Fill Power of Comforters

Fill power is important to look at when purchasing down comforters or down comforter sets. Fill power is the key element in determining the warmth of the comforter and is an excellent indication of the quality of the down. Down comforters with a higher fill power will be both lighter and warmer. Typically comforters with a fill power of 600 or more are in this category. A lower fill power is needed for warmer climates and will not be as fluffy as the high fill power comforters.

Desmond Southern Textiles Ultra Comforter Set

One of my favorite comforter sets is the Southern Textiles Desmond comforter set. The combination of the black paisley pattern on a white surface offers a stunning look to your bedrom that is easily matched with a variety of decor. The luxurious Desmond is the best way to add warmth and sophistication to your bedroom. The Desmond Sets are deeply quilted and expertly tailored. The Desmond comforter set is sure to welcome the stylish comfort you crave in a bedroom.

Comforters for Christmas Gifts

One idea for a christmas present is a comforter or comforter set. A comforter set includes the comforter but comes with additional pieces like pillow shams and a bed skirt.

Comforters come in a range of prices. A comforter can be as low as fifty dollars or as high as a few hundred dollars. The low-priced comforters will not have the lifetime or warmth of a more expensive comforter. The more expensive comporters will come with much higher thread counts and fill power making the material more robust, comfortable and warmer.

Comforter sets are nice gifts if you want to spend more because they provide complimentary items to help decorate and coordinate your bedroom. Comforter sets called bed in a bag or bedding ensemble typically have can have as many as 8 to 11 but can range as high as 14 to 17 items depending on whether it is a queen or a king. Additional items include a variety pillows and matching sheets.

If you would like to give a gift with variety another option is a down comforter or down alternative comforter combined with duvet covers. A duvet cover, also referred to as comforter cover or coverlet, is a "sleeve" that holds the comforter. They help protect the comforter and can also be used as a blanket during the warmer time of year.

Anyway you go, bedding is always a good option for christmas gifts.

Premium Bridal Satin Sheets

The luxurious Satin Sheets for your sensuous nights of sleep.

This satin sheet is called Bridal Satin Sheet, simple because it is fabrics that are mostly found in bridal gowns. It is composed of acetate, and is a heavier, thicker, and more luxurious satin than “polyester satin”. Satin fabric is very smooth to the touch and warm. Satin is also winkle free fabric and thus fit for winter bedding. Moreover the rough surface from beneath has the anti-slip tendency so can be used without much worry. It is an ideal material for sheets because it is machine washable. Warm in winter and cool in summer. It is ideal bedding for all year around and a perfect compliment to you comforters or comforter sets.

I found these washing instructions to be helpful on caring for your bridal satin sheets.

Care Instructions: To wash Polyester Bridal Satin Sheets and Pillowcases, please use mild non-phosphate soap (not detergent) in lukewarm water on gentle cycle. Dry using delicate cycle with cool air or line dry.

How Often Should I Change My Bed Sheets?

There has been a great debate on how often you should change your bed sheets. For most people changing the sheets at least every two weeks is significant enough unless you are allergic to dust mites.

Another related question is how often you should change blankets or comforters. Since washing a comforter is more difficult then washing sheets, you can lengthen the time inbetween changing the comforter by using a comforter cover like duvet covers. This allows you to simply wash the cover every few weeks.

We shed skin cells at all times and at night we shed these in our beds. Unfortunately these cells are the food of dust mites and if you have allergies to dust mites, it makes sense to keep the skins cells in your bed to a minimum and to change your bed sheets and comforter sets more frequent then two weeks.

Obviously, if your sheets get soiled sooner, they should be changed immediately and people who suffer from night sweats or kids who have accidents at night should have the sheets changed right away. Since it can take a while to get sheets washed and cleaned, it’s recommended you have at least three pairs of sheet sets for each bed. This way you have one available for immediate changing.

