“As you make your
bed
, you lie down,”
says the proverb.
All you have to do is do it with the right bedding elements to get real benefits.
To discover
February: what vegetables and fruits are in season?
Which duvet to choose?
Choosing a duvet can be complex as there are so many products on the market.
First decide whether you prefer a
synthetic
duvet or a
natural
duvet , a question of price, but also of weight/warmth ratio.
On the natural side, we find feather, plume and down, in different percentages.
The more down, the higher the price.
Sometimes up to very high levels, €7,900, for example, for the Dumas Paris eider duck down duvet, 240 x 220 cm!
Classic products tend to range between €150 and €2,500.
We also now find duvets made of wool, silk, cashmere or even bamboo, but these products remain marginal.
Synthetic duvets are more reasonably priced, between around €50 and €300, and are often easier to maintain.
But be careful with the choice of material.
Two main types of fibers share the shelf: full, dry fibers, and hollow silicone fibers.
The latter,
“in which we can release a lot of air, insulating, allow us to get closer to the natural quality of down,”
explains Dominique Subileau, sales director at the bedding manufacturer Lestra.
Second important choice:
heat
.
Do you sleep in a room over 22°C?
Prefer a light duvet.
A temperate duvet is suitable for a bedroom between 18 and 22°C, while a warm duvet will be necessary if you sleep below 18°C.
You can buy two to adapt your bedding to the season or opt for a so-called
“4 seasons”
duvet (pack of 2 duvets of different weights to be used alone or connected by press studs).
“By combining two lightweight duvets, you can obtain the equivalent of a 300 g/m² duvet,” explains the specialist.
By assembling a light duvet and a temperate duvet, you will obtain a warm 400 g/m² duvet, and, by combining two temperate duvets, a very warm 500 g/m² duvet.
»
.
Technical, but practical!
Also read: What is the ideal temperature in a house in winter?
Beyond warmth, it's essential to know your preferences in terms of
weight
and
volume
.
Do you like fluffy?
Prefer a padded duvet.
Are you sensitive to the cold but can only tolerate light duvets?
Be aware that,
“for the same weight per m², a natural duvet will surely be warmer and lighter than a synthetic model, especially if the percentage of down is high,”
emphasizes Dominique Subileau.
Choose a 90% down in 300 g/m² or, less expensive, a synthetic hollow fiber duvet in 350 g/m² such as Quallofil.
Some sleepers enjoy the weighty feel of a comforter.
In this case, two options: a 350 g/m² in 30% down or a synthetic in 450 g/m² with a multi-channel fiber or a microfiber.
For a feeling of weight without excessive heat, only weighted comforters really work.
Finally, it remains to select the ideal envelope: 100% cotton, 100% polyester or polycotton.
According to Dominique Subileau,
“the cotton cover allows for better transfer of body moisture to the outside.
Synthetic shells exhibit less breathability, although there are polyester fabrics with hollow fibers or surface treatments for better moisture
wicking
.
But cotton naturally remains more efficient.”
In terms of comfort, the more threads there are, the more flexible the cover will be.
Synthetic duvets can be of quality from 62 threads, but you will need to count on at least 91 threads for microfiber or down filling so that it does not migrate outside the envelope.
Small downside for sleepers sensitive to noise: envelopes with a very high number of threads can be more crunchy, find out carefully before buying.
The pillow: firm or soft?
When it comes to pillows, you will find three main families of filling:
natural (feathers and down, wool, Tencel, natural latex)
synthetic
memory foam
latex (which can be natural or synthetic)
Also read: Foam, spring, latex... How to choose the right mattress without breaking the bank
On the natural side, the most common filling is made of feathers and/or down.
Big differences in quality and price exist in this category: from 100% feathers to pure down, count on around €19 to €299.
“The feather is firmer, and the more you increase the percentage of down, the softer your pillow will be,”
specifies Dominique Subileau.
Tencel, or Lyocell, is a fiber extracted from wood pulp, breathable and resistant.
Count between €59 and €149 depending on the quality of the filling, the cover and the finish.
The most common synthetic filling is hollow silicone polyester or in the form of microfiber, a synthetic fiber most often blown which offers comfort close to that of down.
This is the highest quality and softest synthetic option.
Memory foam, made of polyurethane, can be more or less heat-sensitive.
Not all specialists agree on the benefits of this type of pillow.
Please note, the foam block cannot be washed, unlike pillows which contain another filling.
Absolutely avoid
Polyester fibers are dry and full.
“The comfort and loft will be less and, in the machine, if the washing and spinning are too strong, the fiber will tear and then ball up under the effect of the heat and centrifugal force,” indicates
Dominique Subileau.
.
Their only interest is economic.
