I Discovered The Perfect Duvet Thickness For Every Season

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On the JJ Barnes Blog, I check out advice from the sleep experts at Bed Kingdom for the perfect duvet thickness for every season, to help me get the best nights sleep.

As Spring starts to creep into action, the temperature is beginning to change, and the nights are going to start getting much warmer. This puts my whole bedtime plans into disarray. I’m a bit rubbish at sleep at the best of times, and even if I do manage to get some rest, I seem to always be getting too hot or too cold, sticking a leg out to try and get some fresh air, or huddling up against Jon’s back to try and absorb warmth like a penguin.

However, there is actually something I could do to help; use the right duvet thickness for the season I’m in! But, I admit, I’m totally clueless about what the measurements mean, and how to tell which one is right for the weather.

To help me out, the sleep experts at Bed Kingdom have sent me over some research to explain how to select the ideal duvet for each season and how to get a good night’s sleep throughout the year.

What Is The Perfect Duvet Thickness?

A lot of people aren’t aware of how important your duvet is to getting a good night’s sleep. According to recent research (Durmuş et al. 2022), thermal comfort is just as important as other ambient conditions like darkness and silence for good sleep.

What is a duvet tog rating?

There is a common misconception that the tog rating of a duvet is a measurement of its thickness. However, tog actually refers to a material’s “thermal overall grade,” which is a measure of how well it holds heat.

Tog ratings for duvets range from 1 to 15, with those on the low end typically being lighter and cooler and those on the high end typically being heavier and more insulating.

Since duvets are typically purchased less frequently than other types of bedding, it is essential to take into account all relevant factors, such as sensitivity to heat or cold, bedroom insulation, and the age of the person using the duvet, before making a decision. Different tog ratings provide different degrees of warmth.

The perfect tog ratings for each season’s duvet:

Spring: 7 – 10.5 tog

Summer: 1 – 4.5 tog 

Autumn: 7 – 10.5 tog

Winter: 12 – 15 tog

Having a duvet that keeps your body at the right temperature no matter what the season is can significantly improve the quality of your sleep, which in turn leads to better physical health, mental acuity, mood, and daytime productivity.

Is there more than one kind of duvet I need?

Due to storage and financial constraints, owning a duvet for each season is often unaffordable for many people. Nonetheless, if possible, try having two separate duvets to guarantee ideal rest conditions as temperatures change over time.

 A duvet with a tog rating somewhere in the range of 4.5 and 7.5 is suggested for the hotter spring and mid year months, while a second duvet with a tog rating somewhere in the range of 10.5 and 15 would be the most ideal decision for the colder autumn and cold winter months.

Is there an all year duvet?

Duvets with a 10.5 tog rating are an good all year choice for the individuals who can’t manage the cost of different duvets or don’t want to spend time swapping duvets. Most adults should be able to sleep comfortably year-round with a 10.5 tog duvet, as long as they aren’t particularly susceptible to the cold or overheating in bed.

Things to consider to buy the perfect duvet:

Bed Size

Purchasing a duvet the specific size of your bed could seem like the obvious thing to do. However, getting a duvet that is one size larger than your bed might make sense because some people might need a lot of extra blankets to wrap themselves in. If you share your bed with another person, this can ensure that there is ample space underneath the duvet for both of you. You can also wrap yourself in it during the colder months to make it more insulating.

Since we got a kingsize duvet to go with our double bed, it has definitely made a difference as Jon tends to roll up in his sleep, and then I have to do a magician’s table cloth move to spin him back out again. The king size duvet means I’m still covered, and I don’t accidentally flip Jon off the bed!

Fillings for Duvets

Duvets can be made of synthetic materials like polyester hollow fiber or microfibre or natural insulating materials like duck or goose feathers or down.

Compared to synthetic alternatives, duvets made of feather or down tend to be better at retaining heat and require fewer changes because they are more durable. Howver, they typically cost more.

In contrast, synthetic duvets made of hollow fiber or microfibre polyester, which are hypoallergenic and typically less expensive, are a more practical option for many people. Because they are quicker to air dry and easier to clean than natural materials, they are a more practical choice for families.

Temperature in the household

One thing to think about when choosing a duvet is the temperature outside your home. A duvet with a tog rating higher than 10.5 may be a good choice if you are concerned about rising energy costs during the winter or if the temperature in your home drops particularly low. This will ensure that you remain sufficiently warm once you get into bed.

Age

Research shows that our capacity to self-control internal heat level changes as we progress in years. Elderly people typically take the longest time to get warm in bed, while children typically warm up in bed much more quickly than adults. Therefore, our age ought to be considered while picking a duvet.

Generally, a duvet beneath 10.5 tog  is better for youths, and around 4 tog for little children and infants, to keep them from overheating during the evening. For elderly people, who are more likely than younger adults to experience nighttime chills, the best duvet temperature is above 10.5 tog.

Conclusion

This has really helped me workout how I can get the best sleep at night by adjusting my duvet thickness. I’m definitely not going to be a four duvet person, who has the money or the space? But swapping out my thick Winter duvet for a thinner one as the weather warms up seems like a very sensible idea!