointing and there are far more affordable synthetic duvets out there that do the same thing. You can find these in my full verdict below.

Specifications

• RRP: £69 / £89 / £99 / £109
• Sizes: single (140 x 200cm) / double (200 x 200cm) / king (225 x 220cm) / super king (240 x 220cm)
• Materials: 100% polyester cover and 100% polyester fill
• Care: machine wash at 60°C (or maybe 40°C?!) and low tumble dry
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 14-night

Feel

We all know that first impressions count, and when the Emma Cloud Duvet arrived on my doorstep, I can't say I was that impressed.

As of writing, the double sized Cloud Duvet costs £89 – a not inconsiderable sum of money – and call me fussy, but the package that I received for that investment left me very underwhelmed.

Tightly rolled up in plastic packaging with a very average looking label on the front (that also confusingly referred to duvet as a 'Microfiber Duvet' rather than the 'Cloud Duvet'), this bedding didn't exactly scream premium product to me.

However, if I've learned anything during my four years of testing bedding it's that appearances can be deceptive. And, that big things can come in small, vacuum-packed packages (I'm looking at you mattresses-in-a-box). So, I put my initial judgments to one side and cut open the polythene.

At which point I got my next big shock. Because the Emma Cloud Duvet is thin. Really thin. When I picked it up and held it between my thumb and fingers it was only 2cm deep at maximum.

It was at this point I realised I didn't actually know what tog rating the Cloud Duvet was – because the duvet is only available in one warmth option I had just assumed it would have a mid-range tog rating of around 10.5 togs that would be suitable for most of the seasons – but this felt much thinner, more like a high summer 3 or 4.5 tog duvet.

I headed over to the Emma website to check but came up empty-handed. Apparently, Emma doesn't think its customers need to know what warmth of duvet they're buying, which is a very confusing approach as I'd say it's the MOST important piece of information you need to avoid any duvet buying mistakes.

I checked the packaging and the care label on the duvet itself, but there was still no information on a tog rating. I would have asked the customer service chatbot on the Emma website, but it was out of action when I tried.

Well, I'd just have to sleep under it and see what happened – more on that in the next section. In the meantime, I considered the duvet's feel and how it draped on the bed.

This is a synthetic microfibre polyester-filled duvet with a polyester cover, both of which are generally considered to be budget-friendly materials, and this feels like a budget duvet.

A microfibre fill is always a little nicer than a hollowfibre filling as it tends to mean the polyester fibres are brushed more thinly for a light and airy feel, and the Emma Cloud Duvet does feel light and relatively airy.

It was also silent to snuggle into (no noisy crunching or crinkling here) and it tucked in nicely around my body to eliminate any draughts – something I was grateful for, because judging by the duvet's thickness I thought I was soon going to be in for a cold night's sleep! And, it draped adequately enough on the bed.

All in all, I thought the duvet felt OK. But, just OK. Other than the Emma-branded piping along its edges, I couldn't yet see anything that distinguished this duvet from other microfibre duvets half its price.

Temperature regulation

At 10pm I hit the sack and climbed under my new Emma Cloud Duvet to test out its performance.

I keep my bedroom between 16°c and 18°c for duvet testing (the ideal bedroom temperature to help us sleep better according to sleep scientists), and because of the duvet's thinness, I was concerned I was going to be cold.

However, after two minutes under the Emma Cloud Duvet, I was toasty. Five minutes in I had to stick a leg out from under the covers to cool down and regulate my body temperature.

Which I suppose isn't surprising. Temperature regulation is a common area where synthetic duvet filling can fall down. The polyester microfibres (in this case also paired with a polyester cover) aren't breathable and so reflect body heat back towards the sleeper rather than letting that heat dissipate through the duvet.

This can be a bonus if you're a cold sleeper as it means a warmer sleep. But, if you're a hot sleeper, like me, it means more likelihood of overheating.

I soon realised I wouldn't have wanted this duvet to be any thicker than it is or I would have been sweating. As it was, I had an OK sleep under the Emma Cloud Duvet. I was warm throughout the night and didn't wake up too hot or too cold. I did feel ever so slightly clammier than I would have liked – this hot sleeper still definitely prefers a wool duvet such as the luxury Floks Luxury British Wool Duvet, the washable Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet, or the more affordable Slumberdown Wonderful Wool Duvet for the excellent breathability they offer – but I didn't overheat during testing.

However, I wouldn't want to sleep under this duvet in any warmer ambient temperatures. The 16°c to 18°c testing conditions were just about right for me, but had I been testing this duvet in summer when my loft bedroom gets a lot warmer, I think I would have been waking up in a hot and sweaty mess on a regular basis.

However, the main plus point I found whilst sleeping under this duvet was how light it was for its warmth level. I'd previously been sleeping under much heavier wool duvets and it was refreshing to have something so light to lift in comparison – in that respect, the Emma Cloud Duvet does feel as light as a cloud.

Ease of care

One of the main benefits of a synthetic duvet is that polyester is very easy to care for. You can usually stick a synthetic duvet like this one in the washing machine and wash it at a high temperature, so a synthetic duvet can be a good choice for anyone worried about bed-wetting or allergies.

The Emma website says that the Cloud Duvet can be machine-washed at 60°C and then tumble-dried on a low setting. This is also stated on the packaging label. However, when I checked the care label on the duvet itself it advises a 40°C delicate wash. I'm still waiting for confirmation from the brand on which setting is correct, so haven't yet popped the Cloud Duvet into the washing machine.

Value for money

As of writing, the Emma Cloud Duvet costs £69 for a single, £89 for a double, £99 for a king, and £109 for a super king size.

Because I don't know for sure what tog rating the Cloud Duvet is, it makes it hard to compare side-by-side with other products. After sleeping under it I would guess it's about a 7 tog duvet. However, giving it the benefit of the doubt, for reference, a higher 10.5 tog synthetic duvet, like the M&S Supremely Washable Duvet or the John Lewis Synthetic Soft Touch Washable Duvet, costs around £30 for a single up to £50 for a super king. Both of these duvets also use recycled polyester, which the Emma Cloud Duvet does not.

So by my reckoning, the Emma Cloud Duvet is roughly double the price of a comparable high-street duvet. And, during testing, I failed to find anything – other than the brand name – that really differentiated it from other products on the market.

Verdict

Overall, I thought the Emma Cloud Duvet was OK.

After getting over my initial disappointment over how the duvet was packaged and my shock at its thinness, I liked how light it felt over my body, the fact it didn't make any noise when I tucked it around me, and how warm it kept me on cold nights.

The fact it can (presumably) be washed at either 40°C or 60°C is another bonus.

However, I didn't feel the duvet felt particularly premium or luxurious and although it kept me toasty, I found it a slightly clammy sort of warmth that I knew would quickly turn into overheating should the ambient temperature of my bedroom rise. I prefer a duvet where I don't have to constantly stick one leg out of bed to cool down.

I also think the Cloud Duvet is expensive for what it is. As mentioned, there are far more affordable polyester microfibre duvets on the market, and the M&S and John Lewis options mentioned above both use more responsibly-sourced recycled polyester fibres which the Emma Cloud Duvet does not. Both of these brands also clearly state what tog rating their respective duvets are, whereas it would seem the Emma Cloud Duvet is a bit of a potluck situation.

All in all, if you get this duvet included with an Emma deal when you buy a new mattress, it's well worth a try to see how it suits you. It does the job.

Would I purchase it at full price though? Probably not. If I wanted a synthetic duvet I'd opt for the M&S Supremely Washable Duvet or the John Lewis Synthetic Soft Touch Washable Duvet, instead.

How I tested

I tested the Emma Cloud Duvet at home on my own bed, sleeping underneath it for a week to see how it performed.

Whilst testing I assessed the duvet's feel – this includes how malleable and squashy it feels to scrunch up in my hand, how well it tucked in around my body at night, if it made any noise when doing so, and how well it drapes on the bed.

I also assessed the duvet's temperature regulation and breathability. In doing so I made sure to keep my bedroom between 16°c and 18°c. I also made sure to use the same breathable cotton duvet cover I use to test every duvet we put through Ideal Home's duvet testing process.

As a hot sleeper who is prone to overheating, I then set to snoozing to see if I slept comfortably throughout the night, or whether I woke up hot and sticky under the covers and had to fling a leg out of bed or throw the covers off myself to cool down. And, alternatively, if I woke up too cold.

I also assessed the duvet's ease of care, and where possible made sure to wash the duvet according to its care instructions to see if it came out of the washing machine looking and feeling as good as when it went in.

Lastly, I considered the duvet's price point and value for money, as well as researching any third-party reviews to see what a wider selection of owners think of the product, before giving the duvet a score out of five.

I put the bestselling Simba Hybrid Duvet to the test on my own bed in this review to see how it fared compared to the best duvets on the market.

In a nutshell

During testing, I found the Simba Hybrid to be a decent duvet. It draped nicely on my bed and the duvet's filling and square-stitched panels meant it felt more premium than your average synthetic duvet. The Hybrid is also machine washable at 40°C and its recycled polyester fill and cotton cover should be vegan-friendly (although Simba makes no such claims, so that remains unconfirmed).

However, despite the temperature-regulating Stratos finish to one side of the duvet cover, as a hot sleeper, I still found the Simba Hybrid to lack breathability, and I regularly overheated under this duvet in the middle of the night.

I also found that Stratos finish made the duvet feel stiffer than I'd have liked and it created some noise when I changed position or tucked the duvet in around me on cold nights.

However, my biggest bugbear with the Simba Hybrid Duvet is its price. As of writing, the Simba Hybrid Duvet costs £199 for a double, and considering you can buy a good quality microfibre-filled duvet for around £40 to £60 for a double, that's a lot to pay for a polyester duvet.

Overall, if you're looking for a synthetic duvet and you can snap the Hybrid up when there's a Simba deal on offer or get it as part of one of Simba's bundles when you're buying a new mattress, then this duvet isn't a bad buy. However, I think there are far cheaper alternatives to consider if you're shopping when it's full price. More on those in my full verdict below.

Simba Hybrid Duvet Specifications

• RRP: £139 / £199 / £249 / £259
• Sizes: single (135 x 200cm) / double (200 x 200cm) / king (225 x 220cm) / super king (260 x 220cm)
• Materials: cotton cover and polyester fill
• Care: machine wash at 40°C and low tumble dry
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 30-night

Feel

The Simba Hybrid Duvet is a synthetic duvet that features a recycled polyester filling and a cotton cover that has a 'Stratos' finish on one side. The brand says this Stratos ‘cool-touch’ tech is designed to help with temperature regulation and prevent overheating.

Synthetic duvets have some great plus points, namely affordability and ease of care, but they're not known for feeling particularly luxurious (especially compared to a good quality down-filled duvet). However, the Simba Hybrid Duvet does feel nicer than many synthetic options.

Simba doesn't specify which type of polyester it uses, preferring to refer to its fill as 'Simba Renew Bio', but the brand shares that it's made from recycled plastic bottle fibres (good news for the environment), and it feels very much like a good quality microfibre filling to me.

This is a good thing as it gives the duvet a nice feel when you scrunch it up and means that the duvet as a whole has a nice fluid drape on the bed. This is helped by the fact the duvet is stitched into squares (which Simba says also prevents clumping). It also meant that the duvet had enough flexibility to tuck in nicely around me at night to avoid draughts.

The only downside is the fact that the Stratos finish on one side of the duvet cover (more on that in a bit) does make the duvet feel a little bit stiff, and I found that stiffer layer made some rustling noise as I bunched the duvet up to get it into position around me.

