How the other half lives...Luxury Bedding |
||
|
The dictionary defines luxury as ‘something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity’. Bedding is a necessity but for those who can afford it, going to bed becomes a sensory experience like no other! Luxury bedding is nothing new. The Romans knew a thing or two about indulgence and while the poor slept on piles of reeds or hay, the rich had mattresses stuffed with wool or feathers. The mattresses were then decorated with bronze, silver, jewels and gold! | ||
| Sleeping in Luxury | ||
|
Comforter sets have always
been a great way to buy bedding. A well coordinated bed makes
your bed and bedroom look beautiful and if you choose a luxury
comforter bedding set – it can feel beautiful too! Silk bedding
used to be reserved for Emperors and high officials – but now,
it’s widely available and an affordable luxury. If you want to spoil yourself, the first decision is what kind of luxury do you want to go for? What’s Your Idea of Luxury? Some people love silky softness and for others, the ultimate luxury is a fluffy cover that wraps them like a cloud. It’s really down to personal choice – there’s something for everyone! Down Comforter Sets A down comforter is fluffy and soft and definitely luxurious! What sets down comforters apart from others is the down – which may sound obvious - but it’s the type of down that’s used. High-end down comforters are filled with the softest insulating feathers that sit right next to the skin of ducks and geese. These are designed to trap a layer of air under the bird’s outer feathers and keep them warm and toasty. That’s what makes down comforters so special – they keep warm air in and cold air out! The most luxurious of all are comforters filled with the down from eider ducks, which is considered the best quality and therefore has the highest price-tag. In the UK, bedcovers that
resembled today’s comforters were called ‘Eiderdowns’ – because
they were filled with the down from an eider duck. They fell
from favor with the rising popularity of duvets but are now
enjoying a well-deserved return.
|
Shop For Bedding
Shop with these online bedding stores for the best deals in bedroom linens.
Sign Up For Great Deals
Sign up with Bedding-Plus to receive all the latest bedding news, sales and coupons.
Threads Count!
This is the number of threads per inch. The higher the thread count, the softer and more durable the cover will be. This is especially important in down comforter covers as you don’t want feathers poking through the fabric and escaping or sticking into you! Many high-end down comforters have a thread count of 600 or over and are made from 100% cotton (often Egyptian) or silk.
What to Look For in a Luxury Down Comforter Set
It’s still possible to buy beautiful, luxury bedding sets without the enormous cost but if you want good quality, there are a few things to look out for.
The Fill Power
This means how many cubic inches of space that the down will fill – the more fill and ‘loft’, the more air the down will trap and the warmer the comforter will be.
- A fill power of up to
600 is good quality
- Around 700 is better
- Over 700 is the best
- 800 or more is very rare and extremely expensive
Are You Baffled by ‘Baffle’?
Check the item description for ‘baffle box construction’ or ‘baffle’. This means that the comforter will have an internal system of ‘boxes’ made from fabric. This keeps the down in place and stops it clumping at one end of the comforter. This method of construction will keep the comforter’s ‘loft’ and fluffiness – and therefore, warmth.
If no baffle is mentioned, the comforter is probably sewn through in lines to create the boxes. This makes the comforter less expensive but the quality won’t be as good and it won’t wear as well.