One shared duvet against two singles
Short answer: Two single duvets give each person their own temperature and end the fight over the cover. A shared duvet looks more unified and needs only one cover. Here are the pros and cons of both, and what to measure before you buy new covers.
Two single duvets
With two single duvets, each person can pick their own thickness, and nobody gets cold when the other turns over. It is the solution that fixes the most practical problems in a double bed, which is why many choose it, even though it asks a little more of the bed and the linen cupboard.
One shared duvet
A shared duvet looks more unified and needs only one cover to wash and fold. It also means a slimmer stack in the linen cupboard and one decision fewer when making the bed. In return you share the same thickness, and depend on the other not pulling it. See bamboo bedding.
The fight over the cover
With a shared duvet, one person can end up with most of it when the other turns over at night. That gives some couples a cold shoulder and restless sleep. Two single duvets remove the problem, because each has their own piece of fabric that does not move when the other does.
Each with their own temperature
We do not all run the same temperature at night. Some sleep warm, others get cold easily. With two duvets, one can have a thin one and the other a thicker one, and that is the biggest advantage of two. With a shared duvet you must agree on one thickness, which often becomes a compromise nobody loves.
Washing and storing
Two duvets mean two covers, and that takes more room in both machine and cupboard. A shared duvet is easier to keep track of, and the cover is changed quickly. In a small flat with little cupboard space, that may decide it. Think about how often you change bedding and how much room you have.
What to measure
Measure the width of the bed and the size of the duvet before buying covers. The size is often on a small label in the corner of the duvet, and it cannot be guessed from the bed size alone. Keep the label in mind when ordering, so the cover is not too tight or far too loose. See bamboo sheets and bamboo envelope sheets.
The sheet and the duvets
The sheet lies on the mattress and is the same whether you have one duvet or two. With two duvets, the sheet can still be one large one, so the bed looks unified. That is an advantage, because there is no fold or crooked line in the middle of the bed. Choose a sheet that fits the height and width of the mattress.
What works for you
There is no single right answer. If your temperatures differ a lot, or you turn over often at night, that points to two duvets. If you want a simple bed and less laundry, that points to a shared one. Try one solution for a season, and switch if it does not suit your nights.
What is most common
What is most common varies between countries, and it is not a good guide for your choice. In some places two duvets are standard, in others one shared duvet is the norm. Look instead at what suits your bodies, your bed and your habits, and measure your own bed before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What is most common
It varies between countries, so it is not a good guide for your own choice. Measure your bed and see what you sleep best under before you decide.
What is cheapest to run
A shared duvet, because there is only one cover to wash and dry. With two duvets you have two covers to keep clean, and that takes more room in machine and cupboard.
Can you have two different thicknesses
Yes, and that is the biggest advantage of two duvets. The one who sleeps warm can have a thin one and the one who gets cold a thicker one, without agreeing on a thickness.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
