What's the Difference Between a Quilt & a Coverlet?
What's the Difference Between a Quilt & a Coverlet?
Most people choose coverlets and quilts to accompany their luxury bedding sets. These are both a great choice and offer comfort as well as a bold design statement in your home. And although similar in design, quilts and coverlets differ in their function as well as their size. If you are not sure what is the difference between a coverlet and a quilt, learning a little about each will help you determine which of these fine bedding options will work best for you.
What's the Difference Between a Coverlet and a Quilt?
While both of these luxury bedding pieces are certainly a welcome addition to any bedroom and appear very similar, there are actually some features that make them each unique. Most of us are familiar with what a quilt is, but coverlets come from the world of fine linens and luxury bedding, so many of us may not have heard of using a coverlet before.
What is a Coverlet? - A coverlet is the very top layer of bedding, which is designed to be a lighter weight than duvets and comforters, but not quite as long as an old-fashioned style bedspread. Coverlets are often referred to as quilts or bedspreads, because they are so similar. Coverlets are a great bedding option for all climates, as they are thin enough for warm weather, or they can be perfectly paired with heavier bedding sets, like down and down alternative products, for cooler weather.
What is a Quilt? - A quilt is a type of traditional bed covering that dates back hundreds of years. Today’s modern quilts have evolved quite beautifully but are still made with the same layered design technique that offers added warmth for chilly nights. Quilts, by design, typically consist of three layers - a decorative top layer, a padded, lightweight middle layer, and a solid bottom piece, all stitched together in decorative patterns.
Quilt vs Coverlet
Which Best Suits My Needs?
Choosing new luxury bedding is such a personal choice for everyone. Here are some characteristics of each to compare to help you choose the best high-end bedding collection for your home.
Unique Differences Between Coverlets and Quilts
Coverlets are more for style and beauty and quilts are made for warmth. The fabrics used for coverlets are usually light, cotton and cotton blends. Quilts are much thicker and are made from fabrics with a loose weave for easy quilting.
The main difference between a quilt vs coverlet is that coverlets do not have a middle layer of warmth as quilts do. Coverlets are made from a single piece of fabric.
The fabric of quilts is in fact quilted, with three layers, but coverlets are not quilted. Coverlets are, however, typically decorated or made with fine fabrics, like Peacock Alley's Matelassé line of bedding. French for “quilted” or “cushioned,” our luxury selection Matelassé coverlets and matching pillows are designed to mimic the style of the ornate, hand-stitched Marseilles type quilts that are made in France.
Coverlets are smaller than quilts and are designed to only drape about halfway down the sides of the bed versus touching the floor like large quilts or bedspreads.
Some modern quilts are designed to be used as wall hangings or table runners instead of bedding, while all coverlets are designed specially to use as bedding.
Quilts are traditionally made by attaching several pieces of cloth together but are sometimes made with one single piece of fabric on top, which is known as a whole-cloth quilt. Coverlets are created from a single piece of decorative fabric.
Why Choose Coverlets for You Luxury Bedding?
Coverlets are excellent choices for your luxury bedding no matter where you live, as they are great for tropical climates as well as colder areas, as they can easily be layered with heavier pieces and are easily adjustable. Coverlets are also an excellent choice for those who like to change things up a bit when it comes to decorating, as they take up very little space to store and come in so many styles, colors, and designs. Another plus is that they are made from the most luxurious, rich and textured fabrics, so they wrinkle less and are so easy to care for.
How to Style a Coverlet to Enhance the Design of Your Bedroom
By design, coverlets are made to add texture and depth to luxury bedding sets and are also often used to help subdue the fluffiness of a down duvet. An elegant ensemble can be made by combining your favorite luxury coverlet with matching shams or complimentary colors for a modern, casual look.
Peacock Alley has a fine selection of coverlets, including textured signature matelassés, quilted, garment washed, and tailored pique coverlets.
There are a few different ways to customize your bedding set with a coverlet, which gives you so many different decorating options to choose from.
Coverlet Design Concepts
Use your favorite coverlet directly over your top sheet, with no added duvet or blanket. This gives a classic, clean look and works well on hot summer evenings. Spice it up a bit with a pop of color from a bed scarf at the foot of the bed.
Make your bed with the duvet on top of the sheets, then place the coverlet on the top. This works well on cooler nights and is a great way to calm and offers a sleeker and more modern look.
Add stylish luxury pillow shams and luxurious throw pillows to create a custom look on top of your coverlet that is as comfortable as it is pretty. Create a design to match your bedroom’s theme or color for a comfortable and stylish sleeping environment.
No matter how you choose to display your coverlet, you will love this essential piece for a well-dressed bed!
Explore Peacock Alley for All of Your Luxury Bedding and Linen
Peacock Alley understands the importance of having your fine bedding linens look just as good as they feel, so we have a featured product line at that spotlights our collection of luxury coverlets. This coveted, stylish collection features a variety of styles that are designed to work well with any bedroom décor. Find the perfect luxury coverlet for your bedroom from Peacock Alley.
