Brides USA

DETAIL S

In your first year of

marriage, you’ll

spend 3,000 hours

in bed (not all of

them sleeping). For a

lush love nest, follow

our tips on register-

ing for bedding.

BY EMILY HSIEH

GE T COMFORTABLE

T

he comforter is the first thing you see (and feel) when it

comes to your bed, so start there. “Fillings range from

synthetics like PrimaLoft to pricier 100 percent silk, but

the most investment-worthy material is long-lasting, light-

weight, warm-as-you-need-it down,” says Brides wedding style

editor Kate Donovan. To find your perfect topper, consider

these three factors:

Fill power Ranging from 500 to 800, the fill power of a comforter

describes the quality and number of insulating “clusters” of

down—the fluffy balls that come from

underneath the bird’s feathers—and corre-

sponds to the blanket’s loft and warmth. The

level you need depends on where you live,

says Shannon Maher, a professor of home products development

at the Fashion Institute of Technolog y, but unless you’re based in

an extremely cold environment, like northern Maine, most people

can use a midlevel weight (650 to 700 fill power) year-round.

Down type Whether you go for premium white goose down or

less-expensive duck, make sure the label says “100 percent

down,” meaning the comforter will be warm and lightweight.

Shell construction How a comforter is stitched also contributes

to its loft, says Maher. The best option is a “baffle box,” which

divides your topper into squares to keep the

filling evenly distributed, allowing for max-

imum air circulation and creating that neat,

fluff y look you see in home-decor mags.

FAVORITE COMFORTER BRANDS

SPLURGE Cuddledown, Scandia Home

SAVE Company Store, L.L. Bean

THE SEXIEST

ROOM IN

THE HOUSE

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

160 JUNE/JULY 2016

SIMON UPTON