Creating the perfect sleep experience with your Thomas Lee Sheets can feel like a luxury vacation. You’ve curated a bed with the most comfortable cotton sheets and the fluffiest pillows, ready to welcome you to the best sleep possible. But then you get to the top layer, and you’re left puzzled. What is the difference between a comforter and a duvet, and which one is right for me?

“This is one of the top questions we receive,” says Elizabeth Zook, CEO of Thomas Lee Sheets. “Some people wonder if they can use the duvet cover by itself or if they need to have a comforter as well.”

Here at Thomas Lee Sheets, we break it all down for you so you can craft a bed that’s so inviting and comfortable that we apologize in advance for the number of times you’ll reach for the snooze button.

What is the difference between a comforter cover and a duvet cover?

To make it simple, the word duvet comes from the French word for down, and in the United States, we generally refer to duvets as comforters. So basically, you can translate a “duvet cover” into a “comforter cover.”

A comforter is bedding that can be filled with down, feathers, wool, or silk and laid on top of your sheets. At Thomas Lee Sheets, we offer a variety of comforters that are filled with white down, Hungarian goose down, down alternative, and natural silk. They can be used with or without a duvet cover.

The duvet cover is essentially a pillowcase for your comforter or duvet. It keeps your comforter clean, and is also easy to throw in the laundry if you need to quickly refresh your bed. Our duvet covers add a touch of luxury and softness to any bedroom.

Can you use a duvet cover by itself?

A duvet cover is not typically used by itself. If you don’t insert a comforter into the duvet cover, you’re left with a double-layer flat sheet with buttons on the bottom. Alone, a duvet cover won’t create that soft and fluffy bed that’s so inviting when creating your perfect escape for a comfy night’s sleep.

 What’s the best way to put a duvet cover on?

Putting on a duvet cover can get a little frustrating, especially when you’re attempting it alone! There are several ways to approach it, but here’s our suggested method:

• Lay your duvet cover inside out on the bed.
• Stretch your comforter out on top of the duvet cover.
• Start at the end that doesn’t have a button or a zipper, rolling the two together. 
• Once you’ve rolled to the opposite end, reach into the duvet cover, grab the end, and pull them through.
• Then pull the rest of the duvet cover through and start unrolling.
• Button or zipper the closure, give it a little fluff, and you’re done!

Another advantage to having a duvet cover is that it allows you to change the look of your bed on a whim. Want to feel tropical in the summer? Add a duvet cover with blue or yellow patterns. Like a holiday motif when the weather turns wintry? Incorporate your favorite cold-weather colors, or go for a beautiful, pure white. 

As you create your ideal bedding oasis, remember that our duvet covers are made with 100% US-grown Supima cotton and add a touch of luxury and softness to any bedroom. If you would like to feel the difference for yourself, you can always request a free swatch, and as with any Thomas Lee purchase, we’re confident you’ll love it. So, whether you say comforter cover or duvet cover, we know you’ll sleep well.