Keeping A Duvet In Place Like A Pro

Duvets are often mistaken for comforters, given the similarities in the function of these bed staples. Both are usually placed on top of the bed and keep you warm and snug while you sleep, especially during those cold nights.

Duvets, sometimes called duvet inserts, are made from a cloth that is sewn to function and look like a large bag. This bag contains soft materials like feathers, fleece, and other synthetic alternatives. When not in use, it is laid flat on your blanket or folded to the bottom of the bed.

Duvet covers are what are typically used with duvets. This is the outer layer for your duvet—pillows are like duvets, and pillowcases are duvet covers. Duvet covers’ primary function is to help keep your duvet clean until the subsequent washing. It is easier to wash the duvet cover than the actual duvet.

How To Keep Duvet In Place

One of the challenges for most homemakers regarding this one-of-a-kind type of blanket is how to keep the duvet in place.

Read on and learn the different hacks to keep the duvet cover in place.

Why Does Your Duvet Move Around Inside The Cover?

While duvets and duvet covers have their perks, one almost annoying thing happens in this duvet duo—it slips. And when the duvet moves around inside, this can cause bunching or the insides to go in all directions when you toss and turn during the night, leaving you with a duvet and duvet cover that won’t lay flat on your bed.

Here are three of the most common reasons why your duvet moves inside the cover.

Slippery Shells

Here is how to hold a duvet cover in place. Consider the material of your duvet and duvet cover. Cotton makes for the best duvet cover material.

Cotton is comfortable, soft, and requires minimal to zero maintenance while providing a luxurious and cozy feel. Linen is another option for duvet covers.

You need to avoid covers that are made of rayon and silk, which are both slippery materials. There should be a little hold and traction between the two for the duvet and the duvet cover to stay in place. Rayon and silk cannot provide you with this hold, so as a result, there needs to be more hold and control on the duvet.

Wrong Size

A second factor contributing to your duvet’s increased movement and inability to stay in its duvet cover is an inadequate fit.


One of the most important things to keep in mind when shopping for duvet covers is that they need to fit your duvet properly and vice versa. If either of these two is smaller or larger than the other, expect the duvet to come out of place, bunch, or slip around.


Note that even if you have a duvet and duvet cover of the right size, if you did not ensure that all the corners of your duvet are pushed inside snugly into the corners of your duvet cover, there is still a high chance that one corner will slip or move around. So if you have a bigger set, like a super king or king, getting another pair of hands to help you with the task is the best way to do it right.

Your Sleeping Habits

While asleep, you may not be aware that you are causing your duvet to move around. But your habits can be the culprit. There are instances when the duvet moves around inside the duvet because you tend to grab the cover to either cover your neck or completely cover your face.

When you do this, chances are you only grab the duvet cover and not the entire duvet with the duvet cover. Two people sleeping and sharing the same duvet and cover also tend to make the duvet move inside because the set needs to resist and keep up with two people pulling at different angles.

One of the corners of the duvet inside the corner is likely to come away, especially if one tends to move and tug a lot while sleeping.

How Can I Prevent My Duvet From Sliding Away From The Cover

Do you wake up several times at night to adjust and fix your duvet that keeps slipping? Are you one of the many wondering how to keep a duvet cover in place? 

Don’t worry because there are real and working solutions and hacks to keep duvet covers in place, and here are some of them.

Select A Sturdy Shell Material

So the first thing to pay attention to if you want to know how to keep a duvet insert in place is choosing the suitable material for your duvet cover. It has to have the right kind of texture and be strong enough to withstand the usual wear and tear and the constant tugging and folding.  

Other options besides cotton and linen are listed below:

  • Flannel is not the best choice for summer and the hotter months, but it is also considered the softest among all the fabrics, with a unique fuzzy texture.
  • Percale cotton is the strongest and most durable material recommended for duvet covers; this breathable and lightweight fabric has a lower thread count but has impressively tightly woven threads.
  • Cotton-polyester blend is another durable option but more breathable than cotton or linen.

Pay Close Attention To Sizes

Another foolproof way how to keep a duvet in place is to confirm the length and width of your duvet. The duvet cover should be at least slightly larger than the duvet inside, but not so large that the duvet slides or moves around freely.

How to keep a duvet in place without ties? With a perfect fit!

Use Corner Ties or Straps

The answer to how to keep a duvet in place is to use the ties that come with the duvet. Usually, duvets come with ties on them, and these straps function like an inside button to hold your duvet in place by attaching them to the four corners.

