When I mention coverless duvets to friends and family, they either don’t know what I’m talking about or recoil in horror. For some reason, people seem to think they’re less hygienic, but they’re actually more so.
However, I get it. I was also sceptical before I tried one as part of our recent Good Housekeeping Institute tests. How comfortable and chic can they really be? Will they actually fit in my washing machine and do they take days to dry? Well (spoiler) I’m a convert. Here’s my honest review (and why I think we should all be using them).
Coverless duvets in a nutshell
To answer your questions, a coverless duvet has a soft cover already sewn in, so no more changing the cover every week (or, let’s be honest, every month). Instead, you just chuck the whole thing in the washing machine. So, they’re actually more hygienic, as you’ll likely end up washing your duvet a lot more often (come on, when’s the last time you took it to the dry cleaner?).
What to read next
They come in a range of designs and fabrics, from cotton to linen. I’ll admit, some of the prints aren’t quite to my taste, but if you keep it simple, it should serve you well (and mean you aren’t constantly being tempted to buy the latest sets at H&M Home). Lots of brands do them now, including M&S, George at ASDA, Slumberdown and more. They also come in a range of different togs so you can find one to suit your preferences.
For more detail on the benefits of coverless duvets and a rundown of our experts' favourite designs, head to our best coverless duvets roundup.
What I loved about my coverless duvet
For the Good Housekeeping Institute tests, I slept with my coverless duvet for a week before washing it to see how easy it was to fit in the machine, whether it maintained its quality and how quickly it dried.
I curled up with the Night Lark® x Eleanor Bowmer Leopard Coverless Duvet Set in a double (linked above), which is 10.5 togs, so a good all-seasons buy, and has a Smartfil fibre filling that's made from recycled bottles.
The bright pink leopard print design aside (the GHI asks you to try and ignore the design for the purposes of the review so I averted my eyes), first impressions were good. It comes in a handy storage bag and you get two matching pillowcases. To make the bed, you simply throw it on! No having to wrestle your duvet into the cover (a chore I hate just as much as I love that clean-sheet feeling).
It was soft to the touch – the GHI named it best for softness and I agree – and very lightweight, which was ideal for the heatwave weather we were experiencing during testing.
As for the washing, I was really impressed. I wasn’t sure it would fit in the machine but it went in no problem and washed like a dream. The quality wasn’t affected at all and it dried in a couple of hours, so I could put it back on the bed that night. I’m sure the heatwave helped, but it was only slightly damp when it came out of the machine (smelling great!). I genuinely don’t know why I haven’t been using one for years.
While I’d happily use one in my main bedroom, they’re also good for guest rooms as they’re so easy to freshen up, and would work well for students who perhaps don't wash their bedding as often as you might like...or camping trips.
Here's a different design in case stripes are more your thing...
What I didn’t like about the coverless duvet
My only niggle was that it did feel lightweight and quite silky, so I wasn’t sure how cosy it would be in winter. That said, you could just layer up with a blanket over the top if needed.
And the choice of designs available isn’t as wide as I would like currently, although Night Lark does have some chicer striped and checked options if you’re not into lurid leopard print (no?). I also don’t love the quilted finish they have, but those are small niggles.
My honest verdict on coverless duvets
Apparently, as my colleagues informed me, Americans have been doing all-in-one duvets for years – they just call them comforters. And they could be onto something. For those who hate changing the sheets (aka the sweaty mess that is trying to wrangle a duvet into a cover), or who struggle because of mobility issues, a coverless duvet is a great, fuss-free alternative.
So, I am here to spread the word. Coverless duvets are a very good thing. Tell all your friends.
Shop the Good Housekeeping Institute's top coverless duvets
Score: 97/100
Score: 94/100
Score: 81/100
Alison is head of content for the Good Housekeeping Institute, responsible for product reviews across homes, beauty, wellness, family and food & drink. She lives by the William Morris quote that you should “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Alison has over 15 years' experience as a lifestyle editor and has written features on everything from misophonia to how to dress like Claudia on The Traitors. She has also interviewed everyone from Dame Joanna Lumley to the Kardashians.
In her spare time, you'll find her hanging out with Monty the cocker spaniel and refreshing the Sezane website every five seconds.
