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

[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.