Software
Houzz Logo Print
homestyles2

What am I doing wrong with my down comforter?

11 years ago

I'm wanting to do a gray/black/purple theme with my bedroom. I was planning on using a fluffy white down comforter, gray sheets, and then gray pillows with one or two deep purple. So, I proceed on buying a down comforter, a beautiful gray rug, a gray throw blanket to toss on the end of the bed.. ( have not gotten to the pillows yet) and gray lamps and it looks TERRIBLE. I see tons of beautiful photographs of down comforters used in the bedroom and mine looks nothing like it. No where NEAR it. What am I doing wrong......

Comments (19)

  • 11 years ago

    Do you have a duvet cover? The duvet is usually white, but it's still usually wrapped in a cover for cleaning.

    Otherwise, a photo would help.

  • 11 years ago

    No, it is a down comforter for sure. I will post a photo, but yikes. I am in the middle of moving- so you will literally have to ignore everything else but the aspects I mentioned. I will have a different headboard and night stands and the photo on the bed is just to see how it looks. Where do I go from here? How could I incorprate the colors I am imagining?


  • 11 years ago

    How about a purple throw instead of the grey. You can also incorporate the colors in art and toss pillows. Your wall color appears to be gold. I think you need to go with a cooler tone.

  • 11 years ago

    I am moving to an apartment so walls will be white! Do you think a deeper purple would go okay?

  • 11 years ago

    Put the comforter into a duvet, that will protect it and give you the look you're going for.

  • 11 years ago

    I know the comforter is grey, but I im leaning towards something like this


  • 11 years ago

    This comforter is from overstock. It's much fluffier looking than the one you have. Yours seems too flat. My personal opinion is that I like the way duvet covers look, but I don't like that they are a pain to take on and off.

  • 11 years ago

    How much purple do you want in the room? Your inspiration picture looks mostly grey and white.

  • 11 years ago

    yeah. I think it may be the fluffy that I'm missing. I like the layering style of the picture above. For purple- I just want hints of it here and there

  • 11 years ago

    Look what that layering entails - there are five different covers on that inspiration picture from Nordstrom. And seven pillows, two of them in fur.


  • 11 years ago

    I'd get a duvet cover for the comforter. Ideally, two inches smaller than the comforter on all sides. That will give the comforter loft as well as protect the comforter from sweat and other grime.

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Did you shake it out really well? My DH tends to smooth and flatten ours which I don't like. I shake it out well every morning. Fluffy! Also, could depend on the amount of fill. Some manufacturers don't add as much fill as others. Some will let you choose the amount of fill depending on how warm you need it to be.

    ETA: I am betting that one in the picture from Overstock has been photoshopped or has additional stuff under it to get that loft. Not unlike the way models are "improved" in photos.

  • 11 years ago

    Regarding the Overstock image, it's also the angle they used to take the picture that makes it look big and puffy. OPs pic is looking down onto the bed, which flattens everything. The inspiration Nordstroms pic is looking up toward the bed (and there is a LOT piled in those layers).

    A good way to achieve a fluffy, overstuffed look is to stuff it into a duvet. We all have down comforters, and my kids have identical comforters on identical beds. They have different duvets though, one is pre-made and one I made. The one I made is a bit small for the comforter, which is nice because it doesn't shift around. That one always looks fluffy and cozy. The other tends to flatten out and shift to one end. I'm planning to take the pre-made one apart, size it down, and use some other fabric to make it into two matching duvets that are sized a bit small for the comforters (since my kids don't fluff or re-shape their comforters).

  • 11 years ago

    Duvet cover it is. Should I stick with white or should I maybe go gray instead?

  • 11 years ago

    White walls? Go w/gray. Otherwise, your room will look like a hospital room.

  • 11 years ago

    I have white walls and white duvet covers --- and it doesn't look like a hospital because I have wood, bamboo, lamb skin, and sometimes colored pillows.
    all white bedrooms

    Go to IKEA or H&M and go crazy on duvet covers. They are inexpensive, and you can have at least a second set.


  • 11 years ago

    Another element in the Nordstrom pic is the beautiful blue wall, which really sets off the bedding...making the white look whiter, and keeping the gray from looking dull or dirty. You may be limited in your wall colors if you are renting an apartment, but pump up the accessory colors if you have to keep white walls.

    If your comforter doesn't get as fluffy as you want, even after getting a cover, I'd look for an inexpensive twin sized comforter and add it to the top of the one you have (inside the cover). Often the down shifts down to the sides, leaving the top too flat; the twin will add loft on the top only.

  • 11 years ago

    I think you can have a lovely, easy to care for room that doesn't require duvet covers and layers of stuffing. If I were you, I'd find another inspiration picture with the colors you love but doesnt require an army of fabrics or materials to make it something you love.