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Visit a bed and bath store, and you’ll find aisle after aisle devoted to every type of bedding. There are soft, comfortable sheets that make sliding into bed a joy; blankets that warm up chilly winter nights, and many different types of bedding toppers. The last category is where confusion might set in—comforter, duvet cover, quilt, bedspread: What’s the difference, and why should you choose one over the other, anyway? While sheets and blankets are mostly functional, the bedding set topper has a more decorative purpose—it sets the pace for your bedroom’s style and feel. So when it’s time to give your bedroom a new look, it helps to know which type of topper is the best choice for your space.

Quilts

The term quilt comes with lots of nostalgic connotations in addition to defining a type of bedding. Feather Quilting is an artistic endeavor as well as a style of manufacturing. A traditional quilt has three layers: top, inner batting, and bottom. The top layer of a quilt is crafted from many different pieces of fabric stitched together into complex patterns. The batting is a thin inner layer of wool or down, and the bottom is usually a solid piece of fabric. The quilter stitches through all three layers, creating the familiar quilted look of this very old art form. Some of the traditional American quilt designs include a double wedding ring, log cabin, patchwork, and flying geese. Quilt color schemes can be very bright and varied, or a mix of subtle colors, or a colored pattern on a white or solid background.

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Today, inexpensive quilts are generally made with sewing machines, not by hand, and the patterns are sometimes dyed onto the fabric instead of pieced together with fabric scraps. Quilts with feather pillow are usually made from cotton or cotton blends and are lightweight, thus perfect for summer use or as a winter topper with blankets underneath.

Quilts work especially well in country, rustic, coastal, or any other casual decorating style.

Comforters

Typically, a comforter is defined as a thick bedding topper filled with down or a synthetic substitute. Many comforters are sewn-through or quilted to keep the filling in place, but unlike a quilt, a comforter’s stitching is not ornately patterned. The amount and type of fill determine how much warmth a comforter provides. Probably the most popular type of bedding topper in the U.S., you can find comforters in just about any theme, color, style or design you desire. Cotton, cotton blends, and synthetics are the most common fabrics. Comforters are usually warm enough to use without a blanket underneath. Often, you’;ll find comforters sold as a set with matching shams.

Comforters are especially good for children’s bedrooms, as you can find a wide range of comforter/sheet sets in a bag for kid’s rooms. They are also a good choice if you are shopping on a tight budget.