Southern Textiles

Because of Southern Textiles' excellent reputation for innovative design and product value, our store UtopiaComforters.com carries wide range of their comforter ensembles and bed in a bag in simple solid modern Oslo design to intricate embroider patterns like Cinnabar.

Southern Textiles was founded in 1977 in Conyer, GA. Southern Textiles designs, produces and markets decorative home furnishings and Bedding products principally under the Southern Textiles brand name through 2,000 plus home furnishings retailers.

Southern Textile’s Paramount, Elite and Ultra bedding collections remains one of the most widely recognized bed linen producers among buyers and merchandise managers at retail furniture stores, sleep shops and catalog/ direct mail accounts due largely to their distribution.

Whether you are into contemporary ultra modern style or French country shabby chic, we have just right comforters and comforter sets to fit your decorating need.

Tips on How to Survive Black Friday

Holidays are coming and you have a million things to do and you still want to re-decorate your bedrooms for that overnight guests of family and friends. You realize to achieve this idea, the easiest and most painless method is to add new comforters or comforter sets, but you are dreading the thoughts of fighting for parking spots and crowded shopping stores with people walking around saying Bah-humbug, What about the long waiting lines that itself is enough to make your skin to crawl? You are not alone!!!

Try this 10 step method! I have been doing this for years and it has never failed me once!

Relax, light a fire in your fireplace, turn on the Christmas music and perhaps light some somber candles and let’s begin.

1. Log on to UtopiaComforters.com.
2. Click on Comforters, Bed in a Bed, Bed Ensemble or a Duvet Cover choice.
3. Envision what your new room would look alike with all the choice you have seen.
4. Click on a set that you can’t wait to have.
5. Add to the cart.
6. Click on sheets and look for colorful and luxurious sheet sets to complement your new comforter set.
7. Add to the cart.
8. Click on pillows and choose the pillow of your liking.
9. Add to the cart.
10. Click on check out, add your information’s and click send!

Viola, you are done!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Black and White Bedding Choices

If you’re having trouble finding the right colors for your bedroom or you always loved the contrast of a black and white style, then consider a black and white color scheme. There are plenty of options with a black and white style, so finding the right one to suit your tastes isn’t difficult. A black and white style will fit a number of ways in bedding, including contemporary and French country.

You can keep a black and white room from seeming boring by adding patterns to your comforters and comforter sets. You might choose patterns like the paisley and check print in Desmond, classic country French toile print in Jolie, striking bold scrolling damask design in Zeus or the ever popular Melissa which is in Matelassé floral print. Want to bring out the animal in you? You might want to consider including animal prints, such as a zebra, into your décor.

For those who love to decorate their bedroom from season to season, a black and white theme can provide the perfect backdrop by adding burgundy red sheets to your bedding or curtains in red are always great with black and white scheme. In the fall, you can add orange or brown decorative pillows to your bed and give bedding an autumn feel. For the spring and summer, consider lightening the room up with brighter accent color like turquoise or lime.

As you can see, with black and white, the possibilities are endless.

What is Matelassé?

Matelassé is a quilted hi-lo textured fabric used as one fabrication of coverlets, bedspreads, shams, or dust ruffles. It refers to hand quilted textiles. It is meant to mimic the style of hand-stitched Marseilles type quilts made in Provence, France. Matelassé fabric can be either hand-stitched to create the decorative features of the fabric, or woven on a jacquard loom for the appearance of quilting. Matelassé fabric is a heavy, thick textile that appears to be padded, but actually has no padding within the fabric which makes ideal material for comforters and comforter sets. An example of these can be found in the Melissa Bed in a Bag.

Matelassé fabric is commonly made in 100% cotton and typically in solid colors, with only the relief of pattern for its decoration, but some makers create beautiful designs in bold colors to complement the existing quilting. The Matelassé can be also found in cotton/polyester blends as well, with designs range from simple, square designs, or fancier floral motifs. This fabric can be very elegant, but is also favored for its comfortable, casual design that seems to improve with every washing. The textile is a favorite for shabby chic and French provincial décor for nearly every room of the house.



