2009 September | Bedroom Decorating Idea

Southwestern Bedding: Southwest bedding

Southwestern decorating conjures up images of homes in Santa Fe with adobe walls, Terra-cotta rooftops and beautiful sunsets. But it is not limited to open country and grand mesas. Your city block, mountain hillside or country haven will do perfectly.

To appreciate southwestern style is to appreciate its roots, a vast and colorful yet harsh and yes inhospitable at times country. There are low grassy valleys and high plateaus, large volcanic mesas and thick mountain forests sometimes side by side. The materials for the homes, interior designs and decor are all contributions of bright colors, dry air and the people living there.

Southwest architecture is as varied, as the landscape itself. The Spanish influence is found in many old haciendas, mission style churches and adobe houses dotting the countryside. When we think of southwestern architecture we picture adobe homes of earth and water mixed with straw, formed into bricks and sun dried. Easily produced and available it became a primary building material. Because of continual maintenance of adobe it came necessary to finish it with stucco, a mixture of cement, sand and water. Southwestern homes have fireplaces, some in every room. A popular fireplace is a corner adobe fireplace, known a beehive. Typically not found north of the southwest, but becoming popular in southwest decorating.

Walls are made of adobe and finished with either a smooth or rough surface, depending upon the inhabitant’s preference. Ceiling construction is large beams, with smaller load bearing posts. Ceilings are sometimes covered in plaster between the beams. Windows were often small and inset to provide cooling. Many windows are halo arched in the style of the early Spanish missions. The windows often had interior shutters for protection from both the weather and hostiles. During the time of Spanish colonization, ironwork was included in all buildings. Handcrafted by local blacksmiths from discarded weapons and tools, it’s found in all areas of a home. Creativity abounds with beautiful wrought fixtures, lamps, branding irons, and handrails. Scrolls, curvatures, and loops are trademarks of these treasured handmade objects. So limit the beige and make way for a vibrant Southwestern makeover with tones of blue, orange, green and red.

Pecos Canyon Bed Set

And now what’s all this got to do with bedding? For the most part nothing except that southwest bedding is also influenced in its styling and appearance with those same roots. When you create your bedroom decor you will put together a style that is warm and inviting with paint colors, decor elements and bedding accents that come together for a magnificent retreat. After all you spend 30% of your time there and it should invite, entice and draw you to its warm cozy atmosphere. You will use bedding such as a duvet cover or southwestern bedspread. With it’s eclectic nature western bedding and quilts are also a favorite. Should you choose a duvet, comforter or bedspread? What’s the difference?

Enter the world of comfortable sleep at Quality Bedding Sets and let your imagination run wild.
Create the room you want without spending a fortune. Use our bedding, your imagination and even some of those old furnishings you packed up and forgot about. Give them and your bedroom a breath of fresh air.

So if you want southwest style keep it colorful, simple and earthy, and of course inspired by home and nature.

Comforters and Duvet Covers

Whats the difference?

Duvet covers are removable and can be laundered easily. If you are looking for an addition to your comforter, or simply a lighter more versatile bed covering, you may want to consider a duvet cover. A duvet cover is a fabric “shell” that is used to cover a down comforter or duvet. You can even use a duvet cover to give new life to that old comforter! Duvet covers are open on one end and can either button, tie or zip shut.

A comforter is a type of blanket. Comforters are intended to keep the user warm, especially during sleep, although they can also be used as mattress pads. Comforters are generally large and rectangular in shape, filled with natural or synthetic insulating material and encased in a shell/covering. Like quilts, comforters are generally used with a set of sheets.

Comforter sizes correspond with bed sizes: twin, full, queen, king, and cal-king. Comforter sizes run slightly larger than actual bed sizes to allow for draping over the sides of the bed. Typical sizes in the United States for comforters are:

Twin = 64″ Width x 87″ Length
Queen / Full = 87″ Width x 87″ Length
King = 101″ Width x 90″ Length.

A comforter is sometimes covered with a duvet (comforter) cover for protection and prolonged use. Duvet is French for “Down”. Comforter covers are similar in principle to pillowcases, usually closed with zippers or buttons. In the United Kingdom, they are only known as special types of padding Duvets.

Comforters are typically packaged in a set that also includes a bed skirt, pillow shams, and sometimes pillows.

Comforters are filled with layers of material such as polyester batting, down feathers, wool, or silk. Comforters also can be made out of fur, usually with a backing of satin or silk. The loft of the filling determines the weight as well as the level of insulation. The comforter is stitched or quilted to secure the filling and keep it evenly distributed.

The outer shells of comforters are typically constructed using cotton, silk, or polyester fabrics or blends, of varying thread counts. Comforter shells vary in design and color, often designed to coordinate with other bedding. Washing a comforter should not be done with a top-loader, minimum capacity to wash a comforter is 3.7.

Duvet Covers:

Duvet covers from the French word duvet “down” Also known as a continental quilt or doona is a type of bedding — a soft flat bag traditionally filled with down or feathers, or a combination of both and used on a bed as a blanket.

Nutmeg Leaf Duvet Cover Sets

Duvets originated in rural Europe and were made from the down feathers of the Eider duck, known for its useful insulating qualities.

Duvets are still commonly used in Europe (especially in northern Europe where it is the most common form of bed covering), and have become popular throughout the world in the late 20th century.

Duvets reduce the complexity of making a bed, as it is a single covering instead of the combination of bed sheets, blankets, and quilts or other bed covers, which is traditional in many parts of the world. The cover is called a “duvet cover” or a “quilt cover”.