Temperature regulation

Similarly, synthetic duvets aren't known for their temperature regulation. This is because polyester lacks breathability and tends to reflect body heat back toward the sleeper. That's fine if you're a cold sleeper, but, if you're a hot sleeper, like me, then a synthetic duvet is usually the most likely to have you waking up in a hot and sticky mess at 3am.

Simba aims to combat this by adding a 'Stratos' finish to one side of the Hybrid duvet. The brand says that this ‘cool-touch' finish is 'similar to the tech that keeps astronauts cool in space' and will 'offer an instant, tangible coolness' that 'helps dissipate excess heat'.

On unpacking the Simba Hybrid Duvet I did immediately notice this 'cool touch' tech. The side of the duvet with the blue piping is covered in a hexagonal print and when I put my hand against it, it felt surprisingly cool to the touch. So much so that rather than being worried about overheating at night I was now a little worried about being too chilly!

Thankfully, having a duvet cover between myself and the duvet took away most of the chill factor and after 10 minutes or so I was soon pretty snuggly under the covers.

I tested this duvet in October, which is probably the best possible time for putting its 10.5 tog rating to the test, as a 10.5 tog duvet is a good all-rounder that should offer the ideal warmth for spring and autumn.

However, it's a shame that this is the only tog the Simba Hybrid duvet is available in, as it will likely be too warm for summer and too cool for winter. Most duvets come in a range of 4.5 tog and 7 tog options for summer, and a warmer 13.5 tog option for winter. You can opt for the more expensive Simba Hybrid 3-in-1 Duvet instead which offers a 3.5 tog and 7 tog duvet that combine to give 10.5 togs of warmth, but there's no warmer option.

However, thanks to the Stratos finish, perhaps I would find that a single 10.5 tog really could do it all.

Sadly, not quite so. As mentioned, I'm a hot sleeper, and having been lucky enough to test multiple duvets in my role as Sleep Editor for Ideal Home, I've found wool is the best duvet filling for me as I need the extra breathability it offers at night. True to form, despite the Stratos finish, I still woke up too hot and sweaty in the middle of the night under the polyester-filled Simba Hybrid Duvet.

Although I agree that the Stratos finish did deliver 'instant, tangible coolness' when I first laid my skin next to it, sadly, this didn't seem to translate into good temperature regulation all the way through the night.

If you're a cold sleeper you might fare better than I did, although I've still found wool to offer a cosier sleep than a synthetic duvet. Unfortunately, despite its added technology, the Simba Hybrid Duvet hasn't changed my mind on that.

Ease of care

As mentioned, ease of care is one of the big plus points of opting for a synthetic duvet, and the Simba Hybrid Duvet is no exception.

This duvet can be machine-washed at 40°C (just check out our guide to how to wash a duvet before you do, and make sure you have a large enough washing machine) and tumble-dried on low. In my tests, it washed well and it dried quickly on the line or in the tumble dryer.

However, although it may be a more eco-friendly temperature to wash at, 40°C isn't quite as high a temperature as some synthetic duvets can be washed at. Many allow washing at 60°C which could be a bonus if you're worried about bed-wetting or are someone prone to allergies.

Likely it's the Stratos finish printed onto the Simba Hybrid Duvet's cover that limits the cleaning temperature a little.

Value for money

As of writing, the Simba Hybrid Duvet costs £139 for a single, £199 for a double, £249 for a king-size, and £259 for a super king duvet. To my mind, that's a lot of money for a synthetic duvet.

Especially when you consider that you can buy a good quality synthetic duvet in a comparable 10.5 tog for between £30 and £50.

Yes, the Hybrid Duvet features that Stratos finish cover – which had mixed results in keeping me cool and fresh as it claims – but that's still a big jump in price compared to the competition.

Verdict

All in all, I found the Simba Hybrid Duvet to be a decent duvet. If you're looking for a duvet that's easy to care for with a filling that doesn't rely on animal byproducts then you won't be disappointed by Simba's machine-washable polyester-filled design.

The Hybrid Duvet's filling may be synthetic, but it feels nicer and drapes better than your usual cheap synthetic duvet and its Stratos finish cover possibly does mean it causes a little less overheating than a synthetic duvet normally would.

However, although I usually think it's worth investing in a more expensive duvet for a better night's sleep, is it worth paying nearly five times more for the Simba Hybrid Duvet than you would for a decent high-street synthetic duvet like the M&S Supremely Washable Duvet or the John Lewis Synthetic Soft Touch Washable Duvet?

In this case, personally, I think not. Whereas a more expensive high-quality feather and down or wool duvet has always proved worth the extra investment in my experience, I can't really see how the materials used in the Simba Hybrid duvet justify its extremely high price point.

If you get this duvet included as part of one of Simba's deals when you're buying a new mattress then it makes a good addition to the bed. But if you're buying it at full price, then, to my mind at least, there are far more affordable synthetic duvets (such as the John Lewis and M&S options above) that you can opt for instead.

Plus, if you're a hot sleeper like me, I would say this duvet isn't for you. Instead, I'd recommend investing in a wool duvet, like the best-in-class Floks Luxury British Wool Duvet, the washable Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet, or the budget-friendly Slumberdown Wonderful Wool Duvet. This hot sleeper found all of these wool options offered more breathability and better temperature regulation.

Similarly, if you're looking for a duvet that oozes luxury and will make you feel like you're snuggling up into cloud-like softness, then although the Simba Hybrid Duvet does feel nice, it can't compare to a top-of-the-range feather and down duvet like the Soak & Sleep Hungarian Goose Down Duvet, the scooms Hungarian Goose Down Duvet or The White Company Hungarian Goose Down Duvet.

How I tested

I tested the Simba Hybrid duvet at home on my own bed, sleeping underneath it for a week to see how it performed.

Whilst testing I assessed the duvet's feel – this includes how malleable and squashy it feels to scrunch up in my hand, how well it tucked in around my body at night, if it made any noise when doing so, and how well it drapes on the bed.

I also assessed the duvet's temperature regulation and breathability. In doing so I made sure to keep my bedroom at the ideal bedroom temperature recommended by sleep scientists to help us sleep better – between 16°c and 18°c. I also made sure to use the same breathable cotton duvet cover I use to test every duvet we put through Ideal Home's duvet testing process.

As a hot sleeper who is prone to overheating, I then set to snoozing to see if I slept comfortably throughout the night, or whether I woke up hot and sticky under the covers and had to fling a leg out of bed or throw the covers off myself to cool down. And, alternatively, if I woke up too cold.

I also assessed the duvet's ease of care, and where possible made sure to wash the duvet according to its care instructions to see if it came out of the washing machine looking and feeling as good as when it went in.

Lastly, I considered the duvet's price point and value for money, as well as researching any third-party reviews to see what a wider selection of owners think of the product, before giving the duvet a score out of five.

If you're looking to overhaul your sleep set-up then choosing the right size duvet is a key part of that puzzle.

After all, it's all very well buying the best duvet you can afford, but if your chosen duvet doesn't fit your bed properly you could still be in for a cold and draughty night's sleep. And if you share a bed with your partner, the wrong size duvet can cause all kinds of arguments and disturbed sleep!

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the last four years testing out duvets so I've learned a thing or two about which size is best.

In this guide, I explain all. I'll cover what size a single, double, king and super king-size duvet is and which size duvet to opt for based on your mattress size.

What are the different standard UK duvet sizes?

Standard UK duvets come in four main sizes starting from the smallest, a single duvet, and increasing in size from a double duvet to a king duvet all the way up to the largest duvet size, a super king duvet. Occasionally you might also come across an emperor duvet which is the largest duvet size of them all.

Measurements may differ very slightly between different duvet manufacturers, but the standard UK measurements for each size duvet are listed below.

What size is a single duvet?

A single duvet measures 135 x 200 cm or approximately 53 x 79 inches. In the UK a single duvet is most commonly used to cover a single mattress and it can be a great option for a kid's bed as it's the lightest and most compact duvet size so it's easy for little ones to lift up and climb under.

However, in other parts of the world, couples who share a bed may opt to use two single duvets rather than one double or king-size duvet.

Often dubbed a Scandinavian sleep hack, this method of using two single duvets on a double or king-size bed prevents duvet-hogging and allows couples to choose the right tog duvet and the best duvet filling for their individual needs.

What size is a double duvet?

A standard double duvet measures 200 x 200cm or approximately 79 x 79 inches.

Many people opt for a double duvet to cover a double mattress, but, if a couple are sharing a double bed I'd recommend opting for a king-size duvet instead. Using a king-size duvet over a double bed allows for more coverage and means you can tuck the duvet down between both of your bodies to block out any draughts.

Not only will this keep you both warmer – 'having a duvet that covers the people sleeping in the bed (and a little extra room either side) allows for heat to stay trapped in the space for longer, as there are little to no gaps around the edges,' agrees Alison Jones, sleep expert at Sealy – but a king-size duvet can also help to prevent arguments over one person unintentionally hogging the duvet!

Instead, I'd suggest using a double duvet on a single bed. A double duvet may be too heavy for a very young child, but older children and teenagers will appreciate the extra coverage to tuck around them on cold nights. For this reason, I'd always recommend using a double duvet to cover a single guest bed in a guest bedroom.

A double duvet will also hang lower down the sides of a single bed which means it drapes and covers the sides of the bed better.

What size is a king-size duvet?

A king-size duvet measures 230 x 220 cm or approximately 91 x 87 inches.

As mentioned, this is the size duvet I would recommend using over a double bed if there are two people sharing. Opting for the slightly larger size means that there's some excess duvet left either side of the bed to tuck in around you, and enough duvet to tuck down the middle of the bed to prevent draughts.

This may not be as important when you're switching to a summer duvet as in warmer weather some draughts may be welcome! But it's something to bear in mind when you're switching to a winter duvet as the weather gets colder.

Jade Crooks, commercial director at bedding and furniture retailer DUSK, agrees, saying, 'A great hack is to buy a duvet a size larger than your bed, this will not only ensure you have plenty of covers to keep warm but will prevent any nighttime tussles over them, allowing for a more peaceful sleep’. After all, no one likes a duvet hog!

What size is a super king-size duvet?

A super king-size duvet measures 260 x 220cm or 102 x 87 inches.

If you have a king-size mattress then a super king-size duvet is usually the best size duvet to opt for. This allows some extra fabric to hang down each side of the bed which generally means the duvet drapes better and looks better.

The only exception is if you have a very low platform bed in which case you might want to stick to a king-size duvet to prevent it from dragging on the floor.

What size is an emperor duvet?

An emperor duvet measures 290 x 235 cm or 114 x 93 inches. This is the largest duvet size you can buy and probably won't be a size many of us need! However, if you have the space for a super king-size bed then an emperor duvet can be the best fit for it.

Not all retailers stock duvets in an emperor size, but they are available at selected retailers such as John Lewis, The White Company, and Soak & Sleep.

Should your duvet be bigger than your bed?

As you might have guessed by now, yes, I think a duvet should generally be bigger than your bed.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, for example, you'll probably want to use a single duvet on a single kid's bed if you have young children as it will be lighter for them to lift up and climb under and out of. The same applies to anyone with mobility issues where it's important the duvet is as light and manageable as possible.

However, other than these exceptions (and personal preference, of course) opting for the next size up in a duvet compared to your mattress generally means the duvet hangs better on the bed and offers more warmth – especially if you're one-half of a couple who share a bed as there's more duvet to tuck around your bodies.

'Some opt for a larger duvet as they like the feeling of having more duvet to snuggle into as you sleep,' agrees Emily Atwood, founder of feather and down bedding specialists, scooms. 'This is particularly great if you're saving on energy costs by keeping the heating low in your bedroom.'

Olivia Shykles, bedding buyer at John Lewis, offers another vote in favour of going bigger, saying 'sizing up on your duvet can help with any duvet hogging issues as well as making a beautifully dressed bed'.

