What’s the difference between a quilt, comforter, bedspread and a duvet?

This is a question that we always get asked. It’s hard to shop for bedding if you don’t know the differences between some of the items.

A quilt is a thick embroidered blanket/comforter, usually in a checkered pattern with raised designs.

A comforter is a thick, quilted, fluffy blanket. Sometimes it’s decorated and colored, but with dye, not embroidered like a quilt. It is filled with a synthetic fiber filler. It does not need a cover and is made to be the bedspread.

A bedspread is a pre-filled bed cover with stuffing to be used as a decorative and warming bed covering. Normally used as the top cover on your bed. Bedspreads do not require a duvet, duvet cover, or a comforter.

A duvet is a comforter that is filled with down feathers. The duvet is usually white, beige or off-white. It should be placed in a duvet cover. It can be made of down or polyfill.

A duvet cover covers a comforter - like a slip on decorator. Many comforters are not decorated and usually people buy one of these. Imagine the comforter as a big flat pillow and the duvet cover as a big pillowcase. They keep the down clean and you can change the color of your bed on a moment’s whim.