As you have observed, the duvet can slide and move around the duvet cover, or it may bunch up on one corner of the duvet. Thanks to these corner ties, you can tie the corners of your duvet to your duvet cover or untie it in case it’s time to wash the duvet cover.

Duvet ties are efficient and practical. How do I stop my duvet from moving inside the cover?

Ties are your best friend.

Especially if you have larger beds, which would mean larger duvets and comforters.

Aside from ensuring that your duvet doesn’t slide from its cover, you can keep it clean until the next wash. Make sure that you are using the duvet ties correctly to keep them in place by following these instructions:

  1. Ensure the duvet is flat on your bed.
  2. Prepare your duvet cover by turning it inside out. Get the top corner of your duvet and attach all three ties to the loops or hoops.
  3. Flip your duvet cover so your duvet completely goes inside the cover.
  4. Attach the bottom and the side ties to the loops or hoops.
  5. Button it up or zipper it—depending on what your duvet cover has, and then fluff and shake it up until your duvet cover entirely covers the duvet.

Use Duvet Clips Or Grips

What if your duvet doesn’t come with ties or hoops? How do you secure a duvet without a loop?

Here’s how.

Check out online marketplaces like Amazon for snap-on duvet grips or comforter clips. Although this is a temporary solution, it would still work, especially if you need more time to sew loops and ties on the corners of your duvet.

The idea behind using duvet clips or grips is to prevent your duvet from shifting and moving inside the duvet cover. What’s good about this recommendation is that the grips are simple to attach and remove, besides being cheap and effective.

Additionally, there are plenty of variations for a short-term solution for duvet clips, like snap-on and magnetic ones. There are certain brands though that already come with clips, and if yours happen to have this, all you need to do is to follow this advice:

“Quite a few duvets come with small clips in each corner and you should look for these. Then you attach the clips to the blanket at each corner and it keeps all the parts in their place.”

What’s not good about using duvet clips is when they brush against your skin while sleeping. Since these clips are made of metal, they can give you a cold fright. But does it work?

Definitely!

Velcro And Grommet Installation

If sewing is not your thing, using Velcro or grommets is how to keep a duvet in place without ties.

Depending on your choice, you simply need to put these adhesives and edge strips on the areas where the duvet and the duvet color need to be fastened together. 

Again, this is a short-term solution, but it works all the same and should answer your question of how to stop a duvet from moving in the cover.

Why Are Safety Pins A Big No? Or The Case Against Safety Pins

How do I get my duvet to stay in place? You might consider using safety pins, but you better forget about this idea.

While safety pins are the cheapest option, readily available since most households keep a stash of this, the effectiveness and reliability of safety pins rank low.

Even the biggest safety pins in your home tend to open when subjected to force. So if you securely place your duvet and duvet cover with these pins, the pins will eventually open after several tugs and pulls. And imagine what open pins can do to your skin.

Another reason why safety pins are a big no-no is they can cause damage to your duvet cover. You can’t put these pins in the same spot after removing them. For example, if you take off your duvet cover for a wash and then put it back, you would undoubtedly pin the safety pins in a slightly different location.

Over time, this would lead to dozens of small holes, and due to wear and tear, the fabric’s strength decreases, which could lead to bigger holes and tears.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does A Comforter Go Inside A Duvet Cover?

A comforter can be used as it is. It doesn’t need a duvet cover, but if you prefer, you can put your comforter inside a duvet cover for added protection. Your comforter can serve as the insert for your duvet.

How Do I Stop My Duvet From Moving Inside The Cover?

Ensuring that your duvet stays in place and does not move inside the cover is now doable and easy, thanks to duvet clips. Or you can follow this advice: 

Either pin or sew a 12-inch-long piece of ribbon to each corner of the duvet and the inside corners of the cover. Tie the two pieces of ribbon together tightly.”

How Do You Secure A Duvet Without A Loop?

Most duvets on the market come with built-in ties, so you can tie them together and hold everything in place. If your duvet doesn’t come with this, you can DIY the loops using shoelaces or ribbons and sew them into every corner of the duvet—inside and out. Another option to secure your duvet is to use clips or Velcro straps that you can attach at all corners.

How Do I Stop My Duvet From Going Flat?

One of the best ways to keep or refresh the fluffiness of your duvet is to run it in your dryer but only on the low heat setting. Put several tennis balls into socks you no longer use and toss them inside your dryer for 30 minutes. This will fluff up and redistribute the filling of your duvet.

With these, you now know how to keep the duvet in place, and your question of how to keep the duvet from shifting inside the cover is now answered.

Every recommendation mentioned here is practical and well-tested, so best of luck, and soon, you’ll be a pro at handling your duvet and duvet covers.

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