Where to buy a duvet

Whatever size duvet you're looking for, these are the places I'd recommend shopping.

• Argos: cot, single, double, king, and super king
• Dunelm: cot, single, double, king, and super king
• John Lewis: cot, single, double, king, super king and emperor
• M&S: cot, single, double, king, and super king
• scooms: single, double, king, and super king
• Soak & Sleep: cot, single, double, king, super king, and emperor
• The White Company: cot, single, double, king, sper king, and emperor
• Woolroom: single, double, king, super king, and emperor

FAQs

What duvet size is 200 x 200cm?

A duvet that measures 200 x 200cm is a standard UK double duvet size. The next size up would be a UK king-size duvet that measures 230 x 220cm.

What size duvet is 240 x 220cm?

A duvet that measures 240 x 220cm is an EU Queen size. This isn't a standard UK duvet size and is inbetween a UK king-size duvet (230 x 220cm) and a UK super king-size duvet (260 x 220cm).

Is 140 x 200cm a big enough duvet for two people?

No, a 140 x 200cm duvet is only a single size duvet, so it isn't big enough for two people to share.

The smallest duvet size recommended for two people is a double duvet which measures 200 x 200cm. However, I'd recommend sizing up even more if there are two of you sharing a bed and opting for a king-size duvet which measures 230 x 220cm instead.

How much bigger should the duvet cover be than the duvet?

This is where you definitely don't want to size up! A duvet cover should be the exact same size as your duvet. So a single duvet needs a single duvet cover, a double duvet needs a double duvet cover, and a king-size duvet needs a king-size duvet cover etc.

Fans of Percy Pig will rejoice to learn that M&S is now stocking a Percy Pig duvet. But if you want to get your hands on a set you’ll have to act fast - because the range sold out 24 hours after its launch.

Percy Pig, is something of a cultural icon in the UK, and we’d bet you’d never think of best bedding and Percy Pig in the same sentence. What started off as a few tasty sweets, has seen M&S’s cute character don mugs, Christmas decorations and even an adorable Percy Pig pancake pan.

He’s a cute character and the duvet set makes an excellent choice of Christmas gift for your kids bedroom ideas this festive season. Luckily for you (and your little ones) the duvet is now back in stock, but with its popularity already proven, you’ll have to act now if you want to grab a set.

For the collection, M&S have teamed up with bedding specialists Night Lark to immortalise Percy forever.

Over the last year we’ve seen children’s bedroom decor adopt a more fun and playful style. Ikea’s SKOGSDUVA collection was all about transforming everyday furniture into something magical for example.

The Percy duvet is definitely embracing the playful side to duvet. With splashes of bold colour in hot pink, lime green and pastel pink, this duvet makes a statement. With reversible designs on each side, you’ll never get bored of Percy,

The stand out feature of this duvet is that the Percy Pig decor does not come as a bedding set - it’s the actual duvet. Night Lark, created the coverless duvet where no sheets are needed. They’re lightweight, home-washable and quick-drying.

The duvet is also made up of Smartfil fibres, created by recycled plastic bottles. The fibres are designed to retain their shape meaning your duvet stays cosy and comfy after every wash.

The Percy Pig coverless duvet is available in a 7 Tog and a 10.5 Tog - meaning choosing either a summer or winter option, depending on whether you’re a hot sleeper of course. The duvets are also available as singles and doubles, too. The single duvets comes with one pillowcase and the double comes with two.

The collection ranges between £60 and £75 which isn’t badly priced for a duvet. The main shortcoming is the lack of variety, given the duvet and bedding is combined. However, we sure you could add your favourite duvet cover if you fancied a break from the pig theme.

Percy Pig has earned a cult status here in the UK, and with M&S known for its high quality products, this duvet makes a great present for any little ones this Christmas.

Around the time the clocks go back, you might find your summer duvet isn’t quite cutting the mustard warmth-wise any longer. So it’s probably around now you want to change to a winter duvet. But what should you do with your summer duvet to keep it fresh during its winter hibernation?

We’re doing a deep dive into how to store your duvet, and chatting to duvet experts and home-organisation influencers who can shed light onto this. As a sleep-product writer myself, I’ve tested the best duvets on the market – and I know how expensive duvets can be.

So after forking out serious money for your duvet, when storing it away your, you want to keep it in tip-top condition. There are a few things you should be doing to ensure your duvet stays fresh, clean and in good nick over winter.

1. Clean your duvet before storing it away

‘Before storing your duvet, be sure that it is clean and dry before packing away for the season,’ says Kate Edmondson, Owner of Home Edited – a professional organisation service.

Remove your bed linen from the duvet before storing it away. Then wash the duvet according to its care instructions.

‘Wash bedding with lavender wash before storing,’ agrees Wendy Miranda, Customer Ambassador at Lakeland. ‘I recommend Lakeland Wool Wash Lavender Detergent.’

‘Feather duvets can be washed at 40 degrees to freshen up. Use around a quarter of the usual amount of detergent you’d use for other washes. The detergent is needed to clean but any more and it won’t rinse from the duvet. Then gently tumble on low.’

‘Always check the care label before cleaning. However, more often than not microfibre and down duvets can be washed at home on a gentle cycle utilising a mild detergent (non bio),’ says Home Edited’s Kate. ‘If your washing machine or tumble dryer is not large enough to hold your duvet, we would recommend professional cleaning, or even utilising a laundrette to tackle this task as they offer larger capacity washing machines and dryers.’

2. If you don’t wash your duvet, air it out

If you really don’t fancy the faff of washing your duvet, you should at least let it air out before packing it away.

‘Before putting your duvet into storage it's a good idea to give it a really good airing, outside if possible. A crisp, bright, dry day will help ensure no moisture is trapped in the duvet,’ says Gemma Bray, otherwise known as The Organised Mum.

This process will air out any bodily oils or smells before you pack it away for winter, and ensure it’s not musty come spring.

3. Make sure everything is totally dry

Moisture left in your duvet is going to be bad news. Your duvet will become mouldy and if it’s down or feather filled, it’ll cause the fillings to clump together. This will render your duvet unusable.

So whether you wash or just air out your duvet, make sure it’s absolutely dry before stowing it away.

4. Cover your duvet up

The last thing you want is your duvet getting dusty over winter. Dust mites are a key cause of allergies in the UK, and they feed on dust. An uncovered duvet would be like an all-you-can-eat buffet for them (grim!).

‘Keeping [your duvet] covered to minimise dust,’ is one of Kate from Home Edited top tips. We’ll get into what’s best to store your duvet in, but essentially don’t just shove it under your bed and hope for the best.

4. Choose storage that will prevent mould

You need to put your duvet in something that’s dry and unlikely to get damp or grow mould. ‘Utilise storage that is breathable to prevent mould and unpleasant smells,’ says Kate from Home Edited.

Breathable bags, such as cotton, are good for this. These allow air to circulate through your duvet. Plastic bags are less ideal as they prevent air flow, and can trap in moisture leading to dreaded mould. Bin bags are especially bad as they will also make your duvet smell unpleasant.

‘Breathable materials include cotton, linen, recycled polyester as well as polypropylene ( which can be budget friendly). Always be sure to check before purchasing if material is breathable,’ says Kate from Home Edited.

Kate at Home Edited recommends these bags from IKEA or these ones from Dunelm that are perfect for under the bed/in an ottoman.

5. Roll – or fold carefully

There’s a general consensus that rolling your duvet is better than folding to preserve the filling.

‘When it comes to folding I like to roll it, if you have the space,’ says Gemma from The Organised Mum.

‘If [you’re storing your duvet] in a box on a shelf I may use the ranger fold or roll,’ says Sophie Liard, aka The Folding Lady. ‘This is where you folding a portion of the duvet under, then fold in the sides so they slightly over lap, then starting from the top and working towards your first fold you can roll or fold the duvet, when you get to the end fold the first fold back on itself and it secures the duvet in.’

6. Store in a dry place

Choose where you store your duvet carefully. You need a cool, dry place in your home where it can comfortably fit. Slightly damp attics or a cupboard in the kitchen isn’t going to work here. And you definitely don’t want to stack anything on top of your duvet, as this will damage the fillings.

‘If you do have a bed with storage underneath, this is the perfect place to keep your duvet as it is a designated space and less likely to put things on top,’ says Gemma from The Organised Mum.

‘If storage space is limited and you’re unsure on where to store, once you have contained your duvet in the right storage bag consider utilising spaces under or behind beds, top or back of wardrobes, or designated cupboard or chest of drawers. There is no need to purchase any further storage,’ advises Kate from Home Edited.

7. Use a moth product

‘However you choose to store add a moth product to items being packed away just to be safe,’ says Wendy from Lakeland.

These moth-repellent sachets from Lakeland are perfect, and you get 20 sachets in a set so you can pop some in with your summer wardrobe if you’re stowing that away too. They should help keep moths away from your duvet whilst in storage.

8. Refresh your duvet after storing it

‘When unpacking duvets pop then in the tumbler with dryer balls to plump up, you can also pop the bedding in the tumble on low heat with a clean lightly damp fragranced cloth for a lovely fresh smell when you can’t get laundry out in the fresh air,’ says Wendy from Lakeland.

Just add a few drops of your favourite essential oils to a cloth, and chuck it in the drier with your duvet. And hey presto, your duvet is ready for another season.

FAQs

Is it ok to store a down duvet in a vacuum bag?

It’s tempting to use a vacuum bag to store duvets, as they’re such a space saver. However, you need to be careful as squeezing all the air out of your duvet can cause the fillings to get damaged.

‘When it comes to storing our duvets it is important we store them correctly,’ warns Kate from Home Edited. ‘As handy as a vacuum bag can be, I would advise against storing down duvets in them due to breakage of the quills of the feathers.’

But if you’re dead set on a vacuum bag, then there are some tips to help.

‘You can store down or feather duvets in a vacuum bag but you need to leave some air in there so that they’re not damaged. I’d suggest you stop before the bag is compact/compressed,’ says Carly Bullock, a buyer at Lakeland.

‘If you have to use a vacuum bag please ensure the duvet is bone dry before you put it in and ensure the vacuum seal is intact,’ says Gemma from The Organised Mum.

How to fold a duvet for storing?

‘I’d recommend lightly rolling down feather duvets so they don’t get squashed. Any other duvets should be ok to fold,’ says Carly from Lakeland.

‘When storing down or feather duvets, it is best to loosely roll up the duvet and place in a storage bag,’ agrees Kate from Home Edited. ‘Be sure to purchase storage that is the right size for the duvet. And once contained, label it correctly for easy identification; before you know it, the warmer weather will be here.’

If you store your summer or winter duvet correctly it should still be in tip top condition when you unpack it next year.

John Lewis is selling a made-to-order Icelandic Eiderdown Winter Weight Duvet and it costs over £12,000.

How much would you spend on a duvet? Ensuring you get the best night sleep, it’s always worth investing in one of the best duvets you can afford. But the Ultimate Collection Made to Order Icelandic Eiderdown Winter Weight Duvet from John Lewis has floored us with its price tag. Its smallest size, a single, will set you back £4,935, while its largest size, emperor, costs £12,460.00.

For John Lewis - a brand famed for its affordability and never knowingly undersold pledge - it’s an expensive choice - which is largely what makes the Icelandic Eiderdown Winter Weight Duvet so intriguing.

But what makes this duvet so special?

John Lewis has actually been stocking this duvet for a few years, describing it as the ‘Roll Royce’ of duvets. It’s a premium, made-to-order duvet designed by Herbert Parkinson at their textile factory in Lancashire.

But what makes it extra special is the eider duck down it uses to fill the duvet. Eiderdown has extraordinary insulating properties, as well as being incredibly soft, making it one of the best duvet fillings for long winter months.