»
You can actually find these pillows from €9… But, at this price, the quality is not there!
The mattress topper, extra comfort
“The function of a mattress topper is to make a mattress that is too firm more flexible, in other words to correct an error made when purchasing your mattress
,” insists François Duparc.
It is a comfort accessory, not bedding in itself.
»
In other words, don't count on it to make your mattress or box spring last... Likewise, it will not provide sleeping independence for a couple.
To find what you're looking for,
"look for bedding in the store whose comfort has a firmness comparable to that of the equipment you have at home, and test different mattress toppers to find the right softening response"
, advises François Duparc.
Please note that the minimum thickness to guarantee the effectiveness of a mattress topper is 5 cm.
In large hotels, which have all adopted this accessory, 8 to 10 cm thick and 1.7 to 2 kg/m provide exceptional comfort.
There are mattress toppers made of memory foam, latex or synthetic or natural fibers.
Memory foam provides the best ergonomic response, in other words a good ability to mold the body;
while latex, which has a higher viscosity, provides more flexibility when turning in bed.
In terms of price, count between €50 for a rudimentary contribution and €1,000 for high-performance or natural materials, such as silk, with high weight levels, 500 g and beyond.
“You can find quality mattress toppers from €250
,” estimates expert François Duparc.
What is the role of the mattress protector?
Mattress protectors come in two different forms.
The tray form is around 20% cheaper, but the least efficient.
The covers wrap the mattresses.
Depending on whether you want protection against sweat marks or liquid leaks, you will opt for a fleece or a waterproof version.
“The level of absorption is measured by the level of scraping [technical manufacturing process, Editor's note],
explains Hélène Abbey, sales director for the Blanc de Vosges brand.
The more the product is brushed, the more fleecy and absorbent it will be.
There are also two-sided scrapings, more expensive, which make the canvas even more absorbent.
»
Polyurethane, associated in particular with bamboo viscose, polyester or even cotton (organic or not), offers optimal safety.
So-called “3D” or “sandwich” materials, made up of a waterproof film between two layers of canvas, have recently appeared.
More expensive, they can meet specific needs (breakfast in bed, young child, etc.).
Like other bedding items, mattress protectors are often offered with a treatment: anti-mite, anti-bacterial, anti-mold, anti-mosquito or even anti-bedbug.
In addition to the fact that they add a dose of chemicals to your bedding, specialists agree that these treatments are not durable: they do not withstand more than thirty washes.
We then wonder about the point of paying more!
Feathers, plumes, down, what are the differences?
Down is the thin layer of waterfowl's outer feathers, small, soft, downy flakes.
The plumes and feathers are located under the down and have a more rigid structure with a central shaft.
They are heavier, less lofty and much less expensive than pure down.
Allergies to feathers and down are extremely rare.
These are actually allergies to dust mites or dust.
Please note: the fillings are now washed and dusted before use.
The feathers that fill entry-level pillows, mattress toppers or duvets can pierce them and sting the skin.
Only a tightly woven envelope guarantees that feathers will not pass through it.
The risk is lower with 100% feathers or down.
We tested the weighted duvet
“I've been hearing about weighted duvets for a while as a solution to improving sleep.
I then browse the market.
A weighted duvet for one person costs over €100.
I decide on one of the leaders, the Gravité brand, and I take a 7 kg duvet, about 10% of my weight, filled with glass microbeads.
There are also stainless steel microbeads, which are more expensive.
First impression: it's heavy to handle!
I manage to tie the cover to the duvet to stabilize the whole thing, and I go to bed.
Ouch!
It feels weird... Very intense feeling of weight, will I be able to sleep with this?
A year later, I have to say that I couldn't sleep without it!
The weight envelops the body: I move less, I sleep better.
»
Cécile Blaize
“You have to choose your pillow according to your body shape”
Jérôme Auger, physiotherapist and osteopath
THE PARTICULAR practical life: Is there an ideal pillow shape?
Jérôme Auger
: The role of the pillow is to keep the cervical spine in line with the spine.
Round, rectangular or square, it doesn't matter, the main thing is to always position yourself correctly on your pillow.
You should not place your shoulders on it.
How firm do you recommend?
A pillow that is too firm will not adapt to the shape of the face.
It risks creating pressure points.
On the contrary, a pillow that is too soft risks forming hollows and obstructing the airways.
Result: you will move around all night and wake up tired
.
And what about size?
A pillow that is too big or too small can cause neck pain.
This pain can be particularly resistant to treatment, because the sleeper spends many hours on his pillow.
Choose it according to your body shape: it must be adapted to the distance between the ear and the shoulder in order to respect the alignment of the vertebrae during the night.
No thick pillow if you sleep on your back, and no pillow at all if you sleep on your stomach.