I love the ones the hotels use. They don’t make much sound, are lightweight and warm. DS wanted one of those several years ago so I bought him an e pensive one from LL Bean, plus the duvet. It just makes so much noise.
I’d love to have one like the hotel.
I think duvet covers are fine…I just think the OP needs to find out if her KID thinks they are fine.
When my kid wanted new bed linens, I asked her what she wanted. That way, she got…what she wanted.
A son, who asked me to purchase something for him. He has very few opinions on anything home related. He is not a top sheet user which is why the duvet cover is appealing. I am concerned about fit though. Any other recommendations for sources for washable comforters in addition to Macy’s and The Company Store?
It’s pain to put it on but once it’s on making bed is a breeze. I don’t use top sheet. I love duvet covers. The sheet stays on.
I still use a top sheet. In our house, duvets are decorative and protect the comforter, not substitutes for sheets. You don’t need a large wingspan to deal with a king-size duvet; you just need to use the span you have to grab the top center of the duvet/comforter and shake. Though my duvets are properly sized for the comforters they cover, the corner pins keep things in place during the shaking. I remove them when I’m done. I may not have described the process well upthread, but even the king-size duvet doesn’t take more than a minute or two to put on. No hassle at all.
This works well, too, but takes longer:
To effectively shake out any wrinkles, one need to be able to lift the comforter so the bottom is not dragging on the floor, or the trick will not work (been there). At my 5 and a half feet and shrinking, I am unable to do this unless I stand on the bed or a chair. It works with smaller bedding sizes… king size - nope. 
Hmmm… I’m 5’2.
A high air-toss onto the bed and a bit of straightening from there takes care of it for me. I guess we’d have to watch each other to be really helpful. Some things are hard to describe.
Need input of the user. Once upon a time we had down comforters and a duvet cover. Yuck. Heavy. Then found down alternative comforters and have been happy. Lightweight, easily washable and can be colorful. At home we use a bedspread over the summer blanket or winter comforter. Another consideration, aside from the weight (especially things cotton) is the warmth factor- can be too warm or not warm enough.
Dust factor? Never considered that and never a dusty environment in the bedrooms. I would much rather have a washable comforter, especially for a dorm room. Things get spilled. Down clumps.
It all depends on the quality and weight of your duvet. I think people think of duvets as one universal item, whereas it’s more like saying “blanket.” There are scratchy, heavy, wool blankets and lightweight, silk blankets, and everything else in between. The problem is that in order to get a really good duvet you have to spend a fair amount of money.
We use exclusively duvet covers, otherwise the sheets end up all over the bed, especially for DS. IKEA has nice and relatively inexpensive ones.
@wis75 , where do you buy your down alternative? DH is allergic to down.
@conmama. They have down alternatives lot of places. I’ve seen them at TJ Maxx, Home Goods, Amazon and Overstock.
I have a duvet cover on now. I use a top sheet and blanket so don’t wash the duvet cover too often. I like that I can change my bedding on a whim.
We don’t use a top sheet with our duvet cover. We have high end very light down comforters. I like the light feeling of a duvet versus having more than one blanket covering me.
@ChoatieMom - a toss on the bed will not do for me. I like my bedding perfectly aligned and straightened. I spend 5 minutes making the bed each morning… realignment of comforter inside the cover will subtract another 5 min out of my life. Plus… these covers are sooo huge. How do you make sure they are not wrinkled after washing and drying? 100% cotton will wrinkle no matter what. Our down blankets are easily washable, and because they are kind of quilted, they don’t show wrinkles as much as flat sheets or duvets. For the top of the bed, I use a coverlet (Matouk makes decent ones).
@deb922 , thanks! The hotel we were at this weekend had the best! Lightweight, but warm. There was a top sheet, the comforter, then a sheet over that. I wouldn’t make my bed like that, but I like a top sheet. I think I’d like to do what you do, but also use a lightweight duvet.
After washing, I lay the 100% cotton king duvet on the (clean) floor of our large foyer and then touch up with the iron. I’ve posted before that I’m an absolute stickler (my family has another word for it) for perfectly made, no wrinkle beds. I’m with you on perfect alignment. When I said “air-toss,” I just meant getting the huge thing on the bed the first time after putting it together. I straighten from there. There is no realignment of the comforter inside the duvet as it doesn’t shift once it’s in.
For anyone who finds duvets a hassle, there are many YouTube videos of various ways to deal with them. I’m not describing my method well as it only takes a few minutes and results in a perfectly smooth, aligned, and fitted cover.
I have adult kids who like to sleep with just a duvet-no sheet. I just redid a queen and kind room with Duvet’s from Pottery Barn. Many on sale right now. I have not been disappointed with any PB products. The queen room is for my 22 yo DD’s apartment that actually came from PB Teen. It is the Blue Floral Paisley and our king guest room is PB Marlena reversible duvet cover. Paired it with a fringed burlap bed skirt from Ballard Designs (whom I really like their linens as well, very good quality and has storefronts as well so check them out) and it’s gorgeous.
Lots to chose from to find their style.
We purchase the lightest weight fillers and for our own room, it’s a linen one from Restoration Hardware. It took about 15 washes to get it soft and has continued to get better. We put a king blanket inside it instead of a filler, so it has body, but not hot. We are unlike our young adult kids and use top sheet and blanket, add a flannel sheet in winter.
I personally can’t stand using a duvet at home. I’d much rather use a top sheet, down comforter and quilt or coverlet. We have a large washing machine so I can easily wash everything rather than wrestle with a duvet for my king size comforter. I do have duvets for my kids because they don’t use top sheets but their bedding always looks messy. They don’t bother to straighten out and fluff the duvet/comforter so they always look too wrinkly or sloppy. We are redoing my youngest daughter’s room and she requested bedding that does not involve a duvet because she said it feels like the comforter moves around inside, even though I have clips that hold it in place. She doesn’t mind using a top sheet so that will work.
I love my quilted down comforter from The Company Store. It’s one that is warm enough in the winter but also cool in the summer.
I do love hotel bedding - however, since I’m not the one making the bed, nor washing the bedding, it works out for me ?
Never heard of not using a top sheet before. Substituting a duvet seems like too much work- seems like a double layer sheet. Need a top sheet other body dirt/oils will soil the comforter- a lot easier to wash sheets every week or two (or more) than a comforter, or duvet that often. Bought our comforters at least ten years ago when Kohls (a WI store forever) started carrying them. Have since seen them elsewhere but not needed any. I understand the D not wanting a duvet. Keep it simple. Solution to messy kids’ beds- shut the door. That also takes care of other unsightly scenes.
A front loading washer is wonderful for king sized comforters and mattress pads!