Buy a Down Comforter
A down comforter can bring warmth and a bit of luxury to nearly any bedroom. With a design for nearly every climate and sleeper, down comforters can provide all-over warmth that a simple quilt or other cover can't. There are several things to consider when purchasing a down comforter, such as thread count, baffling and fill power. Here are some tips to utilize if you intend to buy a down comforter for your home.
Steps
- Look for information about the down percentage in a comforter. A comforter that is pure down may be labeled as such or indicated by the phrase "all down" or "100-percent down." It's important to know the percentage of down in a comforter because it directly affects the warmth, durability and comfort of the product. Comforters that are not 100-percent down are filled with other ingredients, such as plain feathers. Products labeled as "goose down" are only legally required to contain a minimum of 90% real feathers, while products simply labeled "down" may contain less.
- Determine the weight of comforter you want to buy. Comforters are compared by fill power. Fill power is simply how much space 1 ounce of down takes up within the comforter. A comforter with a higher rating will be warmer than one with a lower rating. Comforters are often placed into categories for easier comparison. Common categories include light, medium and heavy. Typically, a medium-weight comforter is a good choice for most parts of the world. However, if you live in an extremely cold or warm climate, you may wish to choose a different weight.
- Select a thread count for your comforter. Thread count refers to the density of threads sewn into the comforter per square inch. A higher thread count increases the breathability of the comforter and makes the surface feel smoother (and more luxurious). However, thread count may not be as important to you if you use a duvet cover over your comforter. A duvet cover protects your comforter and also provides an array of decorating and style options.
- Check for baffle information. Each down comforter should have some way of separating the pockets of down. Baffles are strips of fabric that separate the pockets and allow the down to expand and loft. Baffles also prevent the down from bunching and lumping up, keeping it uniformly distributed throughout the comforter. Less expensive comforters feature sewn separations to keep the down in place.
- Consider a down alternative comforter if you suffer from allergies. Down alternative comforters are hypo-allergenic and are hard to distinguish from authentic down comforters. They usually provide the same level of warmth and comfort, often at a cheaper price. Look for the same features as you would in a down comforter: the warmth level, threat count and baffling. Cover your alternative down comforter with a duvet cover, just as you would a traditional down comforter.
Tips
- Know the bed size for which you are purchasing the comforter. Most bed sizes are twin, double, queen, king and California king.
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