How Do You Find the Down Comforter That Is “ Just Right” ?
In “
To Start on Your Heavenly Bed: A Buying Guide for Down Comforters” we discussed some of the technical points to consider when you’ re in the market for a down comforter. Although being aware of comforter construction and areas such as fill power and thread count are good to know when you’ re looking for a down comforter, there are also personal factors you should consider when searching for a down comforter that is right for you.
Here are a few things to keep in mind on your way to a blissful slumber.
Determine Your Budget and Choose the Quality You Want
Some of the most expensive down blankets and comforters are made of pure, white, hypoallergenic goose down or eiderdown. If you're on a limited budget, you might find a down blanket with a lower grade of down, with less down, or with a combination of down and feathers at an affordable price.
Size Does Matter - Measure Your Bed
This may seem obvious, but because it seems obvious, it may be something you overlook. Don't assume that you'll find a down comforter that fits your bed perfectly. Take careful measurements and look for the blanket that will most closely match your bed.
Most of the time standard sizing should work just fine, but measure your bed just to make sure. If you have a Queen bed, make sure that if you see a comforter that says "full/queen" that it will fit your bed. Similarly, if you have a California King bed, a "king" comforter may not be long enough.
Keep in mind that you'll want some of the comforter or blanket to drop down the sides of the bed, so don't buy one that is too small.
How Much Fill Power Do I Need?
The higher the fill power, the larger and stronger the clusters of down. Large clusters provide superior insulation, breathe better and last much longer than smaller, fragile down clusters." Also, higher fill power comforters are warmer. Because the down takes up more space, it is able to trap more warmth. There's no point in buying more than you need, but you don't want too little either.
A fill power of 600 to 700 will keep people who love to sleep warm happy, but might roast someone who always kicks the covers off in the night. For them, a fill power of 400 to 500 should do the trick. Good comforters generally are around 550 to 575 fill power.
What if I want to buy a comforter with higher quality down but without the extra warmth?
Look for the amount of ounces of down inside the comforter. Some comforters with higher fill powers may have less down than a lower fill power comforter. This is to keep the comforter from becoming too warm.
In cases like these the 80-20 rule is a good rule of thumb. We recommend looking for a comforter with at least 80% white duck down and 20% white duck feathers.
Keep in mind that advertisers are allowed to call a product 'down' even if they bulk up the product with up to 30% feathers. This is easy to spot, though if you squeeze a handful of a down comforter you shouldn't feel any hard, sharp pokes from quills.
Now that you’ ve decided on the perfect down comforter, be sure to protect your new comforter by purchasing a cover for it. These covers are commonly known as
duvets and come in many patterns and colors that you can choose from to match your bedroom decor while at the same time ensuring the longevity of your down comforter.
