What Are Duvet Sets?

What is a Duvet?

• The word "duvet" is a French word meaning "down," the soft feathers of a duck or a goose. The word has come to refer to what is also known as a down comforter. Duvets are typically used as the top layer of bedding in place of a bedspread or coverlet, or as an additional blanket under the coverlet. When used in place of a coverlet, a duvet usually has a cover that acts as a giant pillowcase. Because it is difficult to clean the down-filled duvet, the cover helps keep it clean and is removable for laundering. The word "duvet" is sometimes used to refer to the duvet cover.

Duvet Sets

• The cover of the duvet also functions as decor for the bedroom. Duvet covers could be made of any material, from crisp linen to soft flannel or romantic cotton chintz. A duvet set makes it easy to decorate an entire room with one purchase. In addition to the duvet cover, the set can include a bed skirt, which fits over the box spring and hangs down to cover the open space under the bed. The set might also contain pillow shams, which are decorative covers for pillows. The bed skirt and pillow shams might be of the same fabric as the duvet cover, or they may be in a different, but coordinating fabric. For example, a toile duvet cover might be paired with a ticking-striped bed skirt and toile pillow shams accented with ticking-stripe ruffles.

Other Accent Pieces

• Other pieces that might be included in a duvet set, or are available for purchase separately, include various types of curtains, small tablecloths to fit accent tables or nightstands and lampshades.

Do-It-Yourself

• With a few basic sewing skills, a sewing machine and some basic notions, you can easily make your own duvet set. This will allow you to find exactly the right fabric for your room and might even save you some money.