However, eiderdown is incredibly rare, which makes it very valuable. What’s more, the eiderdown John Lewis uses is ethically sourced. They work with accredited farmers who provide sanctuaries for the eider ducks while they nest. The ducks are free-range and their down is only collected once they’ve hatched their eggs and fled the nest.

‘This is a really special product with the price tag explained by the fact that it’s filled with Icelandic Eiderdown, which has soft and insulating properties that are unparalleled,’ said a spokesperson for John Lewis.

‘Made in our own factory - Herbert Parkinson in Lancashire, it offers the ultimate in luxury. However, we have a wide range of duvets with doubles starting from £18.

‘More broadly we are seeing strong demand for our range of Bespoke products made at this factory and our customers value the exceptionally high-quality range and the quality of materials. With an extensive range of crafted curtains, blinds, cushions, duvets and pillows, there’s certainly a demand from customers who are willing to invest in something of really high quality, made to their own specifications.’

Give down duvets a try

A down-filled duvet is a popular choice due as they are breathable and light, but also warm. While they can still be expensive, plenty of great ones are available at a more purse-friendly price tag.

While you definitely don’t need to drop over £12,000 on an eiderdown duvet, investing in one that gives you the best night sleep is paramount to your well being. And luckily there are plenty of affordable options on the market that won’t set you back a small fortune.

Quality sleep. We all crave it, yet few of us actually get enough of it. You may have tried all sort of methods to tackle poor sleep, but you could be overlooking one thing – your duvet. After all, we snuggle under it every night – surely, it plays a pivotal role in whether we get quality slumber. So in our never-ending quest for a good night’s sleep, we ask… is an expensive duvet worth it?

When it comes to which are the best duvets – synthetic, feather and down, or wool – opinions abound, and the choices can be overwhelming. But how much can our duvet selection truly affect sleep quality? Quite a bit, says clinical psychologist Dr Daniel Glazer from UK Therapy Rooms. ‘This simple bedding piece plays a subtle yet absolutely critical role in cultivating quality sleep by helping regulate body temperature throughout the night,’ he says.

‘Overheat, and we’re restlessly tossing and turning; get too chilly, and we're shivering ourselves awake. Either extreme ends up draining our energy reserves, leaving us feeling far from refreshed when it's time to face the next day,’ Dr Daniel continues.

So, if a good duvet can help us sleep better, should we splurge and invest in the best that money can buy? We asked a selection of sleep and bedding experts whether an expensive duvet is worth it.

What is the price range for duvets?

First, let’s look at how much duvets cost. A basic synthetic duvet – like the M&S Supremely Washable Duvet – starts from under £20, whereas a high-quality Hungarian goose down duvet – like the scooms Hungarian Goose Down Duvet – can set you back over £300.

Some duvets also take the word 'expensive' to a whole new level. John Lewis is currently selling The Ultimate Collection Made to Order Icelandic Eiderdown which starts at £4,935 for a single and goes up to £12,460 for an emperor size. Wow.

With such a wide price variation, it’s easy to feel unsure about what you should be paying, what benefits a bigger investment might bring, which duvet fillings are worth splurging on, and whether an expensive duvet is worth it. So, let’s take a look at why the cost of duvets can differ so significantly.

What can affect the difference in price between duvets?

We asked Holly Castle, Brand Manager at Snuggledown, to explain why costs vary so widely. ‘A whole range of factors can affect price point. The biggest factor is usually the material,’ she tells us. ‘Natural bedding usually comes with a higher price tag due to its higher quality. For instance, a feather and down duvet with cotton cover would come with a higher price tag than synthetic bedding,’ Holly continues.

Seeing as duvet fillings having the biggest influence on a duvet's price, we delved into some of the most common materials used:

Synthetics

A synthetic duvet is one with a polyester filling, usually called a hollowfibre or a microfibre duvet. Because synthetics are manmade this is usually the most affordable duvet filling.

A synthetic duvet benefits from being easy to wash and dry. However, the material does have downsides. 'Synthetic duvet fillings tend to lack breathability' says Amy Lockwood, Ideal Home's Sleep Editor. 'Polyester is a petroleum-based material, which means it's similar to plastic. Although polyester duvet filling is combed into strands to make sure there's some airflow, if you imagine sleeping inside a plastic bag you can see why the fibres are prone to reflecting body heat and humidity back towards the sleeper. This can lead to night-time overheating which equals a disturbed sleep'.

Feather and down

The feathers used in feather and down duvets are carefully selected and rigorously cleaned to remove dust, dirt, and allergens to meet the quality standards needed for bedding. Because of the labour involved, natural fillings are usually more expensive than synthetic options.

'A feather and down duvet can be one of the most luxurious duvet fillings', shares Ideal Home's Amy, 'but this is also the filling where I've found there to be the biggest difference in quality'.

'Affordable feather and down duvets tend to use duck feathers and have a higher feather-to-down ratio. The higher the percentage of feathers in the mix, the heavier and more clumpy the duvet can feel. You're also more likely to find feather quills can stick through the duvet cover over time, which isn't very comfortable'.

'In contrast, top-of-the-range feather and down duvets will use Hungarian goose feather and down which is softer. A more expensive feather and down duvet should also offer a higher ratio of down which makes for a super light, airy, and squashy duvet that feels like sleeping under a (well insulated) cloud'.

Wool

Since the production of wool duvets relies on sheep farming, it requires ample time and resources, and wool is also in limited supply. Therefore it’s no surprise that it’s one of the more expensive filling options. However, the extra expense is not without its rewards.

Haldi Kranich-Wood, Bedding Product Specialist at British Wool, explains, ‘As a powerful insulator, wool traps warm air inside to keep you cosy during winter, and its moisture-wicking properties help release air and absorb moisture when temperatures rise.’

Then there is cashmere. Taken from the undercoat of cashmere goats who only produce on average 150-200 grams of cashmere a year, this filling provides extra softness and insulation. Production is also labour-intensive and time-consuming, which again influences the cost.

Other factors that can influence price

Along with fillings, the material used to make the cover can drive up cost, as can construction and craftmanship, which tog you opt for, sustainability and of course size.

How do you know you’re buying a good-quality duvet?

Other than deciding based on a specific filling type, it’s good to be informed about different accreditations and what they mean.

Emily and Jonathan Attwood from luxury bed and bath brand scooms suggest checking out what the manufacturer says about the materials used. ‘Read the information provided carefully and look for these top accreditations':

• Nomite - anti-allergen standard for house dust mite allergy sufferers.
• Oeko-Tex 100 - verifies tested against harmful toxins and chemicals.

Plus, for down and feather fillings:

• Single country source; by-product of the food industry.
• Downafresh - feather and down hygiene and cleanliness requirements to European standard EN 12935.
• Responsible Down Standard - ensuring down and feathers come from geese that have been treated well and never suffer from live-plucking; following the chain of custody from farm to product,’ Emily and Jonathan explain.

Can a ‘value’ duvet ever be a good buy?

Whilst we all know the old adage, ‘buy cheap, buy twice’, opting for a budget microfibre duvet isn’t always a bad idea. Theresa Schnorbach, a sleep expert from Emma - The Sleep Company explains, ‘Synthetic materials such as microfibre or hollow fibre polyester, for example, are made to mimic the feel of natural materials such as feather and down, but are generally easier to clean and more affordable whilst also offering breathability and being nonallergic.’

So, if you suffer from allergies and want a low-maintenance option, an affordable synthetic duvet could be the solution for you.

Final verdict - What should you pay for a duvet?

If you’re still struggling with the question is an expensive duvet worth it, why not look at it this way – the average person spends eight hours in bed a night, that is 2,920 hours per year which equates to 121.7 days out of 365. If you’re torn over whether to splurge, perhaps working out the cost per hour of use could help. After all, a third of the year is a long time to spend using a sub-par product, so investing in the best quality materials will be worth it in the long run.

However, what you should pay for a duvet really comes down to what your current budget will allow. If you can only stretch to a supermarket microfibre option at the moment, consider spending a tiny bit extra on a king-size because it might give you a more luxurious feel. As Danielle Mason, Head of Product Development at The Fine Bedding Company explains, ‘Opting for a larger duvet can provide extra comfort by ensuring full coverage, especially if you or your partner tend to move around during the night.’ Not only that, but it can help with aesthetics too; ‘A larger duvet adds a luxurious and cosy dive right into your duvet look to the bed,’ she continues.

And, lastly, if you have a bedmate, it might actually be worth taking inspo from our Nordic neighbours and spending a little more to get two single duvets rather than one large one. Dr Daniel Glazer says, ‘The Scandinavian sleep method is gaining popularity – using two separate duvets on a shared bed to avoid cover battles. This approach allows each partner to comfortably regulate their ideal sleeping temperature, eliminating the need for a nightly game of tug-of-war!’

I may now be a sleep-product reviewer with thousands of hours of testing time under my belt, but I was once a rookie duvet buyer who came a cropper of many a duvet-buying mistake.

Now I know better, and I’m here to share my mistakes so you can avoid any pitfalls when buying your next duvet.

After all, there's an art to buying the best duvet. You need to think about filling, tog rating, size, and more.

Luckily along with my own extensive research, I've recruited some duvet experts to tell us all we need to know.

So let’s get into it. Here are all the duvet buying mistakes you definitely don’t want to make...

1. Focusing solely on price

We’ve all done it. We need something in a hurry and gone for the cheapest option. And it’s easy to see why this might happen if you’re buying a bed – you’ve just forked out a lot of money for a bed frame and the best mattress around, so you scrimp on the duvet. But you’ll live to regret it if you do, as this is one of the most basic duvet buying mistakes. Instead it’s best to buy the best duvet you can afford.

‘While budget is important, choosing a duvet solely based on its price can be a mistake. Cheaper duvets may save money initially but can lack the quality, comfort, or durability of more premium options,’ says Sally Bonser, sleep expert at Silentnight.

‘Buying a cheaper duvet may mean you could end up buying another duvet sooner than you’d hoped for. Investing in a higher-quality duvet can pay off in the long-run by providing longevity.’

So is an expensive duvet worth it? Yes, I definitely think so.

2. Not choosing the right fill for you

There are a lot of different duvet fillings to choose from. Don’t make the mistake I did when buying a duvet of not really understanding the difference between natural and synthetic duvets. You need to find the right type of fillings for you.

There are loads of natural-fibre duvets including bamboo (which is vegan friendly!), silk, wool, cotton and linen. These are all breathable, which is fantastic if you struggle to regulate your body temperature when you see, ie. you wake up a bit sweaty.

‘Natural fillings help breathability of your duvet, which ultimately expand its life span by keeping the filling fresh,’ says Jade Crooks, commercial director at DUSK.

However, some natural-fibre duvets can exacerbate allergies. Therefore, you might want to go for synthetic-fibre duvets. These are usual hollow fibre or microfibre – both are formats of polyester. These are fantastic at repelling dust mites – the main cause of allergies in the home. They are tend to be easier to wash, which leads us to…

3. Paying no attention to care instructions

Think about your lifestyle when it comes to your duvet. While a duvet isn’t quite as needy as a pet or child, they do still require some TLC. If you care for your duvet – including cleaning it – it should extend the lifespan dramatically – and just be fresher too.

But not all duvets are made the same, and not all care instructions are the same. Avoid duvet buying mistakes and make sure you go for a duvet you can keep clean.

‘One of the most frequent mistakes consumers make is not following the care instructions for the duvet,’ says Sally from Silentnight. Some duvets require gentle washing, specific detergents, or professional dry cleaning.'

'Washing a duvet incorrectly can damage its filling, reduce its fluffiness, and decrease its lifespan, so you should always check the care label and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to keep your duvet in top condition.’