More to add about Matelassé? Write to me and share your story.

Dust ruffle and Bed skirt

You'll notice that the best-appointed beds are always outfitted with a coordinating bed skirt or dust ruffles to give the entire ensemble a look of elegance and completion.

While many people tend to consider a dust ruffle and a bed skirt to be the same type of bedding accessory, that is not the case. While both the bed skirt and dust ruffle serve the purpose of providing coverage of the space between the end of the comforter or bedspread and the floor, they are actually constructed differently and are positioned on the bed using different means. Here is what you need to know in order to tell the difference between a dust ruffle and a bed skirt.

The dust ruffle is a pleated or gathered piece that is normally just long enough to fill in the space between the top of the box springs and the floor. The ruffle is actually a circular construction that is configured to fit around and snugly hug the device. Many dust ruffles are equipped with a stretchable band around the top of the box spring. The ruffle is slipped around the sides of the box springs, allowing the band to keep the ruffle in place. Slits at each corner make it possible to position the ruffle around bedposts without bunching the material.

By contrast, a bed skirt does not involve the use of a stretchable band to stay in place. A bed skirt is constructed as a solid fabric body and a sewn ruffled or pleated outer section on three sides of the body. In order to use a bed skirt, it is necessary to insert the body between the mattress and the box springs. The outer section is positioned to hang down the two long sides and the foot of the bed. Unlike the dust ruffle, the bed skirt does not provide coverage to the floor at the head of the bed.

In most bedroom settings, a dust ruffle and bed skirt provide the same look when the bed is fully made. The color or pattern of the skirt or ruffle should complement the color scheme of the comforter sets or bed in a bag or comforter ensembles they are matched with. When you purchase these complete sets, the dust ruffle or bedskirt are usually included.

Why are there holes in my friend's comforter?

A friend of mine asked...

“Why do I have holes in my comforter? I just got it a little while ago!” He went and bought this comforter set about a year ago. He looked at a lot of comforter sets and comforters. They all seemed to look about the same so he decided to get a full complete set which included shams, pillow cases, sheets and the comforter, all this for $99. Nice, huh?!... Well, it was until he washed it. The washing instruction said, machine washable, so what gives?

I helped him to do some research on comforters. What he were interested in was price and something that looked nice. So things like thread counts, cotton versus 50/50, down comforter, down alternative and so forth were not important in his decision.

Well, his comforter now has about 5 or 6 rips in it and the fitted sheet comes off all of the time. He basically needs a new one.

Now, at the time he did not think he could afford a higher priced set, maybe one with much higher thread count and 100% cotton. But in the end, it will cost him more because now he needs to buy a new one.

He also did not know about duvet covers at the time. This time he thinks he will go for a nice goose down comforter and a couple duvet cover sets to change things up.

Share your story. You posts are more than welcome!

Differences between Comforter Sets, Comforter Ensembles and Bed in a Bag

Baffled and confused by Comforter Sets and Comforter Ensembles? What about the Bed in a Bag?

In order to figure out the difference between these bedding choices you have to look into your personality! The interior of your bedroom is a very personal thing. It is your domain, a sanctuary, a place where you can relax and be you. Choosing the right comforter for your bed can help you create this peaceful and inviting room.

There are a couple of different methods in choosing between comforter sets. If you are a person who likes to take chances and experiment with colors and patterns then you would probably be pleased with comforter sets that may include 3 to 4 pieces of key items such as a comforters, bed skirt and pillow shams. Picking your comforters in neutral color may be easiest to work with if you are planning to add curtains and other finishing touches to your bed such as decorative pillows. Of course if you are an adventurer type of person try bold colors, patterns and you may want to experiment by reversing colors by adding solid neutral colors in accent pieces.

If you are a person who just wants to get everything that matches in one fell swoop then you want to get a Bed in a Bag or a Comforter Ensemble. These synonyms have everything from comforters, shams, bed skirt, sheets, throw pillows and even curtains. By taking this approach, your room is guaranteed to match and it is pretty much foolproof.

