The Warmth and Comfort of Down-Filled Blankets

The right blanket is a necessity for getting a good night’s sleep, whether it’s a hot summer, or cold winter. In the winter we need a blanket that can keep us warm during the cold nights, and during the summer we need something that allows us to stay cool. But, what if there was a blanket that could do both? Rather than switching out your down comforter at the end of winter for a lightweight blanket, you could keep the same blanket on your bed year round.

The best way to do this is to invest in a high-quality, down-filled blanket. Not only does it provide warmth and comfort during the winter, but it can keep you from overheating during the summer. Plus, it adds a touch of luxury to your bedding to give you better sleep throughout the year.

Below, we’ll dive into the world of down-filled blankets and down comforters, and explain what they are, and how they stack up to other down alternative comforters and blankets. Be warned, if you don’t already have a down-filled blanket, you’ll likely want one after reading this article.

What are Down-Filled Blankets?

Down-filled blankets are blankets filled with the soft and fluffy feathers of geese or ducks. These feathers are collected from the underside of the bird, and are naturally insulating, which makes them ideal for use in bedding.

Down feathers are also lightweight, breathable, and offer excellent insulation, making them perfect for use in blankets. Down-filled blankets are typically covered with a cotton or microfiber shell, making them soft and comfortable to the touch.

Types of Down

The two main types of down are goose down and duck down, both of which may be used in a down duvet, down comforter, down blanket, or down pillow.

Goose Down

Goose down is made from the down feathers of the goose. Because geese are larger than ducks, the down feathers of geese are larger. Due to the larger size of goose down, it has a larger fill power than duck down, but it is usually more expensive.

Duck Down

Duck down is generally more affordable than goose down. While some view goose down as higher quality than duck down, quality really lies in the feathers themselves, not the type of feather. For example, a higher quality duck down is far superior to a low or mid-quality goose down.

Down Versus Feather

Down and feathers are not the same thing. Down are the fluffy feathers from the underside of a fowl that provide warmth, while feathers are longer and heavier. A feather comforter, for example, will have a much heavier and warmer feel than a down comforter, which will feel fluffier and lighter.

Measuring the Quality of Down

The quality of down is measured for loft. Loft is similar to how fluffy a down blanket or down pillow feels. For example, down with a lot of loft will not compress as easily as down with little loft. This can also be measured with an air-to-weight ratio. A higher ratio means more loft, and more loft equals a fluffier feel, which is considered higher quality. The result is a more comfortable feel that will keep you warm, but prevent you from overheating.

The Benefits of Down-Filled Blankets

Warm

One of the primary benefits of down-filled blankets is their warmth, due to their high insulating power. Down feathers trap air, which helps to keep you cozy and comfortable in even the coldest of temperatures. This makes them great for cold sleepers, and cold nights. They provide a gentle warmth, without overpowering you with trapped heat.

Breathable

While down-filled blankets are great at keeping you warm, they're also breathable, which means that they won't make you feel hot or stuffy while you sleep. Down blankets provide light warmth, which means that not only can you use them during the winter, but they’re also great for the summer, and any warm sleepers.

Durable

Another advantage of down-filled blankets is their durability. High-quality down feathers are incredibly resilient, and can last for years with proper care.

Lightweight

Down-filled blanks are also light weight, making them easy to handle and use. This also provides another seasonal benefit. During the summer if your bedroom is warm, you won’t feel suffocated by the weight of the blanket. Also, if you like to sleep with several blankets during the winter, the down-filled blanket won’t add much more additional pressure or weight.

Hypoallergenic

Another benefit of down-filled blankets is that they are hypoallergenic. The best quality down-filled blankets, like those offered by PlushBeds, are made from down that has been thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. This ensures that any allergens have been removed, making it a great choice for people who suffer from allergies or asthma.

Environmentally-Friendly

Another advantage of down-filled blankets is that they are more environmentally-friendly than other types of blankets, like synthetic blankets. Synthetic materials are often made from petrochemicals, which can be harmful to the environment. Down, on the other hand, is a natural and renewable resource.

Down-Filled Blankets vs. Other Alternatives

There are several alternatives to down-filled blankets on the market, including synthetic blankets, wool blankets, and cotton blankets. While each of these materials has its own benefits, down-filled blankets offer some unique advantages.

Synthetic Blankets

Synthetic blankets, for example, are often less expensive than down-filled blankets, because they have a synthetic filling rather than true down filling, but they don't offer the same level of warmth and comfort. They're also less durable than down-filled blankets, and tend to flatten out over time.

Wool Blankets

Wool blankets are warm and comfortable, but they can be heavy and scratchy, which may be uncomfortable for some people. They're also more difficult to care for than down-filled blankets, as they can shrink if not washed properly.

Cotton

Cotton blankets are lightweight and breathable, but they're not as warm as down-filled blankets. They're also not as durable, and tend to wear out quicker.

Down Comforters

In addition to down-filled blankets, down comforters are also popular bedding options. Down comforters are larger than blankets, and are designed to be used as the top layer of bedding.

