Ultimate Bedding Jargon Buster

If you often find yourself wondering What’s a tog? or What is Goose Down? when shopping for bedding, then we don’t blame you! When it comes to bedding there’s a ton of terms and jargon that can be hard to get your head around. So, in order to help you make the right purchasing decision when it comes to your bedding, we’ve pulled together this Ultimate Bedding Jargon Buster to get you in the know. So knuckle down, and let’s bust some bedding lingo.

Comforter

Sure, it’s something that makes you feel more comfortable right? Right? Well, you’re not entirely wrong. A Comforter refers to a thick bedding topper filled with down or a synthetic substitute such as polyester. Think of it like a halfway point between a duvet and a blanket. Comforters aren’t usually decorated, so expect this to do exactly what it says on the tin; add comfort rather than aesthetic appeal. Comforters can often be quilted in order to have an evenly distributed filling which is part of the reason why they often get confused as Quilts. The best way to think about it is that comforters are really only used as bed covers.

Quilt

A quilt is really a description of a specific type of bedding that is made with three layers, a top, inner batting (usually wool or down) and the bottom. The layers are then stitched together in columns and rows to create a familiar pocket style (or quilted) look. This helps to keep the inner batting evenly dispersed compared with non quilted duvets that can form spaces empty of filling.

But what actually is a Quilt? Quilts are thinner than comforters and are usually used for bed dressing rather than any practical reason. One way to consider it is if a comforter is half blanket - half duvet then a quilt is three quarters blanket.

Duvet

Most of us will be familiar with the duvet, which actually encompasses two parts; the duvet itself and the duvet cover. If you’re unsure, duvets are usually thicker than a comforter, aren't often quilted, and are usually plain white with the intent of it being kept in a duvet cover.

Duvet covers come in a vast range of colours, patterns and designs so that you can really express yourself, with the additional benefit of keeping the duvet clean and protected.

Bedspreads

Bedspreads are also often confused for quilts. Bedspreads are decorative cloth that cover an entire bed right down to the floor on all sides and sometimes cover the pillows too. They often have elaborate finishes or a fringe along the bottom edges.

While bedspreads are mostly out of fashion these days, they can still be found in a few ‘off the beaten track’ hotels.

Mattress Pads

One of the biggest questions we hear is, What’s the difference between a Mattress Pad and a Mattress Topper? Well, while they are very similar, they should be used for different things.

Mattress Pads are usually 1-2 inches thick and are placed on top of a mattress in order to subtly alter the feel of the mattress and protect the mattress from stains and liquids. Usually a thin layer of padding to help your mattress feel slightly softer but mainly they’re used to help protect your mattress from accidental spills and stains.

Mattress Toppers

Mattress toppers are thicker than mattress pads and serve as an extension to the mattress to alter the feel of your bed. Mattress toppers are great at giving an old mattress a new lease of life if your current mattress is a bit worn. Mattress toppers are also great for mattresses that are too firm. Instead of buying a whole new mattress, a good mattress topper can help to provide a nice extra layer that makes your mattress softer (or firmer) to your liking.

Fillings for mattress toppers can include memory foam, feather or down or synthetic alternatives as a budget option. Almost all mattress toppers are quilted in some form to keep the filling even dispersed and offer maximum comfort.

Tog Rating

What is a Tog? When it comes to duvets, you want to ensure that you’re getting the right thickness to suit you. The way that we measure how much a duvet insulates heat is by the tog rating. The higher the tog rating, the warmer (and usually thicker) the duvet will be.

But surely I can just look at the thickness of the duvet to see how warm it will be? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Depending on the insulation used inside of the duvet, a thicker duvet might not necessarily be warmer. Some synthetic materials for example can be heavier than natural fibers like down and so be much thicker but provide a similar level of insulation.

Our own duvets are made using hollowfibre fillings which are much better for people who suffer with allergies. For those warmer nights in summer, we’d recommend a 4.5 Tog Duvet, with a 10.5 Tog Duvet for use in Autumn during a transition in seasons. And if you want to ensure you’re snug in bed during the winter, go for a 13.5 Tog Duvet. We’d always recommend having a seasonal duvet if you live in a place where temperatures can be unpredictable (thank you UK!).

Feather and Down

What is down? Should I get Feather stuffed or Down stuffed? These are other common questions we hear. Feathers, of course, are the feathers from birds that help keep them warm and dry. Compared with Down, feathered stuffed pillows and cushions are often heavier and thicker. This is due to the quill of the feathers, and since they are more flat there’s more needed in order to make for effective insulation.

Down, however, is a layer of soft feathers from under the exterior of a bird (usually a duck or goose). These feathers are much smaller but softer and provide natural warmth and airflow that make them perfect for duvet, quilts and pillows. Most people will choose Goose Down since the feathers are larger and fluffier making for better insulation. When it comes to getting that luxury sleep, we’d always recommend a good Goose Down Pillow.

Ready To Go!

Consider complicated Bedding Jargon Busted. When it comes to buying a new bed, it can be difficult to figure out what’s best for you. Luckily, our customer service team is always on hand to answer your questions. Hop on a live chat with the team using the icon in the bottom right corner.

For fantastic wooden bed frames handcrafted out of the UK, be sure to browse our range of wooden bed frames. Take a look here.