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

[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)