4. Buying the wrong size duvet

Maybe it seems obvious, but you’d be surprised. Always triple check you’re buying the right-sized duvet for your bed.

‘The size of your bed might seem like an easy thing to consider, however, it’s one of the most common duvet buying mistakes that believing matching the duvet size to the bed size is enough,’ says Jade from DUSK.

‘You instead should consider the need for duvet coverage, especially if sharing a bed with a partner. A duvet that is too small for two can cause restless nights and fighting over the covers.’

We’ll come on to whether to get an oversize duvet further down this article.

5. Not thinking about the season

Your duvet needs to last you the whole year round, and as we all know in the UK, the temperature is variable. If you buy one duvet, you might find it’s great in summer; it just doesn’t cut the mustard on cold winter’s nights. That's why considering your duvet tog is important, more on that below.

‘One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to bedding is using a duvet that doesn’t match the season’ says Jade from DUSK. ‘Whilst this is good for saving space within your home, it’s not suitable for the changing temperatures throughout the course of a year.’

‘If you are buying a duvet, consider what season you are going to use it in,’ says Jade. ‘If the weather is warmer, you are going to want to opt for something breathable and lightweight. However, if your duvet is going to be used during the colder months, you’ll need one that is going to offer the best insulation.'

‘If space is an issue in your home, you could opt for an all-seasons duvet. These are made up of two lighter-weight duvets that are fastened together with buttons.’ If you're switching between the two, however, also pay attention to the best time to change between your winter and summer duvets.

6. Not paying enough attention to the tog rating

I can’t emphasise this enough: do a deep dive into what tog rating is best for you. The tog rating is going to massively impact the quality of your sleep.

‘Selecting the wrong tog is often one of the duvet buying mistakes,’ says Olivia Shykles, filled bedding buyer at John Lewis. ‘There can be confusion around what it means and therefore which to select.'

‘Your temperature at night can have a significant impact on not only falling asleep but the quality of that sleep. More commonly people can feel too hot at night but feeling chilly can have as much of an impact when trying to drift off.'

‘Tog stands for "Thermal Overall Grade". A duvet's tog rating is important as it relates to its warmth (but not its weight, which depends on filling). Simply put, the higher the tog rating the warmer the duvet.’

7. Not making the most of a sleep trial

Not all duvet retailers offer one, but if the duvet your eyeing up does, it's well worth making the most of any sleep trials on offer.

A sleep trial enables you to test out a duvet at home, sleeping under it for anywhere from between 14 to 30 nights to see if it improves your sleep and suits your sleep requirements.

Terms and condtitions will apply, but if you don't get on with the duvet, you can usually return it for a full refund during a sleep trial.

As of writing, Simba (best known for its synthetic duvets), scooms (luxury feather and down duvets), and Woolroom (breathable wool-filled duvets) all offer sleep trials on their bestselling duvets.

Our favourite duvets

These are some of our absolute favourite duvets to help you along your duvet buying journey.

FAQs

Should I size up when buying a duvet?

By sizing up your duvet, we mean getting a duvet that’s at least one size up from your mattress size – a kingsize duvet on a double bed, for example. This entirely a personal preference thing, but many couples find it stops the disagreements other duvet theft…

‘A great hack is to buy a duvet a size larger than your bed, this will not only ensure you have plenty of covers to keep warm but will prevent any nighttime tussles over them, allowing for a more peaceful sleep,’ says Jade from DUSK.

What tog duvet do hotels use?

If anyone knows duvets, it’s the hotel industry. They juggle the problem of finding the right duvet on an epic scale.

Some hotels kindly let us know what duvets they’ve plumped for. ‘We have 10.5 tog Savoy duvets for all seasons,’ says Vicky Bielinski, assistant executive housekeeper at The Grove.

And Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts, who offer luxury stays beside the world's most prestigious golf courses in Scotland and Northern Ireland, say their duvets are 10.5 tog.

It seems most hotels err on the side of caution and go for a middle ground on the tog factor.

As a sleep-product reviewer, I often sleep on the job – literally. I’ve tested all the big-brand names and smaller independent brand duvets – all fills, all togs. Through all this testing, I’ve got a pretty good idea of the things I think about before buying a duvet, and I’m going to share them with you.

I wasn’t always a pro at picking the best duvet though. I had no idea what down vs feather meant, or even really what tog ratings meant. In the past I made a fair few errors through ignorance when choosing duvets.

Because of my job, a lot of my friends and family now ask me what the best duvet is. And although it’s subjective, there’s definitely some advice I always give to anyone who asks and a few things I wish I'd known myself before buying my first few duvets – and I’m going to share it with you now.

1. What the difference is between natural vs synthetic duvets

‘Natural or synthetic is a decision you need to make. Both have a range of benefits that may make them more suitable for you,’ says Olivia Shykles, Filled Bedding Buyer at John Lewis. ‘There's no right or wrong answer to these questions, it's all down to personal preference so I would always recommend you get out to a store to have a feel.’

Before working in the world of sleep, I assumed there were down duvets or polyester duvets – and down duvets were good but pricey and polyester was rubbish but cheap. All of this is a complete misconception on my part, and one I want to put you straight on.

Firstly there are loads of different fillings in duvets – we will get into more of that later. But essentially many synthetic duvets perform fantastically and can be much better for you, depending on your requirements.

And also there are loads of natural duvet fillings – not just duck down. We’ll get into that now.

2. What duvet fillings are best

Sounds obvious, but I was clueless before about duvet fillings. And rather embarrassingly in hindsight, fillings are probably the most important element of your duvet.

‘The filling of a duvet is important to consider when purchasing a new duvet,’ says Jade Crooks, Commercial Director at DUSK. ‘Those with natural fillings, like duck feather duvets or goose down duvets provide insulation, while also allowing for good airflow.’

As well as feather and down duvets, there’s the option of wool, silk, cotton, linen and bamboo duvets – the three latter of which are vegan-friendly. These are all great at wicking away sweat and helping you regulate your temperature.

Duck and goose down and feather has traditionally been the premium choice for duvets. This is because they plump up well, and give that cloud-like feeling. Duck down tends to be heavier and more coarse, whereas goose down is lighter – and pricier.

Synthetic duvet fillings are usually hollow fibre or microfibre–polyester. And many polyester duvets are just as good as natural-fibre ones. Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor Amy Lockwood really rated the Fogarty Light & Lofty Warm Waffle Duvet 4.5 Tog synthetic duvet when she tested it giving it full marks. They’re also great for allergy sufferers, but we’ll come on to that in a minute.

3. What a tog rating actually means

Before honing my duvet knowledge, I thought I knew about tog ratings. The higher the number, the warmer the duvet. Simple. And yes, that is true. But it is a bit more nuanced than I realised.

Tog stands for thermal overall grade and is the measurement for how well a product traps heat. 1.5 tog is the lowest and it goes up to 15 tog. To give you an idea, 1 tog is the equivalent of around two t-shirts worth of insulation.

‘Tog can often feel like a bit of a mystery but it's an important decision, as this dictates how warm or cool your duvet will keep you,’ says Olivia from John Lewis. ‘A good rule for a great night's sleep all year round is to select a duvet to suit the season, and most simply put the higher the number the warmer the duvet.’

If you’re a warm sleeper or heat your bedroom quite well, or it’s a warmer month, go for a lower tog rating. If you find you get chilly at night, or it’s winter then you’ll find a warmer tog rating works well for you.

‘For couples who like differing levels of warmth in bed, you could even consider a custom duvet. There’s no compromise necessary – each side of the duvet can be given a different tog rating,’ says Olivia from John Lewis.

4. Going for the right size duvet

By mere accident, I ended up with a kingsize duvet on a double bed for a long time – and now I wonder why I didn’t upsize my duvet before. As someone who loves to be snuggle under my duvet, the extra-large duvet was a winning choice.

‘It may seem obvious but I would say size is the first choice to start narrowing your duvet options,’ says Olivia from John Lewis. ‘Unless you’re also buying your bed and mattress at the same time you should know what size you’re looking for.’

The worst thing you could do would be to have a too-small duvet for your bed. So definitely double-check your bed size before adding a duvet to your basket.

And Olivia is with me on the oversized duvet thing. ‘Top tip, sizing up on your duvet can help with any duvet hogging issues as well as making a beautifully dressed bed. Or sleep as the Scandinavians do and buy two separate duvets if sharing a bed as it's said to reduce sleep interruption,’ she says.

My husband is half Finnish and I can confirm when I first visited Finland, the separate duvet thing was a game changer.

5. Hypoallergenic duvets aren’t to be sniffed at

As someone who’s allergy free, I’ve lived my life not worrying about hypoallergenic products and the thought of a hypoallergenic duvets didn’t cross my mind. Then my son came along, and he does suffer from a dust-mite allergy – suddenly I’m very aware of what exacerbates it, and bedding is a big one.

‘Beware that if you suffer from allergies, natural options like goose or duck feathers can trigger this,’ says Jade from Dusk. ‘So, to avoid those pesky symptoms, synthetic alternatives like Dusk’s feels-down duvet are perfect.’

‘Studies have found 25% of allergic conditions and 50% of asthmatic conditions are caused by house dust mites, which are most commonly found living in bedding such as pillows and duvets,’ says Sally Bonser, sleep expert at Silentnight. ‘So choosing a hypoallergenic or anti-allergy duvets filled with synthetic materials, or even naturally hypoallergenic options like silk or wool, can help minimise allergic reactions and ensure a restful sleep.’

Synthetic duvets are great for allergy sufferers too because they tend to be easier to chuck in the washing machine. This will allow you to blitz allergens from bedding most effectively.

6. Choose between duvets for different times of the year or all-season duvet

I’ve always been an all-season duvet girlie. All-season duvets come in two parts – a higher tog duvet and a lower tog duvet. They clip together to create an uber thick duvet for the winter months.

However, this might not be for everyone because they are bulky, and not everyone wants a mega-thick duvet even in winter. Maybe you sleep hot, or you heat your home enough that you don’t need a thick duvet. You may want to get one warmer duvet and one thinner duvet.

‘Research also suggests people sleep more soundly when their body is kept at a cool to normal temperature, so most sleep experts agree that you should set the thermostat to around 18c and manage your body temperature with a duvet that’s designed for the season of the year,’ says Sally from Silentnight.

7. The weight of your duvet can make a difference

I hadn’t ever considered what my preference was for duvet weight until fairly recently when I was testing weighted blankets. It turns out that I love heavier blankets, and therefore a heavy duvet works well for me. But that isn’t the case for everyone.

‘When making your purchase, don’t overlook how the weight of a duvet affects sleep comfort. Some people enjoy the comforting feel of a heavier duvet, while others prefer a lightweight option that feels less restrictive,’ says Sally from Silentnight. ‘Failing to consider your personal preference for duvet weight can lead to discomfort and disrupted sleep so it’s important to think about what weight will make you feel most comfortable and rested.’

So learn from my past mistakes and take my advice to swot up on your duvet knowledge before hitting the shops.

As the weather gets warmer many of us are likely to find ourselves kicking off the covers in the middle of the night in an attempt to cool down, which is usually a sign we need to swap to one of the best duvets for summer.

But what is the ideal duvet tog for summer? Duvet tog measures the level of warmth a duvet can offer, with duvets generally ranging from one tog at the coolest end of the scale to 15 tog at the cosiest end of the spectrum.

If you're wondering what duvet tog to buy then a rating of between 10 and 13.5 is usually best for most of us during winter. But what tog summer duvet will suit most people? We asked a range of sleep experts for their advice.

Good temperature regulation is a key factor in getting a good night's sleep. If your body can maintain its ideal temperature all through the night then your sleep is likely to be less disturbed, and you have more chance of waking up in the morning feeling refreshed.

