How to Choose the Best College Dorm Comforter
The best comforters for college dorms are made from high-quality materials that withstand heavy-duty use and come in colors and patterns that speak to individual style preferences. The college dorm room functions as more than just a bedroom: It’s also where students study, hang out, and may even eat their meals. Because of this, the dorm bedding should be durable, comfortable, and stylish. From size to material to style, we share tips and insight into choosing the best comforter for your college dorm.
Comforters vs. Duvets: College Dorm Edition
A comforter and duvet are effectively the same type of bedding: lofty fill encased within a cotton or other fabric shell that’s stitched in a way that keeps the fill contained. While a comforter is used as-is and may feature a variety of solid colors or patterns, a duvet insert is typically white or ivory and intended to be paired with a decorative cover.
Whether you choose a comforter or duvet-cover-and-insert pairing for the dorm comes down to personal preference. However, comforters often come out on top for several key priorities when buying college bedding:
- Cost: Because no additional cover is required when buying a comforter, it will typically be less expensive than buying a duvet, which needs a cover to be practical in a college dorm.
Ease of Use: While a duvet cover is technically easier to launder than a bulky comforter—simply slip it off and throw it in the machine—it’s not necessarily easier to use. Busy college students may prefer the one-and-done approach of washing a comforter to having to take off and put on a duvet cover every time laundry needs to be done.
- Comfort: A comforter and duvet/insert are almost interchangeable when it comes to comfort, but a duvet cover will add slightly more warmth due to the extra layers of fabric it adds to the bed.
Choosing the Best Comforters for the College Dorm
While the “best” is often a matter of personal preference, some options are indisputably better than others for certain environments. Here, we narrow down the important factors and our recommendations for each to help you select the best college dorm comforter.
Size: Twin XL
There’s only one size comforter you should have on your college prep checklist: A Twin XL comforter accommodates the extra five inches that are added to the length of a dorm room mattress. While standard Twin-size bedding can work in a pinch, it is too short. Similarly, a Full-size comforter’s extra width may drape all the way to the floor, gathering dirt and dust. For optimal comfort, style, and cleanliness, we always recommend a Twin XL comforter for a dorm room bed.
Shell Material: Cotton
Durable, absorbent, and versatile cotton is the ideal shell material for a college dorm comforter. A classic for college dorms, jersey knit comforters have the soft, stretchy, lived-in feel of your favorite vintage t-shirt. The close-knit material is slightly warmer than alternatives and is ideal when layered with lighter pieces so you can adjust your comfort overnight. Alternatively, cotton percale comforters are crisp and cool to the touch. Percale’s lightweight, breathable weave makes it exceptionally suitable for hot sleepers or students attending colleges in warm climates.
Fill: Down Alternative
A lofty down comforter may be the pinnacle of quality bedding, but a down alternative comforter filled with high-quality synthetic polyester fill is a better choice for the dorm. Down is worth the extra investment when you’re looking for long-term bedding, but a college comforter will likely only be used for a few years at most, making a cost-effective down alternative comforter the savvier (but equally comfortable) choice.
Style: Color or Pattern
A white comforter may look lovely on social media feeds, but it will also show dirt and stains quickly and require frequent laundering. Instead, we recommend choosing a solid comforter in your favorite hue or a solid color that works well with a roommate’s bedding. Or, choose complementary patterned comforters for a coordinated look. For ease, opt for a Twin XL comforter set that includes a matching sham, then accent with sheets, pillows, and other decor in coordinating designs or hues.
A Twin XL down alternative comforter in cotton percale or jersey knit offers the perfect opportunity to put your personality on display in the dorm room. With a range of solid colors and exclusive patterns at your disposal, you can go in whatever direction speaks to you. Find more inspiration for making any space feel like home in our other Guides.