Whether you are into traditional, modern contemporary or shabby chic, creating the ultimate bedroom of your choice for yourself is always worth every penny you invest in them.

Microsuede Bedding

Since Winter is just around the corner and the weather is getting downright frightful, we all dream about getting into our bed at night and curling up with good book, get a cup of hot chocolate, relax and brave the wrath of Mother Nature.

One way to achieve this comfort is choosing the right environment for your bedding. A lot of people are excited about Microsuede or Microfiber bedding for winter and here is why:

Microsuede is a man made fiber that is used for a number of things including comforters and sheets. The fabric can be made from polyester, nylon, rayon, acetate or a combination of those fibers. It is a knit blend that is made of very fine fibers that are tightly woven together to create a dense fabric. The fabric has many of the same qualities as suede and is generally much easier to clean then real suede. It is usually much softer yet is very resistant to dirt and can be very durable.

The versatile Microsuede is an excellent choice for bedding because it is lighter in weight then traditional suede, washable, dry cleanable, shrink-resistant, water and winkle resistant. It also resists pilling and clinging, is fade resistant and it is much softer to touch.

One of the nicest things about Microsuede bedding is it easy to maintain. You can machine wash in cool to warm water in gentle cycle, use fabric softener in the washer and dry on the medium temperature setting. You may also want to try rubbing alcohol or clear alcohols on it for spot cleaning. Clean a small area at a time and let the fabric dry completely between each attempt. Be sure to test any cleaner on a hidden area of the fabric to make sure it will not stain or cause damage.

Your Microsuede spot cleaning may become stiff after you clean it. Gently rub the fabric with a soft brush such as a toothbrush. If a stain has caused an odor in the fabric, sprinkle the area with baking soda. The baking soda will help to soak up any odors that are trapped in the fabric.

As you can see, you’ll love how this simple approach to bedding with MicroSuede transforms your bedroom into a beautiful, warm, luxurious space you’ll be happy to come home to.

Bedding Choices:

If you are looking for MicroSuede you will find some as well as many comforters, duvet covers and quilts to choose from at UtopiaComforters.com.You can also find a variety of bed and bath products at Utopia Bed and Bath.

Checklist for Winter Bedding

Originally posted at:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Checklist-For-Winter-Bedding&id=3057895
Author: Jeffrey Horowitz

As the fall is upon us and winter approaches, it is important that you have everything you need for a warm and cozy bed. This article provides you a simple checklist of things to consider to help make the cold and freezing nights more comfortable for you.

Down or Down Alternative Comforters

Your first choice is to find a down comforter that is right for you. Down comforters are luxurious and are very fluffy and comfortable. If you do not already have one, you should seriously consider purchasing one for it is essential for restful nights of sleep. The downfall is that good down comforters can be expensive. But affordable prices can be found and the prices are well worth the comfort and warmth.

Down is the light fluffy coating that protects birds from exposure to the outside elements and is the most popular product used for warm comforters and pillows. The warmth of a down comforter is measured by the comforters "fill power". The higher the fill power the warmer the comforter will be. A fill power of 600 or more is generally warm enough for fall and winter nights.

For those with allergies to animals or that prefer a lower cost, down alternative comforters may be right for you. The fluffy loft made from polyester fibers often provides excellent insulation that is good as down.

Duvet Covers

A duvet cover is another name for a comforter cover or coverlet. It is essential to cover and protect your down comforter. A duvet cover is designed for this reason and will also add additional insulation and warmth for you.

A duvet cover is easy to take care of and is a quick and simple way to protect your down comforter while also giving you ways to redecorate your room. In contrast to down comforters which are normally white or a solid color, duvet covers come in many patterns and styles giving you lots of choices for decoration. So, you have the option of changing the look of your bedroom with ease by simply changing the duvet cover. And, when the winter passes and the weather starts to warm again you can use your duvet cover alone as a blanket for a lighter feel.

