- Design Inspo
Mastering the Art of Styling a Coverlet
If a person can be naked, why not a bed? Hear this one out - like a human body’s blank canvas is skin, a bed, when undressed, is a blank canvas in the form of a mattress. When we dress up a mattress with sheets, blankets, shams, pillows, and comforters in duvets, the bed is layered similar to the stages of dress on a person wearing different garments. Therefore think making a bed is like getting dressed on the body - each piece has a purpose. The coverlet is the overcoat, an outer layer cinching the entire look together. Following, Nest Casa examines how these curious bed linens compare to its clothing counterpart and ultimately discovers some of the best on the market today to ensure your bed is stylishly outfitted to perfection.
What is a Coverlet?
Without a doubt, when it comes to bed essentials, most folks think of sheets, blankets, duvets, quilts, bedspreads, and shams. But the coverlet remains elusive. That may be partially due to the popularity of the informal duvets (some prefer to forgo a top sheet altogether) in today’s bedrooms - perhaps the athleisure of bed dressing?
However, if a more formally-dressed bed is one’s cup of tea, this bed linen may be just the thing. Thus, it needs defining. Somewhere in between a quilt and bedspread is a coverlet. Hence, it tends to be lightweight and perfect for warmer climates and seasons. To point out, this cover often has the look of a quilt but is made from a just single layer of stitched fabric with a quilt-like appearance called matelasseé. Therefore, it doesn’t qualify as a proper quilt. So in clothing terms, think of it as a lightweight jacket or better, a cotton knit sweater that provides an extra layer to a multi-component look. Or conversely, a simple light layer when just a touch of warmth is needed.
Coverlet vs. Quilt or Bedspread
It’s important to note that the definition of a coverlet has broadened in recent times. Some would reference a thin layer, old-school lightweight bedspread, especially when rendered in a silky finish, as one. Similarly, dressier and light-as-air comforters requiring no duvet covers are frequently also referred to them as one.
Ways to Style the Coverlet
Incorporating the coverlet into your bed can happen for a variety of reasons. First, is a decorative effect desired? In general, this bed linen tends to be placed in between the top sheet and a duvet, and the duvet would remain folded when not in use. (It’s important to keep in mind that a folded duvet treatment looks best set atop a full-frame or four-poster bed.) For this method, the textile can either be tucked underneath the mattress like a top sheet or, hang over the space between the mattress and box spring.
On the other hand, perhaps you are keeping a coverlet on your bed to accommodate a range of temperature degrees. In this case, it can be folded across the foot of the bed, to provide easy access when another layer is desired. Although it’s usually placed straight across the bed’s bottom, draping it on a diagonal across the bed is another option for an updated styling take. Of course, we all recall when the knit sweater went from being tied around our shoulders in the preppy years to becoming tied-at-the-waist in the Grunge Era. Same idea for the coverlet - you can go traditional or edgier.
Nest Casa’s Top Five Best Coverlets
This sophisticated grand dame of coverlets bears a diamond piqueé pattern, thus creating a refined appearance. Moreover, its less weightier matelasseé, luxurious finish makes this coverlet akin to the perennially-chic light-weight cashmere sweater in the clothing world. You’ll own this piece forever.
As aforementioned, currently, some coverlets are referred to as classic bedspreads as in the case of this Frette style. The Lozenge features argyle a tone-on-tone jacquard weave in a cotton and silk blend for a sensuous and delicate sheen. Undoubtedly another evergreen classic to keep in your home.
Made from 200-thread count cotton-viscose sateen, this imported coverlet from the famous crystal house demonstrates that when you know luxury, one can produce it in fine-leaded glass or in a lush soft-quilted coverlet. Undoubtedly, silk-blend lightweight knitwear is this coverlet's clothing equivalent.
Just because one wants to dress up their bed doesn’t mean it’s black-tie or nothing. Case in point, this cotton-waffle weave Montauk coverlet that has a rustic texture perfect for recalling a seaside locale. This coverlet’s clothing spirit animal is a classic cotton Fisherman’s sweater.
Similarly, Kassatex’s cotton garment-washed coverlet is a dressy element with that lived-in feel. Of course, our favorite clothes have that same quality. This coverlet is, for example, the equivalent of an overdyed and washed cable-knit sweater, cozy and familiar.
A Coverlet’s Best Friend: The Throw Blanket
Whether one opts for a true coverlet, a throw blanket is also a good option to further dress the bed. In lieu of a full-size coverlet, the throw blanket can be styled in similar ways across the bottom of the bed. In the same fashion, a throw blanket also provides an instant layer of warmth when needed. On the other hand, these bed blankets can also be an accent to a coverlet. For example, they can add another layer of texture, pattern, or color. In fact, just think of it as a bed’s equivalent of throwing a scarf around that sweater. Here, some of Nest Casa’s favorite styles.
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