History of the Duvet

Continuing my ongoing research into the world of beds I have recently looked into some history and information of the Duvet and have put together a brief overview of its roots as well as some interesting statistics on how it got here.

In Germany back in 1749 Thomas Nugent observed that the German People used Feather-Beds both above and below their bodies, which worked well in the winter months but was far too hot in the summer months. These “feather beds” he describes were basically duvets.

Duvets are most commonly used in Northern Europe because of the lower temperatures that are experienced here, but its popularity only went worldwide in the late 20th century. Strangely, despite its popularity around the rest of Europe people of the UK still relied mostly on blankets and sheets until around this late 1960’s too.
The duvet that we know today was originally created and shipped in by large department stores in the 60’s from Scandinavia. These department stores also offered a range of duvet covers and other bed decorations and it was around this time that decorating your bed in the way we do today became popular.

Traditionally Duvets were filled with down feathers from the Eider Duck, well known for its insulating benefits. Duvets today are normally made up of manmade fibres such as polyester as well as other natural materials such as silk, wool or cotton, but traditional feather duvets are also available, however some people find these too warm in the summer months.

The Tog rating of a duvet is used to measure its thermal resistance. Duvets are normally a 4.5 – 13.5 tog, with 4.5 being the thinnest (coolest) and 13.5 being the thickest (warmest).

Modern Wooden Bed

Duvets are just as important as your mattress and bed frame when you are purchasing a new bed, whether it is a leather bed, wooden bed, metal bed, guest bed or day bed you should make sure that you, your family or your guests are able to get the best night of sleep possible.

Those with allergies should keep away from feather duvets and pillows and look at purchasing a suitable hypo allergenic style.

Make sure that the thickness of your duvet is suitable for the current season and will keep you at a comfortable temperature during the night.

Finally, make sure that the mattress and bed are still offering you the support and comfort you need to get a good night of sleep as many people suffer unnecessarily from tiredness because of old mattresses and sagging supports on their bed frames.

The History of the Bed

I was pleased by the interest I received after writing a brief post about the history of the mattress recently. So in continuation of this idea I thought I would write some information on the history of the bed itself.

I think many of us know that mattresses have evolved over the years, but what about beds. Where did they start and how were they made? Here is a brief overview in the life of the bed:

8000BC

It is thought that the first “beds” were created in around 8000 BC with materials such as straw and palm leaves – people wanted more comfort from the ground and used whatever soft materials were available to them.

3200 BC

The earliest beds that are similar to the ones we see today were dated to this time after evidence of them was found in Scotland. By this stage people were trying to raise them from the floor in order to avoid drafts, pests and dirt. It is thought that stones were used with straw or other similar natural materials on top.

Egyptians

At first beds were only for the rich and it seems the Egyptians had the right idea and the money to make it happen! Their beds were made of stone or even wood and often had steps built in to ascend at bedtime. Sometimes these beds were decorated with ivory or mother of pearl making them very opulent – the ultimate bedtime luxury at the time.

Medieval Times

It is thought that in Germany they started making beds with similar materials to the first beds from 8000 BC. Around this time they also introduced carpets and curtains and laid on the bed with a linen sheet for warmth.

The Renaissance

By this stage beds were commonplace, but the Renaissance saw the boom of stunning beds with more decoration and ornate features than ever before.

18^th Century

Iron Beds as we know them today were first introduced at this time. They were popular as they decreased the risk of pests and wood based insects. Feather pillows also arrived in the 18^th century.

Faux Leather Bed

Of course, nowadays there are many options and styles available for the best bed (and night of sleep) that you require. 

When visiting a bed supplier, the wide range available makes it easy to find one to suit your home and comfort at a price that meets your budget (but don’t forget your mattress!). Beds designs include traditional and modern metal and iron, leather (real and faux), divan and wooden. Eco friendly versions of the wooden bed are now also available to purchase at a reasonable price.

Buying a new bed? Things to consider

Ecofern Orchard Guest Bed

When I was recently told I needed to find a new bed for my home, I was amazed by the various options available including size, style, colour and storage solutions.

A bed is an important purchase for any family, so I have put together a small list of things I had to consider along the way, that you might find useful too:

• Always look at buying a new matress with it.

Many people opt to purchase only the frame, but using an old matress can often be just as bad as using the old bed.

• What size is the space you want to put it into?

There are many size options available with the standard single, double and king size beds remaining popular, there are also small double beds available which can be really useful for a smaller room. These are 4ft wide - 6 inches less than a standard double, but still providing comfort for both people.

• If it is a guest bed, would a single that converts into a double be better suited to your space?

Guest beds are becoming more and more stylish, and fashionable single beds can now be purchased that cleverly hide the second "pull-out" bed. Styles available include leather, metal, wooden and divan.

• What are the colours that you need to match?

Leather beds are very popular, buth it can be hard to find a leather bed to match all colour schemes - normally Brown, Black, White and Cream are the easiest colours to source. Wooden and Metal Beds often fit in quite well around most decor and antique style beds are also available for the traditional look.

• Do you need to store anything in the bed?

With space at a premium in most homes, adding storage space to the empty space under the bed is becoming more and more useful. There are various storage solutions available for this purpose. Divans can still be purchased with drawer space underneath and some beds are also made so that the matress can be raised for storage. Many beds can also be purchased with matching units that can be placed at the foot of the bed for extra (matching) storage space.

• Make sure you leave enough room for bedside tables etc

Make sure you measure the space you will be putting the bed into - as I mentioned before, some people might find it more useful to purchase a small double bed instead of a full sized bed in order to accommodate surrounding furniture such as bed-side tables. You should also consider how you will get the bed into the bedroom - will it get up the stairs? Will it get through the doorways? Sometimes self assembly beds are more suitable for homes with less space.

Finally, whatever your requirements make sure you contact a bed supplier that offers a wide range of options so you can be sure to find the right bed for you.