Bedding Terms

Baffle box construction or baffling is vertical walls of fabric sewn inside the ticking, then filled with down. This construction will allow minimal bunching.

Combed cotton has completed a process called combing which removes 10%-20% of short staples and dirt that can cause yarn breakage in weaving. This leaves the longest staples for spinning into yarn that is stronger and finer and will produce a higher quality fabric.

Comforters can be more economical as they are already filled, and there is no need to purchase a separate fill. There is no shifting of the innards allowing a cleaner, more pressed look on the bed.

Coverlets are thin decorative comforters that can be used as the main spread on a bed or to add style and luxury to your ensemble.

Down is a soft feather fill that allows for warmth and comfort. It comes in many fill weights for various seasons (summer, winter or all season). Fill power indicates the amount of space in cubic inches an ounce of down fills. Higher fill powers provide more warmth. High quality down comforters start at 550 fill power.

Dust ruffle drop lengths allow all the stashed items under your bed to remain hidden. Most suppliers offer 14″ or 18″. To best determine the appropriate length for your bed, we suggest measuring from the top of the box spring to the floor. It’s always best to have excess material on the floor versus full view all those dust bunnies!

Duvet covers have a zipper, button or snap enclosure allowing for down or poly inserts to be placed inside. Duvet covers are advantageous because of their laundering ease. Many of our covers are machine washable and can be laundered at home. As well, many of our suppliers carry poly fills that match exact dimensions of the cover. This can lessen the stress of locating a comforter that does not fit exact measurements.

Egyptian combed cotton is considered the finest quality, longest staple cotton in the world. The quality of cotton depends on the lengths of the staples—the longer the staple, the better the cotton.

Matelasse is a cotton cover that features a unique design stitched in matching thread. These may be used as the main spread on a bed or can be used to accentuate style in your ensemble.

Poly fill is similar to the fill found in comforters and creates a clean, smooth look on the bed. It is less warm and soft than down, but if looks are what you’re going for, this is the logical choice. Many manufacturers of duvet covers also have coordinating poly fills which match exact dimensions.

For those who want the best of both worlds, we suggest a poly fill for your cover then a down comforter as the blanket used for sleep.

Thread count is the number of horizontal and vertical threads in one square inch of fabric. Thread count can be useful in the purchase process, but should certainly not be an overriding factor in the final decision. Good quality sheets start at 180 thread count; and a count of 200 or higher is considered adequate. When choosing sheets, the quality of cotton, the feel of fabric, the nature of the finishing, and the fashion is most important.