Using a Comforter as a Duvet Insert – Step-by-Step Guide

It’s a common question that tosses around now and then. But a comforter is ready to use as you buy it and bring it home. You don’t have to go for a duvet insert or cover.

You can keep your comforter clean in the long run. Using it as a duvet insert will let you keep dirt or filth off it.

Let’s get into the details of this matter a little further, so read on!

Difference Between a Duvet and a Comforter

The primary difference between a comforter and a duvet is that a comforter is a single piece of bedding. On the other hand, a duvet features two separate pieces, including an insert and a cover.

Mostly a comforter is quilted with the fill and is evenly distributed. Whereas a duvet comes with an insert that functions as a fill. In simple words, a duvet cover is just like a pillow within a pillowcase.

This will enable you to protect your comforter from filth over time. Hence, you can use your comforter as an insert for your duvet. But the same things can’t be said for the duvet. You can use a comforter as your divert insert, but that is not mandatory.

Another significant difference between these two is their size. Duvets do look much fluffier, but comforters are mostly bigger than duvets. They tend to hang over the sides of your bed. You will always notice that comforts tend to be a few inches bigger than duvets.

How Can a Duvet Cover Work with a Comforter?

It will not be that difficult if you want to use your duvet cover on your comforter. You only have to slide your comforter into the duvet cover and button it up.

Doing this will enable you to keep it safe from dirt or spills. While buttoning it up will prevent it from sliding out from time to time as you use it.

You will get to wash the cover once or twice a week along with your laundry, and that’s it. Your comforter will remain clean for longer. Using this cover, you won’t need a top sheet. This makes sleeping in your bed much simpler than making the bed in the morning.

A comforter doesn’t have much fill in it compared to a duvet. Therefore, it might not come in handy during those extremely cooler nights. These comforters come with a design that is directly printed on the surface. So, you don’t have any way to alter this.

But a more cost-effective way is to go for a stylish duvet cover, and you can change it according to your needs and preferences from time to time. These covers are much easier to store because they don’t take up much space in your cupboard.

How Do You Put a Comforter in a Duvet Cover?

Putting a comforter into a duvet cover might seem an irksome task. And if you think there’s got to be a better way of doing this, then we are here to help you. There are two simple ways of putting a comforter into a duvet cover.

Conventional technique

One is the traditional technique that most people follow; just put the cover onto the comforter. But there is a way of doing it.

• Lay your duvet over the bed, with the part that goes inside the cover on your bed.
• Now be sure to keep your cover inside out, lay it over the comforter, and keep the opening right at the bottom of your bed.
• Some duvet covers come with corner ties to keep the comfort or duvet in place. Now, tie the top corner ties of the cover to loop those top corners of the duvet. You will have to tie the ties around each corner if there are no loops.
• From the bottom, work your hands into the cover towards the top corner. And pair each corner with the duvet’s corner. After that, flip the cover’s right side out over the top corners.
• Now, all you have to do is slide down the cover over the rest of your duvet. But keep the duvet cover in place as you are doing it. And close the cover at the base of your bed.
• For fluffing the duvet, you can shake the entire thing by holding it from the corners or edges.

Burrito method

The second method to do this is the Burrito technique. This might seem a bit mystical initially, but it is the easiest method to get the cover on your comforter.

• Lay the duvet cover on your bed and keep it inside out with the opening towards the base of the bed.
• After that, lay the comforter over the cover and tie it to the cover if you have ties and loops. If there are no ties or loops, tie each corner of the comforter with the duvet cover.
• Now, roll up the comforter and the duvet cover, starting from the top and towards the bottom of your bed.
• As soon as you get to the bottom, take that opening of the cover and pull out and around the roll, and fasten the buttons to create the burrito.
• Now, unroll the duvet and inch the matching closure along with the bottom edge. Along the way, keep on gently pulling the roll apart. Keep scratching and shaking along the way as well. Just shake it in and fluff it out to smoothen it, and you are done.

Which is Better: A Duvet or a Comforter?

Both duvets and comforters come in handy in different ways. Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of each.

Pros & cons of duvets

Pros

• Making the bed becomes much easier.
• Simple to clean and maintain.
• Very versatile as you get to change the design and looks.
• Pretty simple to replace covers.

Cons

• The filling can clump.
• Assembly can be challenging.

Pros & cons of comforters

Pros

• Ready to use as you buy it.
• Comes with a layered look.
• Does have matching bed sets.
• Inbuilt and evenly distributed filling.

Cons

• Not for hot sleepers.
• Much more difficult to clean.

Should My Duvet Insert be the Same Size as the Cover?

Yes, your duvet insert needs to be the same size as your cover. Stuffing in an oversized comforter will cause the fill to be lumpy and uneven, and it won’t look smooth on your bed.

So, making your bed will become a big issue as it won’t look nice and smooth. Therefore, make sure to go for a duvet insert the same size as the cover to make things much simpler and tidier.

Does Duvet Insert Matter?

Yes, because duvet inserts are made of different materials. Sums are fluffier than others (check 6 top rated fluffy duvet inserts), while others are lumpier. Down tends to be much more fluffy, lighter, and breathable than other synthetic materials.

Can I use a comforter as a duvet insert if it’s a different size?

You can use a comforter as a duvet insert even if it’s a different size, but it may not fit perfectly. The comforter should be close to the same dimensions as the duvet cover. If the comforter is much smaller, it will shift around inside the cover and become lumpy. If it’s larger, it may not fit entirely inside the cover. For best results, use a comforter that is the same or very similar size as the duvet cover.

What kind of comforter is best to use as a duvet insert?

The best type of comforter to use as a duvet insert is one that is lightweight and provides good warmth without excessive bulk. Down and down-alternative comforters are ideal because they are fluffy but compressible. Heavyweight and very thick comforters may be too bulky. Also look for a comforter with baffle boxes to keep the filling evenly distributed.

Should I get a duvet cover 1 size larger than my comforter?

It’s generally recommended to get a duvet cover that is the same size as your comforter you plan to use as the insert. Getting a cover that is 1 size larger may allow the insert to shift around too much inside the cover. However, if your comforter is on the thinner side, going up 1 size in the cover can help create a fluffier look when making the bed.

Conclusion

You can use your comforter as your duvet insert. You will be able to keep it clean for longer and can change the looks of your bed much more comfortable this way. It just makes things much simpler, and a comforter is much more versatile than it is.