Comforters and Bedspreads Key Terms

Learn comforters and bedspreads key terms to choose the weight and style you need

By Denise Brown

Whether you are decorating an executive apartment, hotel suites, or your own home, you need to know comforters and bedspreads key terms. This guide discusses the varieties of fill material as well as covering and lining materials.

Comforter

A comforter sits on top of the bed. It covers the sheets and hangs just enough to cover the mattress. Because a comforter is usually thick, it often replaces the need for blankets on the bed. To complete the bedding ensemble and cover the box springs, you need a bed skirt with a comforter.
Try: See the variety of comforters at The Home Decorating Company.

Bedspreads

Bedspreads are decorative coverings for a bed that are available in a wide range of fabrics, styles and colors. They cover both the mattress and the box spring, and you don't need a bed skirt with them. Typically bedspreads are lighter weight than comforters. Bedspreads are often set aside while sleeping to preserve them. Blankets supply warmth to the sleeping individuals rather than a bedspread.
Try: You can see bedspreads at LinenSource.

Duvet cover

A duvet cover fits like a pillowcase over a comforter. Because of the size and weight of comforters, they are bulky to clean. With a duvet covering your comforter, you just remove the duvet when soiled and wash it.
Try: See duvet covers at Classic Duvets.

Polyester fiberfill batting

Batting is the fluffy material that adds thickness to a comforter or bedspread. It's available in different sizes for manufacturers.
Try: You can see what polyester fiberfill batting looks like at SewAndQuilt.com.

Down

Down-filled comforters and bedspreads are a good option if you have allergies, because goose down is naturally resistant to dust mites and other microbes that trigger allergy attacks. Down also retains heat better so you get a warmer covering with less weight. Because down is a natural product, it does cost more.
Try: Read more about down comforters at Pluma Down.

Chintz

Chintz is a highly polished cotton fabric that is often the covering material for comforters and bedspreads. It is soft and comes in a variety of colors. A disadvantage of chintz is that it does fade with time and looses its brightness.
Try: Sheets-More has a variety of chintz bedspreads and comforters. You can also read more about chintz on their tutorial.