A question for my Brit friends:

[xiphias]

Lis is reading a book about the history of various rooms in the house, written by a British author. And she keeps saying things about modern living that sound so completely alien.

First: do British houses lack closets? Are closets basically an American thing?

Second, and more weirdly: this author appears to claim that everybody stopped using top sheets after the introduction of the duvet. If we're interpreting it correctly, she seems to claim that a bed goes, from bottom to top, mattress, fitted sheet, duvet, and that's it. No blankets, no top sheet.

Now, our beds in this house go mattress, mattress pad, fitted sheet, top sheet, from zero to two blankets depending on season, then a top layer which could be a bedspread, a comforter, or a duvet. In cases where the nighttime temperature is likely to be unpredictable, an extra blanket, afghan, or something like that may be folded up on the foot of the bed. You can kick it off, or leave it as an extra layer (well, two layers since it's folded) over your feet, or pull it up as an extra blanket.

The "just a duvet" thing seems unsanitary. Am I reading it wrong?

Comments

[jenett]

I do

- mattress
- wool mattress pad (best thing ever)
- fitted sheet
- duvet with cover over it.
- periodic cat for additional foot warmth. Also body pillows.

The cover comes off and gets washed, like the fitted sheet and pillow cases. But I don't use a separate sheet. (They seem too much work for me: they get tangled, they are not sufficient protection against the cat playing attack the feet in the night anyway, and so on.)

Wikipedia mentions the cover part in the first part of the description.

(I grew up like this, mostly: my parents had actual blankets on their beds and sheets, on and off, but I've pretty much always had just the duvet + cover + fitted sheet combo, and that's what my mother uses now too.)

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I'd have thought that removing and replacing the duvet cover is way, way more work than a top sheet. I found doing so to be a nightmare. Does it get easier with practice?

[jenett]

Well, I wash and replace the duvet cover every month or two, depending.

(I do not have a washing machine at home, so I only haul laundry every 2 weeks or so: even if I used a top sheet, I would probably not wash my sheets more often. But since I generally go from bath to sitting on the couch to bed, the amount of actual dirt involved in the process most of the time is fairly minimal.)

It does get easier with practice: mine comes from Land's End, which puts useful little ribbon ties in the corners of the cover, so it's just a matter of finding the bottom corners and tieing them in, and then shaking it out.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

You are reading it right. The notion of a top sheet beneath a duvet just seems weird. Which is a significant change of thinking for my generation (we who grew up beneath a top sheet and blankets and a quilt on top of those in wicked weather), but we accomplished it.

Changing a duvet cover is more hassle than a sheet, sure - but there is of course a technique to it (this has to do with turning it inside out, grasping inner corners, then seizing the duvet and shimmying). Also, it is the Best Cat Game Ever. Mac always likes to help us make the bed. He can get beneath the bottom sheet, inside the duvet cover, everywhere...

[quietann.livejournal.com]

Best cat game ever? I will have to keep that in mind :)

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Mac absolutely adores it. There are all the opportunities to get under things and into things and so forth, and then there is pouncing on invisible enemies all across the newly-tightened sheet, and in the end there is a whole new bed to sprawl upon and sleep in...

[nitoda]

+1 - I find top sheets under covered duvets to be annoying and inconvenient unless it's a hot room and there's a likelihood that the duvet will not be needed at all. Yes, duvet covers are more difficult to wash than flat sheets, but we've got used to it. Duvets or blankets are a real pain to wash and dry, this is only ever done in summer unless there's a really good reason (like they get seriously soiled).

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Oh, and yes: traditional British houses lack closets. The house I grew up in (late-Victorian terrace) had a few built-in cupboards and a storage space beneath the stairs, but mostly our storage needs were met by furniture.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Okay -- a followup question: if you've got only a duvet, how do you deal with differences in temperature throughout the year? Or, indeed, how do you adjust your bed temperature to your personal preferences even WITHOUT considering seasons?

[jenett]

I run fairly warm, so it is mostly not an issue for me? And I live in a place where it fairly reliably gets to cool blanket temp over night even in the summer.

I generally always have a fan going for circulation reasons. In the winter, I keep the house at about 68ish, and duvet is fine.

In the summer, it gets down into the 60s reliably, even in July and August. (the few nights it doesn't, I don't use any blankets.) I have the window open and a fan with a thermometer that will go off if it starts getting particularly chilly.

All of my bedding (except, actually, the inside duvet thing, which I plan to replace sometime this year with wool) is natural fiber, so most of it breathes very well, and moisture evaporates rather than getting stuck.

[pogodragon.livejournal.com]

A top sheet with a duvet is horribly uncomfortable, with a bit of practise it's easy to change the cover even on the super-kingsize one we have here.

