A duvet is an essential piece to making a warm and comfortable bed. But when it comes to the warmer seasons, the duvet becomes a white elephant instead… This is the time to keep the duvet in the “off-season drawer”. However, some of you smart folks may be thinking – Can we still use the duvet cover by itself? As an alternative to blankets?
So, are duvet covers really that bad by themselves? Should we switch to a using “legit” blanket? Are there other alternative uses for the duvet cover? Read on to find out!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 Duvet Cover As Blanket |
 Alternatives |
 The End |
DUVET COVER AS BLANKET & BEDSHEET
Using a duvet cover as a blanket or even bedsheet – Is that a good or bad idea? Let us explore that.
ARE DUVET COVERS GOOD BLANKET ALTERNATIVES?
COMFORT & USAGE
First off, most blankets are definitely thicker than duvet covers. After all, blankets are meant to keep warmth and be comfortable. While the whole idea of duvet covers is to protect the duvet from stains, dust, and dirt; It is not to provide comfort by themselves… So when it comes to comfort level, blankets definitely win. Hands down.
But that does not mean duvet covers are bad as a “standalone”. In the warmer regions or seasons, the thin duvet cover can actually be a good alternative for blankets – A thin silk duvet cover can actually help with the air circulation, helps to cool down faster, and not make your sleep feel like a hot and sweaty one.
MAINTENENCE
When it comes to washing and drying, both the duvet cover and blanket can be cleaned pretty easily. Both of them can be machine washed and put inside in a dryer. But one small plus I will give to the thinner duvet cover is that it can be folded easily. For you lazy folks, that means not having to spend a lot of time to keep it.
ARE DUVET COVERS GOOD BEDSHEET ALTERNATIVES?
COMFORT & USAGE
It may sound crazy, but using duvet covers as a bedsheet alternative is actually a pretty good idea. Think about it. Bedsheets are used to protect the mattress, duvet covers are also used to protect the duvet… So why not? Both of them serve the same purpose, and duvet covers can be a good alternative in a pinch.
MAINTENENCE
The only issue is that duvet covers are not made to fit on mattresses (Captain Obvious). The duvet cover will probably slip off on its own fairly often, which means you will need to readjust the duvet cover every time you wake up from your sleep… This can be a daily chore and quite a serious pain.
OTHER ALTERNATIVES
If using the duvet cover as a blanket or bedsheet sounds too funky for you, then there are other alternatives. Yep. Keep the duvet, and here are some more ideas.
SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DUVET
Just like blankets, there are duvets that are made for the cold winters, and there are also those that are made for warm summers. In general, duvets are rated by tog, otherwise known as “thermal resistance”. The higher the tog value, the warmer the duvet is. From Wikipedia:
- Lightweight summer duvet: 3.0 – 4.5 tog
- Spring/Autumn weight duvet: 7.5 – 10.5 tog
- Winter weight duvet: 12.0 – 13.5 tog
Yep. When it comes to the warm climates, just switch to one of these “summer duvets”. They are lighter, breathable, and will make your sleep a better one.
USE A DUVET WITH DIFFERENT MATERIAL
Apart from the “weight” of the duvet, the material of the duvet also matters.
| Material | Description |
| Cotton | One of the most commonly used, affordable materials in duvets. Soft and comfortable to sleep with, but it has some moisture retention issues. Remember to air it out frequently, or mold will start growing. |
| Silk | Woohoo! Soft, smooth, breathable, and elegant. Silk is great for humid conditions as it airs out quickly, but the price is not so great… They are often quite expensive, and difficult to clean; Silk is delicate and very easy to damage. |
| Flannel | A combination of both wool and cotton. As you can guess, the flannel is warm and fluffy… But too warm for hot climates, and not recommended. It has the same moisture retention problem and needs to be aired out once in a while. |
| Polyester | Polyester is a synthetic “rubbery” material. Super low maintenance – It does not wrinkle, stretches, tear-resistant, does not absorb a lot of water. The downside – It is not really breathable and can get a little irritating. |
SLEEP ON TOP OF THE DUVET
Finally, if you don’t feel like putting the duvet away, then try sleeping on top of it instead. It literally just means:
- Using the duvet as an alternative mattress pad.
- Turning the duvet cover into a bedsheet.
Yep. There are no rules against this… Just a little “creativity” in “alternate usage”.
THE END
Thank you for reading, and we have come to the end of this guide. Duvet cover as a blanket, duvet cover as a bedsheet, or duvet as the mattress pad – Who says we can’t? Just do whatever is the most comfortable for you. We hope this guide has been useful to you, have better nights of sleep and stay healthy!