Like down-filled blankets, down comforters offer excellent warmth and comfort. Down comforters are also available in a range of styles, including light, medium, and heavy weights, depending on your personal preference, and the climate where you live.

However, down-filled comforters are not as versatile as down-filled blankets. As we mentioned earlier, one of the best advantages of down-filled blankets is that they’re both warm and breathable, meaning that they’ll keep you warm during the winter, and cool during the summer. A down comforter, on the other hand, may keep you warm during the winter, but a down comforter is generally thicker and less breathable than a blanket.

That being said, many people prefer the extra weight and warmth of a down comforter. If that’s the case, check out PlushBeds white goose down comforter. If you’re looking for down comforters, you can’t go wrong with PlushBeds high quality comforter.

Down Duvet

A down duvet is sometimes used synonymously with a down comforter, but duvets are traditionally heavier and thicker than regular comforters. Down duvets are also an option, but like down comforters, they are designed for cold bedrooms and cold sleepers, ideally during the winter months, not the summer months like down blankets.

Therefore, we recommend a down duvet only if you need something for the cold winter, rather than a year round addition to your bed.

Fill Power

Fill power is a term that is used to measure the quality of down comforters, and is synonymous with loft. Like loft, fill power is a measure of the fluffiness of down using cubic inches. So, a higher fill power means more loft and fluffiness. Fill power can be expressed in cubic inches per 30 grams, and is therefore a comparison of the volume of the down to the weight, which can also be expressed in an air-to-weight ratio.

When looking for a down comforter, pay close attention to the fill power listed for the product, as the fill power will give you a good indication of the quality of the down used in the comforter.

Generally, a measure of between 600 and 650 fill power is considered good quality, and anything higher than 650 fill power is considered very good. Lower fill power means lower quality, so we recommend you stay away from anything below 600.

The PlushBeds white goose down comforter, for example, has a fill power of 700, which is an excellent rating.

Covers

When browsing for a down-filled duvet, down comforter, or down blanket, another important consideration to keep in mind is the cover. You can have the finest filling in your down comforters or blankets, and still not get the same benefits, if your cover isn’t also high quality.

Therefore look for duvet covers and blanket covers that are made with high-quality materials. A popular option for blanket and duvet covers is cotton because it is a natural material that is breathable.

Your blanket or duvet cover should explicitly say 100% cotton; otherwise, the manufacturer might be using synthetic materials, like polyester, in your duvet cover that are less comfortable and long-lasting.

How to Care for Down-Filled Blankets

Proper care is essential for maintaining the quality and longevity of your down-filled blanket. Although down-filled blankets are easier to care for than wool blankets, it’s important to care for them properly. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Machine wash your down-filled blanket in a large-capacity washing machine, using mild detergent.

• Use a low-heat setting when drying your down-filled blanket to prevent overheating and damage to the feathers.

• Fluff your down-filled blanket regularly to help maintain its loft and shape.

• Avoid storing your down-filled blanket in a damp or humid environment, as this can lead to mold and mildew growth.

PlushBeds Bedding Options

Down-Filled Blanket

PlushBeds offers a range of high-quality bedding and sheets, including our down blanket that is made with responsibly-sourced duck down. The down blanket is covered in quilt-stitched, 100% cotton cambric, which is a soft and smooth fabric that feels luxurious. Cotton cambric is a weave that originates from the French commune of Cambria, which is elegant and versatile in its design, while also being light weight and comfortable. The down blanket is available in two colors: white and ivory.

Like all high-quality down blankets, this blanket is hypoallergenic, warm, made with breathable fibers, temperature-regulating for warm sleepers, natural, lightweight, and durable. The down blanket will allow you to get a great night’s sleep every night, in any season, regardless of your preferences, or whether or not you’re a warm sleeper.

Anchor Weighted Blanket

If you prefer a blanket with more weight, we recommend you try out the anchor weighted blanket. Weighted blankets are perfect for anybody who likes a bit of added pressure on them while they sleep. Sleeping with weighted blankets can soothe anxiety and stress, and help you drift off into sleep easily, and stay asleep throughout the night.

While some weighted blankets are hot, and therefore a poor option for warm sleepers, the PlushBeds anchor weighted blanket is designed to regulate temperature, so you never overheat, even if you are a warm sleeper.

White Goose Down Comforter

PlushBeds white goose down comforter is a high quality down comforter with a fill power rating of 700. This down comforter is known for its extreme fluffiness and warmth, and will be sure to keep you cozy during the winter months in your cold bedroom, especially if you’re a cold sleeper. With 100% cotton sateen and higher quality goose down, you can’t go wrong with this down comforter.

PlushBeds also offers a down blend comforter that offers many of the same benefits as a down comforter, but at a more affordable price.

PlushBeds Has All of Your Mattress and Bedding Needs

Our bedding options don’t end there. At PlushBeds, we have most everything you need to transform your bed into the comfortable and luxurious haven you deserve to get superior sleep. Check out our mattresses, toppers, pillows, and sheets.

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