What is nicer than waking up in winter in a bed with crisp, fresh white sheets and under a warm, addictive down duvet? Exactly, not much. The only question is: how do you create such a luxurious winter cocoon of your own? We have the answer. Make yourself comfortable, because after this article you will most likely just want to lie down. 

A down duvet

Step one is choosing the perfect down duvet. Which one suits you best is different for everyone. Do you get cold easily at night, and is your partner invariably the victim? Then a duvet with a high percentage of down or a heavier winter version is a good choice for you. Do you, despite the cold, tend to get warm quickly? Then go for a lightweight All Year duvet. If you then miss that ‘embracing’ feeling, there are also options that do embrace but nevertheless feel cool. 

Consider it done? Then step 2 is choosing the amount of down in your duvet. All DOUXE duvets are made of down and small feathers, the only question is which ratio you go for. The DOUXE Prestige duvet , for example, consists of 100% down and is the pinnacle of luxury and comfort. The softly draping goose down duvet is super soft and, thanks to the 100% down, very lightweight, but at the same time well insulating and wonderfully warm. If you would rather go for 90% down and 10% feathers, you end up at - and later under - the DOUXE Exclusive duvet. The 10% small feathers let a little more air into the compartments, so this duvet feels slightly cooler than the Prestige duvet.

Prefer to stay away from down but still experience that luxurious feeling? That is possible. With the 100% synthetic microfibres, the duvet in Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam. This duvet is the optimal synthetic version of a real down duvet. The microfibres are processed as loose small particles in separate compartments, which makes it feel like real down. Too technical, this story? Then take our word for it: it feels just like the real thing.

The featherbed

In America they will look at you strangely if you say you have never heard of this product - there the featherbed is by now as popular as free refills of your cola cup.

The funny thing is: although featherbeds are one of the best-kept secrets of five-star hotels, they have actually been around for centuries. In the past they were a luxury item reserved for the wealthy. You know - the Downton Abbey types among us. But that has changed. As mentioned, Americans are mad about them, or well - figuratively speaking, because the featherbed is a kind of extra mattress that you put on top of your bed and that gives you precisely that luxurious ‘I never want to leave this bed because cocoon’ feeling.

The evenly distributed feathers and down provide the right support and comfort, which gives you that wonderful feeling of floating. Call it sleeping on a cloud, call it sleeping in heaven - we call it: welcome to the world of featherbeds.

Sateen-woven sheets

Think sateen can only be found in Martin Moreiro’s bedroom? Certainly not. Just take a look. In a great many luxury hotels you will find sateen-woven cotton sheets on your bed. It is often thought that sateen and percale are different types of cotton, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is all in the weave. Read here how exactly that works.

A little theory: sateen and percale are two different weaving techniques, neither better than the other. Sateen is a 1-over-4 weave and percale a 1-over-1 or plain weave, but without going into too much detail: the fabric feels different as a result. Which should you go for? That is a matter of taste. And tastes - exactly, differ. One person likes the crisp feel of percale, another the silky-soft feel of sateen. Percale feels cooling and is perfect for summer, and sateen feels softer and warmer, which makes it perfect for now. The colour white is of course always a good idea, but for that ultimate winter cocoon feeling you could also consider Champagne, Misty Blue or Stormy Grey.

Finishing touches

Lying in bed to get through the winter successfully is lovely, but you have to eat too. Do you prefer to hold on to that luxury all day long? Even when you have to go back and forth (to the fridge) for a moment? Then make sure you have a bathrobe and warmed slippers. Warmed? Yes, warmed.