What Is a Coverlet?
Bedspreads, duvets, comforters, quilts, throws, coverlets—there are a LOT of options when it comes to the blankets you put on the top of your bed, over your sheets. While some of these bedding types are noticeably different, say a comforter and a quilt, for one, the boundaries between others are murky at best. We’re here to help explain what we think might be the most confusing of the bunch, the humble coverlet.
What Is a Coverlet?
Not quite a quilt, not quite a bedspread, the coverlet is a lightweight blanket that has two primary uses. “A coverlet is meant to be a lightweight layer that can either be made into the bed, between the sheet and duvet, to act like a blanket, or folded at the foot of the bed for an extra layer of warmth or decoration,” says Monica Bhargava, Pottery Barn’s executive vice president of product development and design. “Coverlets were traditionally made of matelassé fabric, which is a weaving technique used to create texture and mimic quilting. And since they weren’t quilted, they were called coverlets, not quilts.”
What’s the Difference Between a Coverlet and a Quilt?
Let’s start with the definition of a quilt: it’s a blanket comprising two layers of woven fabric with a layer of batting in between. While old-school coverlets were not technically quilts, as they just mimicked their woven looks, that’s not the case today. “These days, we recreate the matelassé look by quilting with a lightweight batting and small quilting pattern,” says Bhargava. “This is why you see more ‘quilts’ than coverlets [on the market].” In essence, a contemporary coverlet can be a quilt, but it doesn’t have to be. One major differentiator is that true quilts are often heavier than quilted coverlets, which oftentimes forgo that middle layer of batting in order to be as lightweight as possible.
Another big difference is in the purpose of the blanket. “Coverlets differ from quilts because coverlets are usually used as a layer, where quilts can be layered or stand alone on a bed,” says Bhargava. So if your quilted blanket stands alone on top of your bed, it’s probably a quilt, but if it’s one of multiple layers, it’s probably a coverlet. Of course, quilts can also be layered, so take this all with a grain of salt.
What’s the Difference Between a Coverlet and a Bedspread?
If you’ve been using the term “bedspread” as a catch-all for the blankets you layer onto your bed, you’ve likely been using it incorrectly. “Bedspreads are designed to be oversized in order to pull up over the pillows and hang down to the floor,” says Bhargava. Coverlets are much smaller, since they’re designed to be a decorative element at the foot of your bed or a thin extra layer between bedspread, duvet, or quilt and your sheets.
When Should I Use a Coverlet?
As a lightweight blanket, coverlets are quite versatile. If you’re a hot sleeper and find your quilt or duvet too heavy in the summertime, you can use a coverlet over your sheets. And then in the winter, a coverlet can be a great extra layer for warmth. If you’re using a coverlet as decoration at the foot of your bed, then you can easily keep it there all year round.
How Should I Style a Coverlet?
Variety is the name of the game when it comes to coverlets. They come in all types of colors, patterns, materials, and styles, so it should be relatively easy to find one that suits your bedroom’s vibes, whether you skew more farmhouse-chic or Scandi-cool.
As far as styling a coverlet on your bed, you primarily have two options. First, you can fold it and leave it atop your duvet at the foot of your bed. Or your coverlet could be “made into the bed, pulled tight, and tucked around the mattress along with the sheet,” according to Bhargava. But you don’t have to leave your coverlet tucked away entirely. “Fold the duvet cover back in half to cover the foot and show the coverlet,” she says.
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