Which duvet cover material is the best?
- , through Inge | Bath&Living
- 9 min read
You are looking for a new duvet cover but first want to know which duvet cover material suits your sleeping needs. Which duvet cover fabric can you even choose? There are so many different fabrics, each with its own unique properties. You can't see the wood for the trees. duvet covers landscape. Fortunately, we can list everything for you so that you can determine which duvet cover material is best for you.
Which duvet cover fabric can you choose?
Let's start with the distinction between synthetic and natural fabrics. You can choose a synthetic fabric (such as a polyester or microfiber duvet cover) if you are looking for low purchase costs. Additionally, synthetic fabrics are easy to wash and often wrinkle-free. However, a synthetic fabric will feel damp more quickly because it breathes less well and absorbs less moisture.
Therefore, natural fabrics are more frequently used to make duvet covers, including in our range. At Bath&At Living, you will find only cotton duvet covers or other natural materials such as linen, hemp, and Tencel. All duvet covers in our assortment come from Vandyck. This Dutch brand uses only high-quality materials for the best sleeping comfort.
Cotton cover
Cotton It is the most widely used material for duvet covers for good reason. Cotton fibers possess fine properties that contribute to an optimal sleeping experience. Because cotton absorbs moisture exceptionally well and breathes well, it helps regulate your body temperature throughout the night. So whether you tend to get hot or cold easily, cotton is an ideal option for your duvet cover.
However, not all cotton duvet covers are created equal. For instance, the length and strength of the cotton fibers depend on where the cotton plant grows. The longer and stronger the fiber, the thinner the yarn that can be made, resulting in a softer fabric. The weaving and processing method also influences how the type of cotton feels and looks. Below, you can see the difference between regular cotton (the cream cover) and cotton satin (the light green covers). The satin weave gives the fabric a subtle sheen, whereas regular cotton looks somewhat duller and more robust.
Besides normal cotton, as with the Washed Cotton In addition to the series, Vandyck also uses percale cotton in the more luxurious Pure and Purity series. This is also written as percale or perkal cotton. For these more luxurious cotton duvet covers, high-quality yarn is used that is woven in such a way that the threads lie closer together. This results in a minimum thread count of 200, which indicates the quality of the fabric. Percale cotton feels cooler against the skin than, for example, satin or flannel, which is why many people prefer percale cotton during high temperatures in the summer.
Cotton satin duvet cover
Duvet covers of satin you see this reflected frequently in our assortment. Not only in the Vandyck Pure and Purity series, but also in the Satin Printed series. New designs of the Satin Printed duvet covers are released every spring and autumn, making Vandyck a leading brand in bedding. The weaving method creates a beautiful sheen in cotton satin, allowing the various prints and colors to stand out beautifully. The photo below clearly shows the difference between the subtle sheen on the Satin Printed duvet cover and the matte look of the light pink Washed Cotton cover underneath.
The name satin suggests a shiny fabric with a luxurious appearance. But these are not the only fine qualities of cotton satin. In satin, the threads are woven very tightly together, resulting in a soft fabric. This feels soft against the skin, making it delightful to sleep under. Additionally, satin is a smooth fabric that is gentle on your hair, which helps limit hair breakage.
Due to the weaving method, cotton satin is just slightly less breathable than cotton percale or regular cotton. Although it certainly feels cooler than flannel, this is something to keep in mind if you tend to get hot in your sleep.
Mixed cotton
In addition to cotton, there are other natural materials that are wonderful to use for bedding fabric. Blended cotton is created by mixing other materials with cotton. This results in a duvet cover with not only the pleasant properties of cotton, but also other qualities.
Cotton with hemp
Take, for example hemp. Because the hemp fiber is long and strong, it is a sustainable material that lasts a long time. Hemp is used to create a soft fabric that becomes even softer with use. The natural creasing of hemp creates a linen look with a rugged appearance. You can see this in the photo above; the brown and black duvet covers are both made of a cotton and hemp blend. The combination of cotton and hemp results in a fabric that is breathable and cooling, making it perfect for summer or if you tend to get hot easily.
Cotton with Tencel
Speaking of high temperatures: in addition, is Tencel also ideal. Tencel is made from wood pulp from the eucalyptus tree. As a result, textiles made with Tencel literally feel cooler than other textiles. You can find Tencel in several duvet covers in our range, but there is also a duvet made with Tencel and handy mattress and pillow protectors.
Linen duvet cover
A linen The duvet cover has a distinctive look due to its natural creases. Linen not only looks stylish and beautiful but also possesses hypoallergenic and antibacterial qualities. Furthermore, just like cotton, it is breathable, insulating, and moisture-absorbing without feeling clammy. Fabric made from linen is sturdy and long-lasting. However, the trade-off is that it feels slightly rougher against the skin. Therefore, it is often either blended with cotton or only the top side of the cover is made of linen. This is also the case with the Vandyck Pure 07 duvet covers in our collection. These have the look and qualities of linen because the top side is 100% linen, yet you enjoy soft cotton satin against your skin. The pillowcase is also made of satin, with a decorative linen border, as shown in the photo above.
Cotton flannel duvet cover
You will also find lovely duvet covers in our assortment for those who really feel the cold. If you are looking for a duvet cover that is nice and warm in the winter, then you have come to the right place with flannel. Flannel is made from cotton that is brushed after weaving. This creates a wonderfully soft textile with a cozy and luxurious appearance. The typically soft look of flannel appears somewhat woolly, making it ideal for the colder months, not only in terms of warmth but also in appearance. Because flannel is made of cotton, it is equally breathable and moisture-absorbent without becoming clammy.
Non-iron materials: what are your options?
If you are looking for a wrinkle-free duvet cover, we recommend the cotton satin covers. If you take them out of the drum immediately after the washing machine is finished and hang them up neatly, you won't need to iron them before making your bed. This is one of the advantages of the fine, smooth fabric.
In the photo above, you can see covers made of different fabrics, with a clear difference in the degree of creasing. The top duvet cover made of cotton (with print) creases by far the least. The bottom duvet cover made of linen (blue) shows the highest degree of natural creasing. And the middle duvet cover made of cotton (pink) falls somewhere in between.
Our favorites
To conclude, we list our favorite materials, along with their characteristics.
| Material | Softness | Ventilation | Moisture absorption | Feature |
| Cotton | Soft | Excellent | Excellent | Matte look |
| Percale cotton | Soft | Excellent | Excellent | Crisp fresh |
| Cotton satin | Very soft | Very good | Excellent | Smooth and slight sheen |
| Cotton flannel | Very soft | Very good | Excellent | Woolly and cozy |
| Linen | Supple | Excellent | Very good | Natural crease |
| Hemp | Supple | Excellent | Excellent | Natural crease |
| Tencel | Soft | Excellent | Excellent | Cooling |