What makes a good duvet? Filling, shell and finishing

Above all, a good duvet has to suit your nights. A high-quality filling is important, but the shell, finishing, size and warmth level also determine how well a duvet performs in everyday life. Looking at these points together helps you choose more consciously.

1. A filling that suits you

Down and synthetic fibres have different properties. Our down duvets contain European down. Our synthetic duvets offer a down-free polyester filling. If you want to avoid animal materials, this makes the decision clear. If you have a house dust allergy, our guide Duvets and house dust allergy will help you.

For down, fill power describes how much volume a defined quantity of filling takes up under set test conditions. It says something about the filling, but does not on its own explain how warm the finished duvet is. Fill weight and construction also play a part. You can find out more in What is fill power?

2. The right warmth level

A warm duvet is not a good duvet for everyone. If you get warm quickly, you will often look for a lighter version. If you sleep in a cool room and tend to feel cold, medium-warm may feel better. At Marso Living, down and synthetic duvets are available in both warmth levels.

Consider your actual bedroom and how warm you personally feel. The season alone is not enough for choosing.

3. A carefully made shell

The shell holds the filling together and contributes to the feel of the finished duvet. Our Down Duvet has a cotton sateen shell. When comparing, check the material details of the specific product and also look at seams and edges.

Good finishing is unobtrusive: neatly executed seams, a properly closed shell and a construction that suits the filling. However, appearance alone does not allow a complete quality check.

4. The right dimensions

Your duvet should give you enough freedom of movement and cover you well. Our adult duvets come in 160 × 210 cm, 200 × 210 cm and 240 × 220 cm. The cover must match the duvet size. That is why you should compare dimensions rather than just terms like "single bed" and "double bed". Our linen duvet cover is available in 160 × 210 and 200 × 210 cm, the sateen duvet cover also in 240 × 220 cm. You can read more in our guide Duvet sizes in Switzerland.

5. Traceable origin and certification

Our duvets and pillows are made in Switzerland. Our linen and sateen bed linen is made in Portugal. Duvets and pillows and bed linen are different product groups – so the origin cannot be applied across the whole range.

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 stands for testing for harmful substances according to the criteria of the standard. For our down products we also use DOWNPASS-certified down and feathers from controlled and traceable supply chains. Each label answers its own question; it does not replace the full description of a product. More on this in Made in Switzerland and DOWNPASS explained.

6. Care you can manage in everyday life

A duvet needs enough space for washing and drying. According to our product care guidelines, our down duvets and pillows can be washed at max. 60 °C, synthetic ones at max. 40 °C on a delicate cycle. Then dry completely in the tumble dryer at a low temperature and shake in between. Always follow the care label.

We recommend about two washes a year. If your appliances are too small, professional cleaning may be the better solution.

When your old duvet has had its day

You can return a down duvet or down pillow that you no longer use to us – even if it is from another brand. We separate the components and professionally clean the reusable down and feathers. How it works is explained on our recycling page.

Your checklist for buying

• Filling and shell material clearly described?
• Warmth level suited to your bedroom?
• Size matching your cover?
• Finishing, origin and certification explained?
• Care possible with your appliances?

Discover our duvets or compare down and synthetic.