As Sally Bonser, sleep expert at Silentnight says, 'one of the most common sleep disturbances during the summer is overheating'. In fact, a recent study conducted by Woolroom with Mortar Research concluded that one in five Brits named fluctuations in temperature as the main cause of their disrupted sleep.

That's why getting the right tog duvet can make a big difference to your sleep quality. So what is the best tog duvet for summer?

The best summer duvet tog

Greg Potter PhD , Health Coach & Sleep Specialist on behalf of bedding brand The Fine Bedding Company, says 'Tog ratings usually start from 4.5 for lighter, summer duvets, so if you overheat under the sheets, try a duvet with a tog rating less than 5 to help you keep cool'.

James Montgomery-Castle, Junior Buyer for sleep retailer Soak & Sleep agrees, advising us to 'look out for a low summer tog, anything 4.5 tog or below is a great option for warmer nights'.

Karen Innes, New Product Innovation Manager at duvet manufacturer Slumberdown offers another vote in favour of the 4.5 tog summer duvet, saying that a tog of 4.5 or lower 'will keep you insulated without overheating'.

Chris Tattersall, Sleep Expert and MD of sleep brand Woolroom, suggests you might want to consider an even lower summer tog duvet if you sleep warm. In his opinion, 'the best summer duvet tog is typically around 2.5 to 4.5, as it provides the ideal balance of lightness and comfort for warmer nights'.

Chris also reminds us that not all duvet fillings have tog ratings. For instance, as he explains, 'wool duvets don’t use this measurement scale, as when it comes to insulation, applying a single duvet tog rating is counterproductive'. That's because wool does such a good job of regulating temperature. He says 'no matter how warm or cool you are, wool duvets will work to maintain your temperature and keep you sleeping for longer'.

Jessica Hanley, Founder and CEO of bedding specialists Piglet in Bed, agrees. She says that 'whilst wool duvets are not tog-rated, for the purpose of comparison lighterweight versions are equivalent to 4-6 tog'.

Finally, Tandy Avery, VP of Product Development for bed and bath linen retailer LUXHOME, reminds us that the best duvet tog for summer isn't necessarily one-size-fits-all. She cautions that there isn't one summer duvet tog that's best for all sleepers, as the best summer tog for you is going to depend 'on your bedroom temperature as well as your personal preference'.

Our summer duvet recommendations

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've tested multiple duvets for our best duvet guide, and I'd agree with the experts. I think a 4.5 tog duvet is a great summer option.

You can choose whether you prefer to buy a separate low tog summer duvet and a warmer higher tog winter duvet, or whether you opt for an all-season duvet that gives you three options – a low tog duvet for summer, a mid-weight duvet for spring and summer, and the possibility of combining both duvets for a warmer winter option.

I've rounded up three of my top summer duvet recommendations below.

Why is opting for a summer duvet tog important?

Now we know that our bedding experts are unanimously in favour of a 4.5 tog duvet for summer, but, why is it so important to switch out your winter duvet and swap to a summer duvet?

I asked sleep expert Dave Gibson, founder of The Sleep Site, for his understanding of how temperature impacts sleep quality, in particular, what happens if we overheat at night. 'When we overheat during the night we disrupt our body’s natural cooling process and negatively impact our sleep quality', Dave explains.

'As our body temperature gradually drops in the first half of sleep, this initial period is particularly sensitive to overheating'.

'Research indicates that elevated temperatures can interfere with two crucial sleep stages: Deep Sleep and REM Sleep. Deep Sleep is essential for bodily repair and rejuvenation. Overheating can reduce the depth and duration of this stage, hindering the body's restorative processes. REM Sleep is associated with dreaming and memory consolidation. Disruptions caused by overheating can impair cognitive function and emotional regulation'.

'It's important to note that individuals vary in their heat sensitivity' continues Dave. 'The elderly and young babies, whose bodies have difficulty regulating temperature, are especially vulnerable to the negative effects of overheating during sleep'.

Clearly swapping to a summer duvet at the right time can have more impact on our wellbeing than we might have first thought.

Swapping your winter duvet out for a lighter-weight summer option can also be a good time to give your heavier duvet a spring clean – especially as warmer weather means you should be able to air dry it outside. See our guide to how to wash a duvet for some top tips.

You might also want to consider the best way to store your winter duvet. If so, we pinned down the experts to see if storing a duvet in a vacuum storage bag is a good idea or not.

And, if you're wondering when the right time to switch to a summer duvet is, then those in the know advise you might want to make the change when the nighttime temperatures begin to rise to the over 15°C mark.

However, some of us are hotter sleepers than others, so if you're beginning to find that you're waking up in the night too warm for comfort, then it might well be time to source the right duvet tog for summer a little earlier.

As the evenings start to get that bit cooler you may have found yourself wondering when to switch out your lighter summer duvet for a heavier winter one. And you’re not the only one. But when should we be changing them over?

The best duvets help us regulate and maintain our body temperature throughout the night to get a restful night's sleep. But there's nothing worse than feeling too hot or too cold in the middle of the night. This is why having separate duvets for the warmer and chillier weather can help us to sleep better.

To ensure that you don’t bring your winter duvet out too early this year, we asked the experts to give their advice as to when the right time is to switch your duvet, as well as what you should do with your lighter duvet during the colder months.

Which date should you switch to your winter duvet this year?

While it can often be a personal decision as to when to make the changeover from one duvet to another, ‘generally, the recommendation is to switch to a winter duvet when temperatures are consistently at a high of below 15 degrees, and a low of below 10 degrees,’ says Carl Walsh, sleep expert and founder of Bed Guru.

Given how changeable the weather has been this year, it can be hard to predict exactly when it will get considerably cooler this year. But from monitoring the temperature trends for the last two years, ‘a significant temperature drop happened in the second week of October,’ explains James Higgins, CEO of Ethical Bedding.

Brian Dillon, interior expert at Crafted Beds concurs. ‘We tend to notice sales increasing for higher tog duvets around October time, as an industry.’ Most of the experts agree that October could be the best month to switch over from your summer duvet to your winter one. And because of this, the second weekend of the month, which will be Saturday, October 7, is when we’ll be changing to our winter duvet.

However, depending on where you live in the UK and some of the other factors that we’ve mentioned, you could also wait it out until nearer November.

If you never seem to have enough time in the day, ‘the clocks changing is a good reminder that it is time to switch to a higher tog,’ says Silentnight’s sleep expert Sally Bonser. This occurs the last week of October.

While Piglet in Bed’s founder Jessica Hanley notes that they ‘averaged the last five years of data and saw that the best day to change your duvet tog was 16th November. This was the date from which the average temperature dropped below 10C for at least 30 days.’

Why should I switch to a heavier duvet in winter?

If your bedroom happens to get pretty chilly in the colder months, we have a feeling that you will already have invested in a dedicated duvet for winter. But if you haven’t already, here’s why you might want to make the swap sooner rather than later.

‘When winter rolls around, you might want a quilt that more effectively traps your body heat to keep you warmer,’ suggests James Higgins at  Ethical Bedding. ‘Otherwise, you run the risk of suffering from shivering and broken sleep. What’s more, the psychological aspect of feeling snug and warm in bed can have positive effects on your mood and overall sleep experience.’

‘Winter duvets are also a worthwhile investment if you’re trying to save money on your heating. You can keep cosy at night without needing to turn up your heating,’ says Carl Walsh, sleep expert.

However, ‘those who live in higher floor apartments may want to keep a summer tog duvet all year around, as heat rising in their building may keep their home warmer in cold months. Equally, those suffering from hot sweats may not want to swap to a warmer duvet, so it’s important to remember that switching out your duvet is not essential,’ maintains Brian Dillon.

But if you tend to feel the cold during the winter months, which duvet tog is best?

Which tog is best for a winter duvet?

‘A tog rating is an indicator of how well the duvet will insulate heat. The higher the tog the thicker and heavier the duvet, and the better it is at insulating heat,’ says Carl.

While Kelly Collins, Swyft Home’s interior designer reveals that, ‘a duvet tog number is related to its warmth, not its weight, and depends on the duvet’s filling.’

So, you’ll want to consider a quilt that is at the warmer end of the scale during the colder months. ‘A thick duvet with a 13.5+ tog will offer ultimate heat retention during the long and chilly nights,’ affirms James. But ‘if you’re someone who prefers to keep things a little lighter, a winter duvet that’s 10.5 tog should also keep you comfortable.’

Carl concurs with this advice. ‘For winters in the UK, I’d recommend a 13.5 tog duvet; this will provide the extra warmth and insulation you need during the colder months,’ he adds.

How to store your lighter or summer duvet during the winter

When you’re ready to stow your summer duvet away until next year, there are a few considerations that you’ll want to make to ensure that it remains in tip top condition, according to the experts.

‘Many people believe that they should store all linens, including bedding and duvets, in the linen cupboard of their bathroom,’ suggests Rex Isap, CEO and sleep expert at Happy Beds. ‘However, this is the worst thing you can do. The cupboard can get extremely humid, causing mould and/or mildew to grow if left for long periods.’

You also need to be cautious of storing your lighter duvet away in a box or container of some kind. ‘If you’d like to store your bedding in a box of some sort, make sure it’s made of fabric or rattan and that it doesn’t have a lid,’ Rex outlines. Even if your duvet looks and feels completely dry, there will be some moisture within the fabric, ‘which when stored in an airtight container, can also cause mould or mildew.’

Storing your duvet in any form of plastic material can also run the risk of causing yellow stains on your duvet as these types of containers can ‘emit gases that seep into your bedding,’ he concludes. So, ‘avoid plastic bags or containers that can trap moisture and opt for breathable fabric storage bags or natural-material containers instead,’ James asserts.

And while you may be tempted to try vacuum sealing your duvet, Rachel Marshall, Brand Manager at Bensons for Beds warns against this. ‘While it can be tempting to give yourself the extra space they can actually create more problems by encouraging moisture and mildew.’ Having your duvet vacuum packed for a long period of time can also cause your duvet to lose its shape.

You want the container to be cool, dry and well-ventilated, such as these three great options.

You can keep them in a wardrobe to stop any dust from accumulating. Essentially, you’ll want to ‘choose somewhere that is damp and leak free to store the container for extra protection, so it’s ready to go for the summer season,’ says Brian.

And ‘try to keep your duvet in elevated storage and avoid storing on the floor or areas which are more prone to moisture,’ Rachel concludes.

FAQs

One of the Scandinavian sleep hacks circulating TikTok that's definitely caught our eye is the airing duvet outside trend, which it turns out, is an expert-approved method for cleaning your duvet and improving your sleep. 

The best duvets deserve the best care and attention, but we're all guilty of neglecting to clean them. Whether you know how to wash a duvet or not, airing duvet outside could be a fast way to get the same results. And if all that's required of us is to pop our duvet outdoors, then we're game. 

'Scandinavians are known for their healthy approach to sleep and prioritising their wellbeing,' says Rachel Marshall, Brand Manager, Bensons for Beds. 'This latest element of the Scandi sleep hack is no exception. There are multiple health and hygiene benefits to airing your dry duvet outside - even during colder days.'  The Scandi hack of opening your windows before going to bed is just another one of many.

We wanted to find out more about this latest TikTok craze, and to see if it's one that's worth jumping on to.

Airing duvet outside - what the experts think

But before you go and strip your bedding and throw your duvet into the garden, let's find out some of the facts behind why you should air your duvet outdoors. Spoiler: it's definitely worth doing, and the same applies to the best mattress toppers too. 

The benefits of airing duvet outside

So what are the benefits of airing duvet outside? The experts highlighted the points below as reasons why you should definitely consider putting your bedding out in the sunshine.