Flannel and Bamboo Sheets

Flannel sheets are a favorite during the winter months for many people, because they embody the feeling of snugness and safety that appeals greatly during a freezing winter nights. High-quality flannel sheets are made from a blend of wool and cotton. The wool ensures warmth, while the cotton adds the softness highly desired in bed sheets.

Thread-count is an important indicator of quality of flannel sheets. The lower the thread count the coarser the feel will be. A thread count of 300 or more will have unsurpassed softness to ensure an even more comfortable experience.

Bamboo sheets are more recent and offer an eco-friendly alternative to flannel and traditional sheets. Bamboo textiles are very smooth, have a natural sheen to the surface and they really do feel like silk textiles or cashmere.

The bamboo fabric adjusts to your body temperature and is several times more absorbent than cotton. This means in the winter bamboo fabrics are very warm but at the same time allow more air between you and your skin, so overheating does not happen.

Down or Down Alternative Pillows

The last thing to choose for a cozy and warm winter night sleep is a comfortable down pillow. Like comforters, alternative down pillows are also available for those who have allergies or that are looking for a less expensive option.

The main advantage of a down pillow is that filling molds to your head and neck thus providing support where it is needed most. As more down is added to the product the cost rises, but so does the efficiency, comfort, longevity and value for money. A down pillow will provide the right support for any body shape. The filling will breathe easily and, with the correct care, will last for many years.

Jeffrey Horowitz is a software engineer with an interest in home furnishings who works with Utopia Comforters where many of the types of bedding items discussed in this article can be found. UtopiaComforters.com is committed to offering quality comforters, comforter sets, duvet covers, and quilts at affordable prices.

How To Make A Quilt Survey

I am interested in learning how to make a quilt. So I thought I would look around the Internet to see what I could find. These are a couple of articles that I found very useful:

How to Make a Quilt - Step by Step Quilt Instructions

This is an excellent article that gives a starting point and advice for the begginer. It also introduces simple terminology for the begginer to get used to.

How to Make a Quilt

This article is more advanced and gives detailed instructions for each step in the quilt making process. It also provides insight into some of the decisions that are needed along the way.

There are other articles that provide various specifics. These were the ones I found most useful.

Bedding Choices:

If you are looking for quilts or bedding with environment friendly inks you will have many design options to choose from at UtopiaComforters.com.

Kindle Wireless Reading Device
Kindle is Amazon.com's amazing digital reader that lets you take any of the many digital books at Amazon anywhere you want to go.

Bedroom Decorating: New Comforter Sets With Three Bonus Pillows

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The fall nights are starting to get a little chilly so now is a great time to replace that summer quilt with a new cozy comforter set. These modern looking, geometric designs comforter sets have both shams included and come with 3 bonus decorative pillows. All this for just under $90, what a deal! Don't miss out on this one!

Circle Dot Comforter Set with Bonus Pillows: This striking set is my personal favorite with these eye catching white dot circles against a jet black background. Set includes 2 shams, 60 x 80 inch bed skirt and one 12"x16" pillow, one 16"x16" pillow and a 16" neck roll. Available in Queen and King.

Dodge Block Comforter Set with Bonus Pillows: Its hip to be square with this comforter set that features woven gold block patterns with a spaqua background color. Yes, that's not a typo, spaqua is a cool new designer color, a shiny, metalic, silvery light blue. Set includes 2 shams, 60 x 80 inch bed skirt and one 12"x16" pillow, one 16"x16" pillow and a 16" neck roll. Available in Queen and King.

Down Town Comforter Set with Bonus Pillows: More silver and aqua colors dance around in modern print circles with the Down Town Comforter Set. Set includes 2 shams, 60 x 80 inch bed skirt and one 12"x16" pillow, one 16"x16" pillow and a 16" neck roll. Available in Queen and King.

