Comfort, flexibility, and warmth are some of the things you consider when choosing the type of bedding to use. However, some beddings like blankets and comforters are often mistaken for each other, and their names are used interchangeably even though they are different.
So, what is the difference between a comforter and a blanket?
A comforter is most suitable for cold seasons because of its better warmth characteristics, thanks to the multiple fabric layers in its structure. Blankets have only one fabric layer, making them less warm and more suitable for warmer seasons.
When shopping for your bedding, you may come across many options to choose from. That’s why it’s important to know the right vocabulary to describe what you want so that you can have an easy time.
The difference between a comforter and a blanket is clear, but there’s more you may want to know.
This article will demystify these two bedding options and explain their major differences depending on different aspects of comparison.
Differences Between A Comforter And A Blanket
Contents
Comforters and blankets play the same role – keeping you warm in bed. They come in various sizes and shapes to accommodate various bed sizes and satisfy different decoration preferences.
Also, they come in different colors and patterns so that one can choose one that resonates with their personality and will match with other colors in the bedroom.
However, they may be used for different purposes and therefore have some differences to suit their purposes. These differences are in their construction, insulation levels, and the seasons they are used.
Let’s discuss each of these differences further.
1. Their construction
The quickest way to identify the comforter and the blanket is to look at how thick they are. This is because they are constructed differently, and this determines their thickness.
As mentioned earlier, A blanket has only one layer of fabric, and a comforter is thicker because its construction has more than one layer of fabric.
The most common material in making a blanket and a comforter is cotton. However, a comforter can incorporate other materials like wool, polyester, or silk in between the outer covers.
A comforter is constructed by creating an outer shell and then filling it with an insulating fill that is made of any of the materials mentioned above.
The outer shells are made of cotton, and so they are good insulators and warm up pretty fast. As for the blanket, these layers are not there, and so it’s a single piece of cover.
Most of them are made fluffy so that they are warm enough.
2. Their insulation levels
These two bedding options provide warmth at different levels, thanks to their construction. By default, a comforter is warmer than a blanket because the comforter is thicker. I’ll explain to you how the thickness affects the warmth level.
The comforter is made in such a way that the insulation fill like cotton, silk, or polyester is trapped between the two outer covers. This insulation also traps air which improves insulation and retains the heat within the comforter.
This ensures that you are warm through the night.
For a blanket, the one layer doesn’t trap as much air, and so some heat escapes in the air. That means the blanket is not too warm and [if you use it in a cold season, it may not keep you sufficiently warm.
3. Suitable seasons
In a world where there are different seasons, you may need to keep changing your bedding choices to suit the season. In chilly winter seasons, a comforter may come in handy because it retains heat and keeps you warm all through.
You may also need to use a comforter during fall as it can also be quite cold. In other seasons like summer and spring, you can choose to use a blanket when it’s warm because it doesn’t provide too much warmth.
As mentioned earlier, the comforter has layers of material caught in between the outer covers. These layers trap air and limit airflow so that it can retain more heat within it. So, this construction works best in cold seasons where you need as much warmth as possible.
During warm seasons, you’ll need the airflow so that you can lose some heat into the air and remain cool. A comforter cannot do this because of its ability to restrain airflow.
But a blanket will work perfectly because it’s not too thick, and air can flow through its pores, thus relieving you some heat while you sleep.
Can You Use A Comforter As A Blanket?
There’s no limit to how you can use your comforter or your blanket as long as you are comfortable and warm. However, when you are using a blanket, you may need to use other bedding items like bedsheets and then arrange them in the presumed order.
For example, some people claim that placing the blanket between a bed sheet and a bedcover is the right order. This bed cover could be a comforter, another blanket, or a simple bed cover.
However, if you want to use a comforter as a comforter, you may only need to add a bedsheet, and you’ll be good to go. This is because most comforters are designed to be used without too many additions and can keep you warm sufficiently.
Some comforters have a rather rough and so may need something softer beneath it, and this is where the sheet can come in. Otherwise, you can sleep directly with the comforter and be warm all through the night without feeling the weight above you.
Imagine having a bed sheet beneath the comforter and then having another cover like a blanket on top of the comforter. It would be very warm (maybe more than you’d want) and also a little heavy. You don’t want to be uncomfortable or too sweaty as you sleep.
Some comforters are designed with lighter material, and so you can use them comfortably as blankets. They are also suitable for use in warm seasons because of their lightweight and so do not accumulate a lot of heat.
Comforter Or Blanket: Which Is Better?
You can choose a comforter or a blanket depending on different considerations. For example, a comforter is bigger and heavier because of its many layers.
That means it may be a little difficult to store as it may require a lot of space.
Another consideration would be the type of season you are in so that you can get one that will meet your warmth needs.
For instance, if you are in summer, a blanket will be enough to keep you cool and maintain a good temperature balance so that you don’t sweat too much.
Similarly, during winter, you may need to use a comforter because it’s warm enough.
A blanket may meet this need sufficiently unless you add some other bedding like a bed cover to boost its warmth.
You may also want to consider the prices for both comforters and blankets because the prices vary depending on the quality of the material used to make them. For example, light polyester comforters may be cheaper than fluffy cotton blankets.
If the prices are too far beyond your budget, you can choose one that doesn’t strain you too much.
