Your bed setup could always use an upgrade. While the first couple things you'd probably get are the mattress and the bed sheets, there are a few more things worth splurging on for a better night's sleep. The first thing is the comforter and then comes the duvet cover. Duvet covers play double duty. They act as a protective covering for your comforter and they're an easy way to add a little extra style to your bed. Like sheets, duvet covers come in a variety of styles, materials and colors, so the best duvet cover for you will be a personal experience. But we think these eight duvet covers are the best for practically everyone.
Everything you considered about the material for your bed sheets should be applied to your duvet cover. Cotton will be the most common duvet material, and if you go that route, you'll be stuck debating between percale — which feels crisp and cool — and sateen — which feels buttery smooth. Then there's linen, which is breathable, but requires some breaking in (i.e. a couple cycles in the washer and dryer) and costs a little more than its cotton counterparts.
Internal Corner Ties
Few things are more uncomfortable than a comforter that gets bunched up to one side within a duvet cover. To combat this, brands will add corner ties inside the duvet cover to secure the comforter inside so it doesn't shift around. Given that, make sure you buy a comforter that actually has loops for those internal corner ties to secure to.
Closure
Now that your comforter is securely inside your duvet cover, you have to seal that thing in. Duvet covers typically use a button enclosure, though some may opt for a zipper. Either way, you'll want to make sure the buttons aren't too obtrusive (unless you're into that look) and ideally, they shouldn't come undone easily.
As a brand, Brooklinen makes exceptional bedding, so it's no surprise that its duvet cover is a winner. It's made from long-staple cotton and clocks in with a 270 thread count. Out of the package, the duvet cover was a little crispier than I expected, and even after the first wash, it was still on the rough side. I thought it'd require more washes before it'd break in, but I guess I was a rough enough sleeper that the duvet cover naturally broke in just from sleeping with it.
I have the vertical striped duvet cover from Brooklinen, so it's easy to tell top from bottom, but for those who go for a single-color duvet cover, the inside has tags to help you distinguish top from bottom. And being from Brooklinen, the duvet cover is available in beautiful colors as well as limited-edition prints.
Coyuchi's most popular duvet cover is just that for good reason — it's a really great duvet cover. The Crinkled Percale required less breaking in than the Brooklinen duvet cover as it pre-washed (hence its slightly crinkled look). Because it is percale, it's breathable and comfortable, and our California-based tester found that it didn't make her get hot at night. The organic cotton is grown in and woven responsibly in India, and the brand takes part in 1% for the Planet, which means one percent of annual sales goes towards causes that help the environment.
Best Budget Duvet Cover
The Company Store Company Cotton Percale Duvet Cover
While this isn't the cheapest duvet cover you can buy, it's probably the least you'll want to invest into something you'll spend tucked underneath every night. The Company Cotton duvet cover is combed for superior softness, and it has a 300 thread count, which is actually higher than the thread count on our top pick. Add its Oeko-Tek certification, which designates it as harmful substance-free, and you have yourself a damn good duvet cover.
Linen might get the reputation for being a cool (in more ways than one) fabric, but percale manages to keep you cool at night while being slightly cheaper. Parachute's percale duvet cover provides that lightweight relief you want when you just need to cover yourself at night despite it being hot as hell. The duvet cover comes in a range of attractive colorways, which have a worn-in and washed-out look.
The textured Cozy Slub Duvet Cover from Urban Outfitters has a nice feel and look for a decent price. Its interior corner ties keep comforters secure, and it's also double-sided, so you can easily switch up its look. Our tester was a huge fan of the texture of the duvet cover, but she found that it didn't hold up against her dog's roughhousing, which caused some snags.
The weave makes the duvet cover incredibly light, so it's good for those who need a breathable duvet cover but don't want to splurge on linen or another cooling, lightweight material.
Cooling and lightweight, yet keeps you warm when it's cold
Soft straight out of the package; super soft after its first wash and dry
Comes in over a dozen colors
Expensive
Only comes in queen or king sizes
We love Cultiver's linen sheets so it makes sense that its linen duvet cover has all of the same positive qualities. Like all linen products, the duvet cover does well after a go in the washer and dryer, but it's noticeably softer than cheaper options straight out of the package. The duvet cover, which is Oeko-Tex certified, keeps sleepers cool, yet still helps them stay warm when it gets chilly. If you already have the Cultiver linen sheets, it only makes sense to pair them with the complementary duvet cover.
Tencel has a unique slickness to it that might take some getting used to
A lot of people consider themself a hot sleeper or someone who tends to get hot during the night. If that's an issue for you, Sijo's AiryWeight Eucalyptus Duvet Cover could help you get through the night without waking up in a puddle of sweat. Made of Tencel, which is derived from eucalyptus and is an incredibly sustainable material, the duvet cover is crisp and cool, with a natural moisture-wicking ability.
Best Patterned Duvet Cover
Crate and Barrel x Leanne Ford Jackie Reversible Stripe Linen Duvet Cover
While your bed sheets might be boring, your duvet cover can offer some self expression in the bedding department. For something eye-catching without being gaudy, this Crate & Barrel duvet — made in collaboration with designer Leanne Ford — offers an excellent look and comfort appeal. The linen duvet cover is double sided; one side has a grey-and-white stripe pattern while the other features a thick grey stripe down an off-white background. Get the matching pillowcases for a put-together bedroom situation.
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Brooklinen
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Tyler ChinTyler Chin is Gear Patrol’s Associate Staff Writer.
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