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How to Put on a Duvet Cover or Blanket Cover Sheet

Updated on 01/19/23

Front view of a floral duvet cover comforter on a made bed — The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

Project Overview

Total Time: 3 - 5 mins

Skill Level: Beginner

This article is part of our series, Sleep Week: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Best Sleep Ever. Sleep Week is your destination for whole sleep happiness, curating our very best tips and product recommendations to help you create your coziest, most comfortable sleep environment yet.

If you're looking for an added dose of warmth as you sleep—but hate having lots of layers on your bed—a duvet is the perfect option. A duvet is a lightweight bed cover of two pieces of fabric stitched together and filled with natural down (feathers) or synthetic fiberfill. In fact, duvet is actually a French word meaning down.

Many people use a duvet instead of a top sheet and blanket or bedspread because it's lightweight and warm. A duvet also simplifies making a bed because you only have to smooth it out and fluff the pillows—there's no tucking in multiple layers to deal with (unless you prefer to use a top sheet as well).

Those who opt for a duvet only should choose a style that has a washable cover to keep things feeling clean and hygienic. The cover acts much like a pillowcase—the duvet itself may only need to be cleaned once or twice a year but, the duvet cover should be washed much more frequently, like sheets.

Duvet covers can be made of cotton, synthetics, wool, or silk. Some use zippers, while others use buttons to close over the duvet. The cover should fit snugly over the duvet so there's no shifting or bunching while its in-use. This tight fit can make putting on the cover difficult, especially for one person alone, particularly when working with queen and king-sized duvets. However, by following these simple directions the chore can be much easier—and quicker.

1:38

The Trick to Putting on a Duvet Cover (Without Going Nuts!)

Equipment / Tools

Iron or steamer (optional)

Materials

Duvet
Duvet cover

Lay Out the Duvet Cover

For clarity, this demonstration shows two pillowcases to represent the duvet and the duvet cover. The white pillowcase is the duvet and the green pillowcase (shown here) represents the duvet cover.

Begin by laying the duvet cover flat on the bed with the cover opening facing towards you at the end of the bed.

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Fold the Duvet Cover

Fold the duvet cover in half horizontally, with the opening still facing you at the end of the bed.

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Fold the Cover Again

Fold the duvet cover in half again horizontally, with the opening still facing you at the bottom of the bed. The duvet cover will now be folded into quarters.

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Prepare the Duvet

Move the folded duvet cover to the side. Spread out the duvet (the white pillowcase for the purpose of this instructional) smoothly across the bed. Make sure the duvet is laid out in the same direction the cover was positioned in if they are not totally square.

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Fold the Duvet

Fold the duvet in half horizontally, like you did previously with the cover, keeping the edges facing you.

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Fold the Duvet Again

Repeat this step, folding the duvet in half horizontally again. The duvet will now be in quarters and should appear rather thick.

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Place the Duvet Into the Duvet Cover

Retrieve the folded duvet cover and place it on the bed with the opening on top and facing toward you. Slide the folded duvet into the cover opening with the loose corners facing up and lined up with the duvet cover corners.

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Shake to Slide the Duvet

Grasp the loose corner of the duvet and the loose corner of the cover in your left hand. Repeat with your right hand on the opposite side. Holding firmly, lift both the cover and the duvet off the bed making sure the duvet is sliding down inside the cover. Continuing to hold the corners, give the cover and the duvet a good shake. The duvet should easily slide down into the cover.

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Smooth and Fasten the Duvet

Still holding the corners firmly (and after shaking the two pieces together), lay the duvet and cover down on the bed. Smooth out the duvet and zip or button the cover together. If you'd like to really finesse your finished product, you can carefully iron or steam out any stubborn wrinkles before calling it a day.

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

FAQ

What is the sheet that covers the blanket?

There are many ways to cover a bed blanket. Some people use a thin coverlet that's potentially more decorative than the blanket they use for warmth. Others put a bed sheet that's easier to wash over their blanket or duvet. A full duvet cover that encloses the duvet is also an option.
What is a blanket cover called?

When people use the term "blanket cover," they are commonly referring to a duvet cover, as a duvet is a type of bed blanket. But it also might refer to a bedspread or coverlet.
What do you call a cover for a comforter?

In general, a comforter is made both to be functional (adding warmth to your bedding) and decorative. The top has fabric that's meant to be displayed, so it doesn't necessarily need a cover. However, you can still use a duvet cover over a comforter to make washing easier.