I sleep with a heavy duvet all year round, but then I'm odd. A standard thing to do is have two duvets of different weight that will fasten together, so you have a light one, a medium one and - add them together - a heavy one. I go for the 'stick body parts out from under to cool off' method mostly though.

[nitoda]

+1 - we have the lightest possible duvet on our superkingsize bed shared by three and I get hot enough even in winter that I wriggle out from underneath it several times in the night. M sleeps in the middle because she is heat-seeking.

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

I sleep with a thick feather duvet, summer and winter. No top sheet at all. I wash the duvet cover, and for one person and a double bed it's not too annoying to change it. For a bigger one, it's annoying to change by one person, but it helps to have an open staircase to dangle it down.

In the summer, having only a duvet makes it easy to adjust body temperature by sticking various limbs out. This is much easier than with multiple layers of tucked in covers.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

You have a lightweight summer duvet and a heavyweight winter duvet.

But also in Britain the temperature range isn't as startling.

[happybat.livejournal.com]

Summer duvet and winter duvet. In Glasgow at least, there are so few days that are really warm, and so few days that are really cold (-5 C is really cold, +25 C is really warm) that you can easily work two duvets and be comfortable nearly all the time. In the depths of winter I do use a feathery mattress topper, and will drag through a few blankets to sit on top of the duvet.

By the way, I wash all my bedlinen every week for preference, or fortnight at the outside. I'd consider throwing on a new duvet cover once a week MUCH easier than making a bed with a flat sheet every morning. I think it must be practice.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

There was one time last month that we went from -5 C to +25 C within forty-eight hours. . . I wouldn't say that's common, but it wasn't weird enough to be worth significant comment.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

I am American, and I don't use a top sheet--just a duvet or washable comforter.

[ailbhe]

British, Irish and Swedish houses lack closets in the American sense, as far as I know.

A duvet without a separate washable cover would be a quilt, no?

An underblanket between the mattress and fitted sheet makes the bed both cleaner and comfier; cooler in summer and warmer in winter etc. Mattress protectors and memory foam mattress toppers/pads and things are a thing now too.

We have mattress, optional waterproof layer depending on continence of occupants, cotton layer, fitted sheet, duvet cover full of duvet. We wash the duvet covers and sheets about weekly and the underblankets about fortnightly, modulo biological events.

Duvets are sold with a TOG rating to indicate how much warmth they hold in. We also wear pyjamas of different weights depending on weather. In the depths of winter we use the spring/autumn and summer duvets together; in high summer we use no duvet at all, just a sheet. In between times we have a blanket to add to the duvet if necessary.

The children have duvets of varying weights according to personal preference and laundry (all the duvets in the house can be washed in the machine), and also stacks of polyester fleece blankets for topping up. And footed sleepsuits for freezing weather or camping.

[navrins]

"Duvet" is not a word I think I'd ever encountered before I was 20. I'm still not sure I've ever heard it - at least, I don't know how to pronounce it, and I'm never quite sure what one is until I look it up.

In my household-of-origin, we had mattress, fitted sheet, person, blanket. In winter, "blanket" might be a comforter; in summer it was usually something lighter. (We also had central heating and air conditioning, so outside temperature didn't really affect bedroom temperature much.)

The women I have lived with generally added a top sheet between person and blanket, and I think this is an excellent addition, especially since I like to be covered even when it's way too warm for a blanket.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

Doo-veigh.

[dianavilliers.livejournal.com]

Duvet is pronounced as though French. Du-vey.

Doona if you're an Aussie.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

S' not spelled "duvet" if you're an Aussie, though. ;)

(Just found out it was originally a trademarked term like Kleenex. Interesting.)

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

It doesn't get cold in the UK. There's your difference. (Dear ppl from the UK: I live in Minnesota. No it doesn't.)

[jazzfish]

I have nothing useful to add, but this thread is fascinating. Thank you for starting it!

[baratron.livejournal.com]

That is indeed how most people in this country make their bed. I am an anomaly, since I can't sleep unless I am tucked into bed tightly. (It's a pressure thing). So I have, in order: mattress protector, bottom fitted sheet, top flat sheet, duvet in its cover, and one to three thin blankets, depending on season. I like as much weight on top of me as is possible.

You know that duvets come in different weights? They are rated by "tog", and a summer duvet is 4.5 tog, a spring/autumn duvet about 8 tog, and then you can join them both together for winter. Neither Richard nor I bother, though. He can control his body temperature perfectly even when asleep, and simply adds a blanket on the coldest nights. I use 101 thin layers and throw them off/put them back on when I get too hot/cold.