1. It removes moisture build up

'We all lose about a pint of water every night while we are asleep in bed and this perspiration is trapped in our bedlinen, especially in our duvets,' explains Robert Lancaster-Gaye, Co-Founder, Tielle Love Luxury. 'To allow a duvet to work as intended we need to keep it as dry as possible.'

Ridding our duvet of excess moisture is the primary benefit to airing duvet outside. It's the all natural way to get your duvet clean and prevent the build up of bacteria, which thrives in moist, damp environments. 

Now that you know how much moisture is probably trapped in your bedlinen, we're sure you'll be taking your duvet outside for a breath of fresh air.

2. It banishes unpleasant smells

Following on from the last point, airing duvet outside helps to remove unpleasant and lingering odours. 'Sunlight is a fantastic natural deodorizer that can help to remove unpleasant smells caused by things like sweat and oils,' says Rachel from Bensons for Beds. 

'These smells are released from the body which means you can put down those artificial air fresheners or cleaning chemicals to keep your bedding smelling fresh.'

Even if you can't detect a distinct odour, your duvet could be carrying bacteria from the moisture that it's carrying, which will eventually lead to a nasty smell if it isn't washed. 

Airing the duvet outside is a much easier, quicker and more natural way to clean it than putting it in washing machine - or god forbid, hand washing it, which would take an age to dry. 

3. It helps your duvet refluff itself

Aside from helping your duvet to self clean, putting it outside can revitalise it in other ways. 'The warmth of the sunshine can help to restore the loft of your duvet which helps to give it that fluffy, bouncy feeling that gradually fades over time', Rachel explains.  

Robert from Tielle Love Luxury agrees. 'Reducing moisture helps enable the filling of the duvet to recover its loft and this helps with temperature regulation and comfort – nothing beats a fluffy duvet!'

So airing duvet outside can be an easy way to sleep better, if you're having trouble getting some shuteye. A fluffy, comfy duvet to snuggle up under is definitely better than a lank, flat one. Pop your duvet outside when it's time to switch your winter duvet to a summer one, so you can refluff the duvet after months in the loft.

When to air your duvet outside

So now we've established the benefits of airing duvet outside, it's helpful to know when's the best time to do it. Seeing as this sleep hack is popular in Scandinavia, you can actually air your duvet outdoors year round, when temperatures are warm or cold. 

TikTok user Cecilia Blomdahl lives in Svalbard in Norway, and she actually prefers to airing duvet outside when it's cold. 'If you can do it at least once a week and especially good if it’s outside in the cold weather. It just makes them so fresh and airy and amazing!'

But, there are benefits to popping your duvet outside in warmer weather, according to the experts. 'On a hot sunny day, hanging your duvet outside to warm up in the sunshine will help it smell fantastic, and fully dry the contents of the duvet,' says Robert. 

'Spring is the perfect time to air your duvet outside, as we can often see a build up of humidity - particularly in the bedroom - over the winter,' explains Rachel. 'Airing your duvet now will help to prevent the growth of mildew, mould and allergens just in time for summer.'

So there are benefits to airing out your duvet whether it's cold or warm, and if you do it regularly, you won't have to find out what to do with old duvets any time soon. Just keep it indoors when it's raining, for obvious reasons. 

FAQs

I know I'm not alone when I say that making a bed can singlehandedly take years off of my life when not done correctly – especially when you have to change your duvet cover. After years of frustration and giving up by just sitting on an unmade bed and a naked duvet after laundry day, I might've finally cracked the code for myself.

When it comes to how often you should change your bed sheets, we've long been told that once a week is best practice – but when your schedule is packed, you simply want to change your duvet cover quickly without all the faff. After trying 3 different methods side by side, this is the fastest way I've found that works for me.

How to put a duvet cover on – 3 methods

1. Just stuffing it

This method consists of simply stuffing your duvet inside your duvet cover until it's all in. Yep, that's it. This is the way I used to make my bed when I was a lot younger and it used to send me into cries of helplessness.

After timing myself, it took me 6 minutes to successfully stuff my duvet cover after having to climb inside it just to bring the corners of my duvet to the other end. This method is one that I would steer clear of. Trust me when I say there are more effective methods of putting a duvet cover on.

2. The inside out trick

I learnt this method after watching my Mum make my bed when I was younger and since then adopted it as my go-to. It ended the prior years of stuffing frustration from my former method.

For this one, turn your duvet cover inside out and then shimmy your arms inside to find the two corners of the shorter side. Match those corners with the corners of the short side of your duvet, hold them, and then shake until the bedding covers the duvet. Simply button and then you're done.

This method took me 3 minutes and is one I'll always go back to.

3. The 'burrito roll' method

When I tell you this method blew my mind when I tried it. I didn't even know that this easy way to change a duvet cover existed all my life since I assumed the inside-out trick was enough. I was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong.

I learnt this trick from Lydia Lloyd, homeware textile designer at M&S Home. 'Lay your duvet cover inside out on the bed and place your duvet directly on top. Then roll the bed set cover and your duvet together towards the bottom of the bed and fold the corners of the cover over the rolled bedding. Finally, fasten the buttons of your cover and unroll your bedding, flip the duvet over so it's facing the correct way.'

I tried this method and it only took me just under 2 minutes. I couldn't believe that it worked the way that it did, but this way will definitely be a favourite of mine to keep practising and perfecting.

So after trying 3 different methods of making a bed (specifically putting a duvet cover on), the fastest way is the burrito roll method and the method I'll always avoid is simply stuffing it.

Which method is your go-to for making your bed?

If you’re not sure which tog duvet to buy, you’re not alone. The right duvet can make or break a good night's sleep, but, unfortunately, many of us unintentionally end up investing in the wrong tog duvet and can find ourselves tossing and turning as a result. That’s why we want to take the hassle out of buying a new duvet.

After all, we’ve tried and tested some of the best duvets on the market at Ideal Home so we’re well-versed in how the right duvet can complement the best mattress. However, we also know just how complicated the duvet-buying process can be.

From choosing the best duvet filling to finding the right duvet size for your bed, things get even more difficult when you see just how many duvet tog ratings there are.

But what do these tog numbers mean, and how do you know which tog to opt for? Don’t worry. To help you avoid any duvet-buying mistakes, we’ve spoken to multiple sleep experts to get to the bottom of which tog duvet is best for you and your sleeping habits.

What tog duvet to buy

Before we begin covering what tog duvet to buy, it helps if we understand what a duvet tog rating actually is. As such, I asked multiple sleep and bedding experts to share their knowledge.

What do duvet tog ratings mean?

So, first things first. What is a duvet tog? 'The tog rating is a scale measuring the thermal insulation of a duvet, so the higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet will be,' explains Emily Attwood, founder of luxury feather and down bedding brand scooms.

'A tog is essentially the measure of thermal resistance, or how well the filling is protecting you against external factors, like the cold' agrees Chris Tattersall Managing Director of wool bedding brand Woolroom.

'Duvet togs can start from as little as 1 tog at the coolest end of the scale', explains Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, Amy Lockwood, 'and go up to 15 togs for the warmest duvets. Although I have seen all-season duvets that combine to give 18 togs of warmth in all'.

We've listed the most common duvet tog ratings in the table below:

'When you’re shopping for a duvet, you should look at purchasing a higher tog for the colder months to keep you warm, and a lower tog for the warmer months to help keep you cooler', continues Emily.

Overall, it's important to remember that a duvet tog is about the insulation level of the duvet and has nothing to do with the duvet's thickness (although, naturally, the warmest duvets are also often the thickest).

What tog duvet is best for winter months?

So what's the best tog duvet for the winter months? Well, on top of potentially sizing up your duvet so you have more coverage to tuck around you and keep out any draughts (particularly if you share a bed with a duvet hog!), you'll want a duvet with a higher tog rating in winter.

'We’d always advise a 9 tog to 13.5 tog for the winter months as this is ideal and will keep you warm,' says Emily from scooms. 'If your house is always on the warmer side, then a 9 tog duvet would probably suit you better throughout the winter months, and you wouldn’t want to go any higher. This will prevent you from overheating which can disrupt your sleep.'

'When choosing a winter duvet tog it's also important to consider your own inner thermostat', recommends our Sleep Editor, Amy. 'Experts advise that keeping your bedroom temperature between 16 and 18°c can help you to sleep better, but you'll also want to consider if you're a hot or a cold sleeper when choosing a winter duvet tog.

'I'm a hot sleeper, so I find a 10.5 tog to 13.5 tog duvet best for winter, but colder sleepers may prefer a 13.5 tog to 15 tog option', Amy continues. 'Additionally, you can always choose a more mid-level tog duvet for the winter months and layer on your favourite throws when the temperatures really drop'.

'For sleepers looking to ensure extra warmth for the winter months, the ideal duvet tog for winter is between 13.5 and 15' agrees Chris from Woolroom.

Wondering when you should switch to a winter duvet? Well, obviously you can change as soon as you start to get chilly at night, but the official advice is to do so when nighttime temperatures drop to below 15°C. We've rounded up three of our top-rated winter duvets below.

What tog duvet is best to use in the summer?

Alternatively, which duvet tog is best for summer? While some people eschew duvets altogether in the summer, many of us like the comfort of one, so it's important to find the right tog duvet to offer this without overheating should a heatwave arise.

'We’d advise having a different duvet for summer and winter, so during the warmer months we’d recommend a low tog of 4.5 for your duvet,' suggests Danielle Mason, Head of Product Development, The Fine Bedding Company.

'The best summer duvets will help you to avoid sleeping badly and then waking up feeling sticky and tired,' elaborates Emily from scooms. 'As well as the tog rating, you should check the breathability of the duvet casing and filling. A summer duvet with good breathability will help any moisture from sweat to escape more easily, whilst naturally breathable duvet fillings like goose down, offer up to four times more better air circulation than their synthetic counterparts.'

'Always ensure your summer duvet cover is 100% cotton and not synthetic - this is because cotton is both temperature regulating and wicks away moisture with ease.'

Our Sleep Editor, Amy, agrees. 'I generally recommend a duvet of between 3.5 tog and 7.5 tog for the summer months, depending on how cold of a sleeper you are. And I'd always recommend opting for a wool-filled duvet if you're a hot sleeper who is prone to oversleeping. Wool is naturally breathable and temperature regulating, so a lightweight wool duvet like the 'light' or 'medium' Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet is a great option for summer.

And when should you switch to a summer duvet? Experts recommend swapping out your winter bedding for a lower tog when outside temperatures consistently hit 15°C at night.

What's the best tog duvet to use year round?

Ok, so we've got our colder and warmer months covered, but what if you're looking for one does-it-all duvet? Danielle from The Find Bedding Company suggests opting for a 7 or 10.5 tog duvet depending on your body temperature, but there are other options.

'If you’re looking for a year-round duvet, then opting for an all-seasons combination would be your best choice as it offers the most versatility,' advises Emily from scooms. 'An all-season duvet is a set of two duvets, combining a lower tog duvet (ideal for the warmer months) with a higher tog duvet (ideal for the cooler months) that can be used individually or fastened together for a thicker, winter duvet.'

'Typically, a 4.5 tog duvet is paired with a 9 tog duvet giving you a summer heat duvet and a winter heat duvet, that can be fastened together to make a very toasty 13.5 tog if you need it.'

Alternatively, you can try a different filling and see if that works for you. 'Wool is a wonderful choice for a year-round duvet as it will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter,' offers Sophie from wool bedding brand Floks. 'Wool is a clever fibre which can trap and release heat to react to individual body temperatures.'