Geo Grid Brown Comforter Set with Bonus Pillows: If you just can't decide between circles or squares then just do both! Gold and Copper circles and squares are woven into this fine fabric and give your bedroom a modern sleek look. Set includes 2 shams, 60 x 80 inch bed skirt and one 12"x16" pillow, one 16"x16" pillow and a 16" neck roll. Available in Queen and King.

Geo Grid Black Comforter Set with Bonus Pillows: Here's the same great pattern with silver circles and squares against a sleek, shiny black background. Like the others, this set includes 2 shams, 60 x 80 inch bed skirt and one 12"x16" pillow, one 16"x16" pillow and a 16" neck roll. Available in Queen and King.

Original article posted by Michelle

I found this article about bedroom design. It provides a good review of trend. One of the things it discusses is environment friendly designs. This also applies to bedding and environment friendly dyes.

Contemporary Bedroom Design Trends

Author: Bill William

We spend a third of our lives in our bedrooms; this is where we come to recharge, to prepare ourselves for each new day; this is where we relax and find peace. Our bedrooms are our sanctuaries. How we decorate them, what sort of bedroom furniture and ornamentation we choose reflects our values and interests. Contemporary bedroom trends combine a number of stylistic elements which go together to form a unique, inimitable look. The arrangement of the furniture and the décor is often eclectic yet harmonized to form a cool, collective ambiance. Much of contemporary design emphasizes sleek, smooth minimalism but you'll find that this doesn't preclude a little warmth and coziness. Some of today's chicest trends are outlined below.

Eco-Chic or the Green Trend: With the tides turning and ecological consciousness being de rigueur these days, many people want their bedrooms to reflect their newfound respect for the environment. This means they are scooping up used odds and ends and fashioning them into new, bespoke pieces, such as night tables and storage bins. Alternatively, many homeowners have turned their attention to green design. Architect-design teams such as Team 7, are crafting green, non-toxic bedroom furniture. The wood they work with is natural and solid, finished off with herbal oils and waxes, rather than stains and lacquers which can emit toxic VOCs into the air we breathe.

Organic Modern: This style bends in the eco-chic direction, but it's more earthy and artfully cluttered. It's a look that is accomplished with a mix of vintage and modern pieces, a neutral color palette, and plenty of flowers. It's eclectic, but not assorted; it's a controlled look that has careful thought behind it.

Ethnic: Another trend that seems to be quite viral is the ethnic look. Many households are eager to embrace this age of globalization by populating their bedrooms with unique, traditional pieces they've nabbed on their world travels. Moroccan bedroom furniture, with brilliant colors and mesmerizing patterns, add depth and liveliness to any room. Asian inspired themes, with contemplative, round bellied buddhas and lacquered screens, have become all the rage, as more people are searching for their private oases of calm and tranquility.

Bauhaus: For the professional couple, nothing states staid and cool more than Bauhaus. The Bauhaus look is of a piece with smart sophistication. Bauhaus bedroom furniture is the type of furniture, which goes with a well aged scotch. It's utterly classic, with an edge of calm froideur, but it's never brusque.

Airy Ranch Style: This style epitomizes country living. It's relaxed and carefree. This look is achieved by using rustic and antique wooden furniture. Dried flowers and an assortment of knick-knacks and pictures complete the details. A light or neutral color palette make it easy to mix and match decorative items. Brick walls and wood ceiling beams add an extra touch of chic pastoral.

Eclectic: This trend is a mixture of everything. It requires a delicate balance of this and that. Eclectic could mean combining retro pieces with slick, antique Victorian affairs. It could mean a carefully executed clutter. Often, many people will go for an eclectic look to express their range of tastes.

About the Author:
Looking for a stylish modern furniture store? Look no further. Beyond Furniture take pride in having unique furniture that takes peoples breath away. Having a house full of furniture from the Beyond Furniture range spells pure class.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Contemporary Bedroom Design Trends

Bedding Choices:
If you are looking for bedding with environment friendly inks you will have many design options to choose from at UtopiaComforters.com.