There is a reason that comforter has the word “comfort” in it. These pouchy, capacious items are just the thing to wrap up in, and some provide such warmth that on cool nights some people only need a comforter, a pillow and a fitted sheet over the mattress to enjoy a cozy night’s sleep. But how does a person pick the ideal comforter for them and their bedroom? Here are some tips: 

Buy the Right Size and Design

It’s important to get the right size comforter for the mattress you choose. It seems axiomatic that a person would buy a queen size comforter for a queen sized mattress, but a king may be a better bet. A queen size comforter, like queen sized sheets, might shrink a bit in the wash. A king comforter can undergo some shrinkage while still allowing the sleeper full coverage. 

The design of the comforter should complement the rest of the bedroom, though there are some people who may consider a certain design of comforter and base the rest of the decor of the room on that. Other people buy comforters with reversible designs. One design is used for winter and spring, then the comforter is turned over and the reverse design is used for summer and fall.

Choose the Right Weight

The weight of the comforter regulates how warm it is. Comforters can be light weight, medium weight, extra warm or blanket weight for people who sleep in hot environments. The weightier the comforter is, the warmer it is. This will cause some people to go for a weightier comforter, but they should consider the overall temperature of the room and the climate. Experts recommend that the owner start with a light weight comforter, for they can always be supplemented with a blanket. There’s not much that can be done to cool down a comforter that’s too warm. 

Hot sleepers should choose comforters, which will keep them sweat-free and can promote better sleep. The most popular ones are comforters made of eucalyptus fiber called Tencel lyocell, which has temperature regulating properties. These eucalyptus cooling comforters are eco-friendly and extremely light weighted.

A buyer can tell how warm the comforter is through the fill weight. This is how much down or filler is in the comforter, and the more filler, the warmer the comforter is. Since it doesn’t take a lot of down to make a comforter toasty, a buyer shouldn’t assume that a flat looking down comforter won’t keep them warm. What makes a comforter look puffy is the fill power, which measures the loft, or fluffiness of the comforter. Warmth is determined by the interplay between the fill weight and the fill power.

Find the Right Filling

Speaking of filling, a comforter can be filled with a variety of materials. The most expensive and luxurious is down from the breast of a sea duck called an eider. This down, which the duck uses to line its nest, is as rare as it is expensive. Down from a regular duck or goose is less expensive but still pricey. Filling can also be a mixture of down and feathers. Other comforter fillings include synthetic down, which is actually polyester, and fibers made from down or feathers. Comforters can also be filled with wool, cotton, silk or buckwheat. People who suffer from allergies can buy comforters that are hypoallergenic.