[tylik.livejournal.com]

I like to sleep under weight. And I hate to sleep warm. Those heavy kind of loosely woven cotten "thermal" blankets are about my favorite thing ever. (Though I don't like having things tucked in to the bottom of the mattress - at least one layer should be wrapped around my feet. Though socks will also do.)

[linenoise.livejournal.com]

Totally seconding the woven cotton blankets, for exactly the same reason. Although I tuck everything in. I toss too much to stay covered if stuff isn't tucked tight. (West Coast USA, not relevant to original topic)

[dianavilliers.livejournal.com]

Matress,
matress cover,
fitted sheet,
person,
duvet in duvet cover,
second duvet in second duvet cover (optional).

The duvet covers get washed on the same cycle as sheet and pillowcases.

[tylik.livejournal.com]

Actual

Mattress
Bottom Sheet (usually fitted, though I get great amusement of using a flat sheet and hospital corners)
Top Sheet
Two cotton blankets
A mostly cotton quilt
A heavy wool blanket

Though that's the it's freezing and I'm too stubborn to turn the heat up collection (and why the heavy wool blanket is on top. Aesthetically, the quilt, which was made for me by a friend and is quite lovely, should be on top. It's a really heavy wool blanket - I used to use it as a mattress pad on a water bed. Most cold nights I push it back so it's just on my feet after I've warmed the bed up.)

Ideally I'd swap my rather dead memory foam mattress for a latex mattress and memory foam topper, possibly add a mattress pad, and then up the stack. Oh, and when it's *really* cold, I throw my wool cloak over the top of it all. (I like sleeping in cold rooms.)

I'm considering picking up a locally humanely raised lambswool blanket. Of course, around this time is when I swap off the flannel sheets for the cotton percale and start trying not to bake to death.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

Hm. This explains why I was so uncomfortable in some hotel or another within the past year; there was a top sheet between me and the duvet. But I'd imagine a lot of Americans would complain if there wasn't...

We have:
-- mattress
-- foam finger mattress cover
-- flannel bottom sheet
-- flannel top sheet
-- lightweight quilt
-- down comforter

We use flannel bedding year round and switch out the quilt and comforter for a thermal blanket when it's warm, but not *really* warm.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

Wait, you usually have a top sheet at home, but between you and a comforter it is weird?

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

In a lot of countries they don't do top sheets but instead a comforter in a cover. I hate hate hate it, because you either are under a comforter and potentially too warm or you have nothing vetween you and the cold air. This was the case both in england and in Israel this last trip.

Interestingly, M, who was raised here but with a mother who had grown up in Germany, tells me that it wasn't until a college girlfriend that he was introduced to the concept of a top sheet under blankets / comforter. To him, this had been an all but life-changing Best Thing Ever.

[(Anonymous)]

You know, this duvet only thing must make toga parties awfully inconvenient.

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

Also on the topic of hygiene: I sometimes air my feather duvet outside on sunny days. I've never had it cleaned. It doesn't smell.

[tober.livejournal.com]

Here in China (I'm in Shanghai right now) the convention for beds also seems to be as you describe - fitted (usually) bottom sheet topped with a duvet/cover. How often the cover gets washed and whether it's sanitary... who's to say. I can tell you that the vast majority of bathrooms here have only cold water at the sink and no soap[1]. That's arguably not sanitary (FWIW it bothers me a bit and I always carry pre-moistened towelettes when I'm here)

[1] Hotel bathrooms usually do have hot water and soap. Restaurant bathrooms, though, don't. I'd like to think that restaurant employee washing-up facilities have both hot water and soap but I'm pretty sure a lot of them don't.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think we may be looking at a difference in terminology. In Brit-speak a closet is more often called a "built-in wardrobe" or- if it's big- a "walk-in wardrobe".

We use a top sheet but- judging by the comments here- this could be eccentric.

[gingicat]

I am an American and I don't use a top sheet nor a duvet - my husband and I each have our own blankets, and I prefer a cotton thermal blanket and he prefers a fleece one. If our room is particularly warm, I'll grab one of the flat sheets to use as a blanket. I also have a hard time sleeping with my toes covered, which lets out doing bottom corners with a top sheet, and duvets don't wrap around my shoulders properly.

[lietya.livejournal.com]

Another American who apparently inadvertently follows this pattern : we have a mattress pad (waterproof b/c of barfy cats), then fitted sheet, then comforter, then blanket(s) and top sheet to taste depending on season. The final sheet on top is also down to the cats, a couple of whom shed like crazy and it's easier to wash and replace that as frequently as necessary. We live just outside of Springfield, MA, so our weather is similar to yours; in summer, we generally go down to sleeping under just a sheet.

Sheets get changed every two weeks, comforter washed wholesale once a month (unless a cat nailed it), and so far it seems to stay reasonably hygienic.