In some European countries, any thick, warm blanket is subject to being called a duvet, as this has become a popular name for these kinds of blankets.

In Australia, a duvet or down quilt is often called a “Doona”, which is a genericized trademark (registered to the Tontine Group) which is derived from the equivalent common Scandinavian term dyne and popularized by the retailer IKEA in the 1970s. Originally the term continental quilt was the standard name used across Australia, and some regions continue to use this term.

The term “Duvet day” is used in some countries to describe an allowance of one or more days a year when employees can simply phone in and say that they are not coming in to work, even though they have no leave booked and are not ill. The provision of this benefit became fashionable in the late 1990s with many larger companies in the UK.

A Duvet day is a formal allowance of time off given by some employers, most commonly in the United Kingdom and United States.

It can be stipulated formally in a contract of employment and is considered part of the remunerations package along with Holiday allowance. The term has also since become used by people to reference taking a day off work for no normally accepted reason (such as sick, grievance or holiday) even if they have no official “Duvet day” entitlement with their employer.

It differs from Holiday allowance in that no prior notice is needed. An employee receives an allocation of days where if he or she gets up in the morning and doesn’t want to go to work for any reason, he or she can use a “Duvet day”.

Quality bedding sets would like to thank all of the contributors on Wikipedia for some of the content of the preceding information.

Bedding Care

Taking care of your bedding and bedding accessories is as important as the care of the rest of your household. Even though your bedding can range from inexpensive bed in the bag to custom duvet covers. You still want to keep your bedding clean and fresh for years of luxury bedding enjoyment.

A neutral, pH-balanced detergent specially designed to be gentle on your fabrics can do the job without aging your linens prematurely.

Cotton:

Cotton, a highly versatile and tough fabric can stand a lot, so go ahead and use hot water and high heat unless the care tag says otherwise. Keep your whites and colors bright with a bleach alternative. It’s better to wash at least lite and dark colors separately if you can’t separate the colors.

Comforter Care:

Use a Duvet Cover. By using a duvet cover to protect your comforter it will need to be cleaned every three to five years. Also, with a duvet cover, you won’t need a top sheet, blanket, or bedspread. Making your bed will be easier and will just need a fluff. Remove and clean your duvet cover whenever sheets are laundered.

Commercial washers are best for large items, like comforters and bedspreads. A “triple loader,” which holds a 35-pound capacity or higher, results in better aeration after the rinse cycle.

Handmade quilts usually hold special sentimental value, especially when they are precious heirlooms that have been handed down through the generations. Dry cleaning these treasured items is the most effective way to keep them looking their best. Should you choose to hand wash your item, fill a large bathtub and add a mild, non-abrasive detergent. Gently work the detergent into the fabric, using slow, kneading motions. Be careful of stitching and any special fringe that may tear easily. Never use a brush or abrasive scrubbing materials, which could damage your fabric. To rinse, drain the tub and refill it with fresh water. Slowly work the detergent out of material, then gently roll it to remove all excess water. Hang out to dry away from direct sunlight. Remember to keep it properly supported.

Washable silk:

Silk is only ever washable when it is pre-washed by the manufacturer. If you have washable silk, soak the fabric in lukewarm water with a mild soap for about 5 minutes. If the water is too hot or cold, it may cause shrinking or stretching. Rub stains lightly under the soapy water, so not to damage the fabric. Wring out the water by spreading your silk on a towel, then rolling it. The towel absorbs the majority of the water thus wringing the silk. Wrap the garment in a dry towel and let it dry somewhat. To finish drying lay it out, smooth any wrinkles and let dry.

Washing Sheets:

* Wash in cool or lukewarm water that’s less than 104F.
* Set wash cycle on “gentle”
* Use the extra rinse cycle.
* Use a gentle detergent, about half the recommended amount.
* Avoid bleach, this breaks down fabric fiber.

Drying:

* Avoid over-drying and excess heat.
* Remove sheets from the dryer promptly and fold immediately.
* If the sheets are forgotten in the dryer, and wrinkle (they will), wet a towel, add to the dryer and run it through a cycle to get the wrinkles out.

Keeping fresh clean Pillows:

Protect pillow from soil. A ticking cover will help protect the ticking and filler.

Occasionally place feather and down pillows in the dryer on low heat for ten minutes to remove humidity and help keep them resilient and fresh. Polyester fiber-fill pillows may also be freshened in the dryer on low heat. Foam rubber pillows should not be placed in the dryer.

Follow the manufacturers’ cleaning directions. If none are present, the following guidelines may be helpful. Although down-filled products are hand or machine washable, some manufacturers recommend dry-cleaning.

Wash pillows filled with down, feathers or polyester fiber-fill in the washer on the gentle cycle with warm water and a mild detergent. Check the ticking to be sure it is strong and that the seams are firmly sewn. Wash no more than two pillows at a time. Fill washer, then submerge pillows and wash four to eight minutes. Rinse in warm water three times to be sure that all detergent is removed. Thoroughly dry pillows in the dryer at low heat on the gentle cycle. The fillings hold moisture so this may take a while. Up to three to six hours for down; less for polyester. Placing a tennis shoe or a few tennis balls in the dryer will help fluff feather pillows. Polyester fillings may need to be pulled apart to fluff after drying. Some manufacturers recommend high temperatures for drying polyester pillows. Consult the label. You also can hang the pillow outdoors over night to ensure complete drying and outdoor freshness.