How to choose a duvet tog

Here's a quick summary of what to consider before you plump for a duvet tog:

Consider the season and room temperature: Rachael Shah, Head of Sustainability at Linen Connect, says, ‘For summer, a lighter duvet around 3-4.5 tog is ideal, as it provides comfort without excessive warmth. In contrast, for winter, a tog rating of 13.5-15 offers cosy insulation during colder nights.’ But if you don’t want to buy two separate duvets, you could opt for a dual-tog or two-in-one duvet, which allows you to combine two different togs into one duvet.

Think about your warmth preferences: Do you run hot at night? Are you always cold? Everyone has their own warmth preferences when it comes to their duvet, and some people like to be a little chilly, while others want to sweat their way through the night. Because of this, it’s important to consider your warmth preferences before buying a new duvet.

Consider the duvet filling: Your choice of filling can also affect how the duvet feels to sleep under. Duvets made from synthetic fibres, like a polyester hollowfibre or microfibre filling, tend to be the least breathable and can cause overheating if you're a hot sleeper. A good quality feather and down duvet offers good insulation and a little more breathability, and a wool duvet is the most breathable option and the best at allowing your body to regulate its own temperature during the night.

FAQs

What duvet tog should I get?

Ultimately, this is down to your personal preference. But many experts would suggest buying two duvets – a 4.5 tog and a 9.0 tog – to see you through the whole year.

This way, you can use the lighter tog during the summer months and then the thicker tog during the colder months. If you’re still cold during the depths of winter, you can then put the two duvets together to make one cosy 13.5 tog duvet.

Can you go too high with your duvet tog?

If you're a cold sleeper with a less well-insulated home then you might assume it's best to invest in the highest tog duvet possible, but, that isn't necessarily the best course of action.

'You can go too high with a duvet tog' warns Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, Amy, 'especially if the duvet filling lacks breathability, which can be the case with many synthetic duvet fillings'.

'Man-made fibres can feel stifling if you have a duvet that is too high on the tog rating,' agrees Sophie from Floks. 'They will trap your body heat and therefore it can build up to an uncomfortable degree.'

'You actually can get duvet togs up to a rating of 18 tog which will feel incredibly warm and are ideal if you live in a tent in the Arctic!,' says Emily from scooms. 'On a serious note though, the duvet warmth you go for is really down to personal choice. If you feel very cold at night and your sleep is being disturbed, then you should increase the tog rating of your duvet.'

Is a 10.5 tog duvet warm enough for winter?

A 10.5 tog duvet is one of the most popular choices as it can be used most of the year-round in the UK. However, you might find it a little too cold in the depths of winter. Everyone is different, so if you're a hot sleeper and keep your house quite warm this might be a good winter option for you, if you're a cold sleeper or your house is cooler then you might be warmer under a 13.5 tog. Or, you can always add a blanket on top of your 10.5 tog duvet on the coldest nights of the year.

Is a 13.5 tog or 15 tog duvet best for winter?

I asked our duvet-testing expert Amy for her advice on whether a 13.5 tog or 15 tog duvet is best for winter. She says, 'I'm a hot sleeper who tends to keep my bedroom quite cool overnight – it's usually around 16-17°c – and I've always found the 15 tog duvets I've tested too warm for comfort. They're great to get cosy under at the beginning of the night, but a few hours into snoozing I find myself overheating'.

'I always recommend opting for a 13.5 tog duvet for winter instead. Although it does depend on how cold your house is. However, you can always add a blanket over the top of your duvet on particularly cold nights, or invest in one of the best electric blankets on the market to warm up the be from underneath'.

Is a 13.5 tog duvet too warm for summer?

Yes, unless you're an extremely cold sleeper or live in a very cold climate a 13.5 tog duvet is likely to be much too warm for UK summer time. A 13.5 tog duvet is best reserved for cold winter nights.

What tog duvet do hotels use?

If your aim is to make your bedroom feel like a hotel, why not follow in the footsteps of a hotel.

David Stockton, Head of Ecommerce and Marketing at hotel linen supplier Richard Haworth says, ‘Hotels will always opt for synthetic tog duvets to combat any allergies guests might have. Typically, they will opt for a 10.5 tog duvet, as this is perfect for all year round use, and hotels won't want to store different types of duvets where they can help it'.

Hopefully, we’ve provided you with all of the information you need to buy the perfect tog duvet. So, happy shopping!

The best duvet covers can instantly elevate a bedroom. A far easier bedroom update than painting the walls, the duvet cover set you choose can brighten up a room, add personality via a fun print, or create a hotel-worthy boudoir with crisp white linens.

If you've invested in the best duvet for your sleep needs, then choosing the right duvet cover can also be important for practical reasons. If you've opted for a duvet filled with breathable natural materials, then you'll want a breathable cotton, linen, or linen mix duvet cover to go with it.

Or, ease of care and affordability might be high on your agenda, in which case a machine-washable and budget-friendly polycotton duvet cover could be the right choice for you.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the last five years testing the best duvet covers on the market: this is my guide to what and where to shop.

Best duvet covers

What is a good duvet cover brand?

If you're wondering where to stock up on bed linen our guide to where to buy bedding can help. But this is my cheatsheet of brands where you can source a decent duvet cover set whether you're looking for an affordable bedroom update or you want to invest in a luxury bedding set.

Affordable: £-££

• Argos: budget basics and colourful Habitat duvet covers
• Dunelm: affordable bedding sets and duvet covers
• DUSK: luxury bed linen at low prices
• furn.: fun prints and Christmas bed linen
• H&M: on-trend and affordable bed linen

Luxury: ££-£££

• Christy: good quality bed linen
• John Lewis: good quality easy to care for bed linen
• La Redoute: wide range of colourful duvet sets
• M&S: wide range of quality bed linen
• Piglet in Bed: linen and cotton duvet covers
• Soak & Sleep: wide range of quality bedding sets
• The White Company: luxury white bed linen

How to choose a duvet cover

Aside picking from prints, patterns and colours that go with your bedroom aesthetic, choosing a duvet cover can be dictated by a few other factors. These include considering material, ease of care, and of course, price.

Materials

First up, fabric choice. 'It’s important to note that there is no single bedding material better than others,' explains Suzi Samaddar, styling expert at bedding brand furn. 'What may work perfectly for one person might not be right for another, it really depends on a number of factors. Your skin type, general body and bedroom temperature, and how much you sweat will all play a part in what bedding fabric you should choose.'

The three most popular duvet cover materials are cotton, linen, or a polyester or polycotton blend. Each fabric has its own pros and cons, which our bedding experts explain below.

Cotton: 'If popularity is anything to go by, then cotton is definitely in the running for the top spot,' says Suzi. 'It’s used far and wide, from homes to luxury hotel bedrooms aiming to provide a five-star sleep experience. The benefits of cotton bedding are plentiful, from its breathability and moisture-wicking properties to its splendid softness and impressive durability.'

'Cotton percale sheets are light and crisp, while cotton sateen sheets are glossy, smooth, and luxurious. But if you're looking for an even more indulgent sleeping experience, I would suggest upgrading to Egyptian cotton for a truly luxurious sleep.'

Linen: 'Known as one of the finest bedding fabrics there is, linen is celebrated for its lifelong durability, serene softness, and ability to regulate your body temperature year-round,' says Suzi.

'Linen is one of the toughest natural fabrics and only improves with age, becoming softer with each wash,' agrees Rhiannon Masters, head of brand at bedding retailer Piglet in Bed. 'Well-maintained linen sheets can last decades, outliving synthetic alternatives.'

'Linen is also naturally breathable and great at regulating temperature, so it keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Polyester or polycotton: Synthetic duvet covers tend to be made from polyester or 'polycotton', a blend of polyester and cotton. A synthetic duvet cover tends to be the most affordable option, plus polyester bedding is easy to care for as you can usually stick it in the washing machine at a high temperature, it dries quickly, and requires little ironing.

However, polyester is far less breathable than natural materials and could cause you to overheat. 'Natural fibres are far more durable than synthetics, lasting much longer when cared for properly,' adds Rhiannon.

Ease of care

Make sure to check the details to find out how easy your new bedding will be to wash before you buy. The fortnightly change of the sheets is a task in itself, so having to wash them shouldn't be an ordeal either.

Most duvet covers can be machine washed and tumble dried, but it's well worth checking the care instructions to make sure. You don't want to be swayed by a duvet cover that looks good only to find out it's dry clean only when it's on the bed.

Price

What's your budget? If you're hoping to select a bedding set for under £50, there are some great, affordable options to choose from. There are also premium picks at premium prices, if you're willing to spend more.

One thing that's worth checking before you shop is whether the price of the bedding you're looking at is the price of the duvet cover alone, or if it's a duvet cover *set*, which means the pillowcases are also included.

You might want to mix and match your duvet cover and pillowcases anyway, but if you prefer a set that matches, and the pillowcases are sold separately, check the additional cost before you buy. Sometimes retailers will offer a good price on the duvet cover, but adding the pillowcases will seriously bump up the overall cost.

FAQs

How much bigger should a duvet cover be than a duvet?

Whilst I'd generally recommend you size up your duvet compared to your mattress, your duvet cover should usually be the same size as your duvet. That means that a single duvet needs a single duvet cover, a double duvet needs a double duvet cover, and so on.

What fabric should a duvet cover be?

Ultimately, the choice of fabric for your duvet cover comes down to personal preference. Synthetic duvet covers, like polycotton or polyester, are generally the most budget-friendly and the easiest to care for as they wash and dry quickly, but they can cause overheating, lack durability, and aren't the best for the environment.

Natural fibres, such as cotton and linen, tend to be more expensive, but they offer better breathability and a more premium feel.

'Linen looks luxuriously scrunchy, naturally wrinkled and gets softer with every wash – while cotton is a classic, well-rounded fabric that gives you plenty of choice in terms of finish,' shares Suzi from furn.

Is 100% cotton good for a duvet cover?

Is cotton a good option for a duvet cover? 'Absolutely,' says Rhiannon of Piglet in Bed. 'Natural materials like 100% cotton and linen are soft, hypoallergenic, and antibacterial, offering superior comfort compared to synthetic fabrics. They also regulate temperature, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer—perfect for year-round use and better sleep quality.'

'100% cotton is a perfect option for a duvet cover' agrees Ruth Welton from bedding retailer Soak & Sleep. 'It's smooth, soft and breathable qualities make this fibre a luxurious addition to any bedroom.'

What thread count is best for a duvet cover?

'It all depends on the material when it comes to thread count,' says Rhiannon of Piglet in Bed. 'For instance, different variations of 100% cotton can feel quite different. Egyptian cotton is super smooth and luxurious, usually ranging between 300-400 thread count. Percale cotton, on the other hand, has a crisp feel and typically comes in around 180-200 thread count. Seersucker cotton is breathable with a puckered texture, usually around 200 thread count.'

'When it comes to linen, it’s a bit different. Thread count isn’t the best way to measure quality because linen has a looser weave that makes it so breathable. So, you can’t really judge linen by thread count alone.'

Personally, I think opting for a linen fabric, or a cotton with a 200TC is the best thread count for summer bedding, or if you're a hot sleeper, for all year round. Experts generally agree that the best thread count for cotton bedding is between 200-400TC, so you might want to opt for a higher thread count in winter. Or I love the soft and fluffy feel of brushed cotton bedding in the colder months; it's far cosier against your skin on cold nights.

What duvet covers don’t need ironing?

'If ironing duvet covers isn't at the top of your to-do list, it's best to look for a lower thread count or a polycotton mix bedding' shares Ruth. 'Or for bedding that looks beautifully textured and stylish when left un-ironed, opt for a relaxed French linen.'

'For a low-maintenance, high-quality option, choose linen, which has a naturally crumpled texture worth embracing' agrees Rhiannon. 'Or brushed cotton duvet covers don’t require ironing due to their unique weave. Tumble dry on low or give it a good flick as you take it out of the washing machine to air dry to help reduce creases.'