[sashajwolf.livejournal.com]

Our house is late Victorian. It doesn't have closets in the sense of a walk-in space, but we do have an airing cupboard (a built-in space with space for storing and/or drying linens; usually this also houses a boiler, but ours is in the bathroom. We also have a utility room (a walk-in room that houses large appliances, in our case a washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge/freeze and vacuum cleaner); we use the space that isn't taken up by the machines to store our garden equipment and recycling bin. We also have some storage space in the loft, although less than we used to have since we had our loft insulation brought up to current standards.

In winter my bed goes fitted sheet, duvet in cover, bedspread. I used to only put the bedspread on when it was really cold inside, but now that we have a dog who is allowed to sleep on my bed, I have it on permanently to protect the duvet. In summer it just goes fitted sheet, bedspread. The bedding gets washed whenever I start feeling like it needs freshening up, which tends to happen more quickly in summer, but that's fine. I'd much rather wash the linen a bit more often than feel confined by a top sheet; one of the first things I do when I stay in a hotel in the US is to remove that.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

A further followup:

This suggests that, in Great Britain, you can buy just a fitted sheet. Around here, I've only ever seen sheet sets -- fitted sheet, top sheet, pillowcase for twin, pillowcases for larger sizes.

In other parts of the world, bedding is sold a la carte, then? How do Americans who want to make their beds in the GB fashion deal with that? Do you just have a bunch of top sheets lying around unused?

[sashajwolf.livejournal.com]

Yes, we can buy sheets and other such items individually. Sets are also common, but they typically consist of a sheet (either fitted or flat), a duvet cover, and either one or two pillowcases; to make your bed in the US style, you would need to supplement your set with an additional sheet.

[fauxklore]

You can buy linens a la carte in the U.S. too. it gets harder and harder every year, much to my chagrin as I dislike top sheets, but you can still generally do it at better department stores.

I do use flannel top sheets as summer blankets, but normally do the comforter / quilt (in a cover, and I would not call it a duvet, because that sounds pretentious) and possibly a blanket or three on top of it much of the year because I am almost always too cold.

[dancing-crow.livejournal.com]

Also catalogs such as Company Store sell sheets separately.

[domiobrien.livejournal.com]

Having lived in Europe: closets are mostly an Americanism. European homes use wardrobes, presses, hanging racks with hooks, etc. Europeans generally also own (ed) far fewer changes of clothing, so needed less storage space. And yes, the top sheet also seems to be an Americanism. Duvet covers are available in the states, but most people I know don't use them, but have various quilts, blankets, and/or comforters they use over the top sheet. I would add that in Germany in the 1950's, many beds did not have standard-sized mattresses at we know them in the USA, but were made up of sections assembled on a wooden bed frame. These was covered by various featherbeds and down comforters, each with a washable cover. On bright clear days featherbeds were hanging out everyone's windows for airing. In hotels in France and in Luxembourg there were often very thin mattresses, but as many as 8 or 7 featherbeds, and nothing I would describe as sheets, but washable duvet covers on the featherbeds and washable covers on the many feather pillows.. Depending on how cold it was, you adjusted yourself in the bed with more or less featherbeds under you and over you. When we first moved to Germany we discovered that the few household goods we'd brought did not include pillows, my mother having decided those would be bought new there. My father asked the landlord where he could buy pillows. The landlord directed him downtown, where in a storefront the staff showed him various options with down and feather combinations of various firmness. My father chose pillows, and the staff vanished, leaving him sitting on a chair at a small table. One person returned bearing a tray with coffee and cake. My father was confused, but thanked them and drank the coffee and ate the cake. Only then did he realize that they were MAKING the pillows to order in the back room.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

What does "featherbed" mean in this context? I thought I knew the word, but I am now realizing that I've never actually gotten a solid definition of it, and the thing in my head doesn't fit your description, so my referent for "featherbed" is probably incorrect.

[domiobrien.livejournal.com]

https://www.pacificcoast.com/feather-beds?9gtype=search&9gkw=best%20featherbeds&9gad=23263736168&gclid=CJSNir7O47YCFdCZ4AodkwoA6g

sort of a firmer thicker down comforter-like thing

[nitoda]

Closets in the UK are things we come out of when declaring minority sexual orientations. Our houses are generally not large enough to have closets in the American sense. If a luxury top-end house had such a space it would be called a walk-in wardrobe. I've never lived in a house with one.

[fatpie42.livejournal.com]

First: do British houses lack closets? Are closets basically an American thing?

That'd be a wardrobe. I don't know about this whole "walk-in" thing. Whether a wardrobe is moveable or built into the wall or big enough to walk inside, it's still a "wardrobe" over here.

[ragman-jack.livejournal.com]

For me, mattress, mattress pad, fitted sheet. blanket as needed.