How to Choose the Perfect Duvet Cover: A Scandinavian Approach

Welcome to our guide to selecting the perfect duvet cover, exploring Scandinavian principles of material, craftsmanship, and comfort to help you create a bedroom that feels both intentional and inviting. Let's dive in!

Duvet Cover or Top Sheet?

In Europe, we rarely use top sheets or comforters—from Spain to Sweden, virtually the entire continent is committed to duvet covers. We think they're more convenient as they cover the duvet completely, so you don't need to wash your duvet as often as you would a comforter. However, if you're truly committed to the idea of a top sheet, you'll find a selection of beautiful sheets in nature-inspired tones in our shop.

Can You Use a Duvet Cover on a Comforter?

If you're attached to your comforter, there is good news: you can use a duvet cover on a comforter! Just be sure to check the sizing, as comforters tend to be larger than duvets.

One Duvet or Two?

"Sleep divorce" is common in the US these days. Around a third of couples now sleep in separate beds or bedrooms, but not everyone has enough space for this. Did you know, however, that there's a curiously Scandi solution that could be the perfect compromise? In Scandinavia, couples sleep on the same bed, but under separate duvets. That way, there's no wrestling over duvets at night, and each person can choose the duvet style they prefer: fill, thickness, fabric and color.

If you want to try this for yourselves, we stock a special EU-single size: the standard twin duvet size in Europe, a little smaller than a US twin. Say hello to better sleep—no divorces required, sleep or otherwise.

Is Thread Count Important?

From the way everyone talks about thread count, you'd think it the most important aspect of choosing a duvet cover—when, in fact, it's mostly made-up marketing. Just as there's no such thing as a seven-star hotel (a term which apparently originated with an over-excited journalist), it's not truly possible to have 8,000 (yes, really!) thread-count duvet covers.

Thread count simply means the number of threads per square inch of fabric. In order to fit 800 or 1,500 or 8,000 threads in a square inch, those threads will need to be very thin—and that's not a good thing.

What's more, these numbers are often inflated using a factor called ply. Ply refers to the number of yarns wound together into a single thread; if a cotton duvet cover is made from double ply (two threads wrapped together) or multi-ply (more than two), you can exponentially inflate the thread count. Since multi-ply yarns are often thinner than single-ply, an 800-thread-count sheet can often be worse quality than a 400! In fact, 400 is the maximum thread count that makes any difference to quality; higher than that, and we start questioning the marketing.

Linen has a thread count of just 75 to 110 threads per square inch. By the logic of cotton marketing, this sounds low but it’s actually down to the thickness of the linen strands. Linen is much thicker and more durable than cotton—it’s just not possible to have so many strands in one square inch. In fact, thread count is so irrelevant to linen quality that it’s usually not listed at all.

Which Material to Choose?

While there are a few new challengers in the mix (which we’ve compared here), choosing bedding still usually comes down to two main choices: linen or cotton? And for us, there’s really only one choice: linen.

As the producer of European linen bedding, we might be biased—but the facts back us up. Between cotton and linen, only linen aligns with Scandinavian principles. It’s functional: its thermoregulating properties keep you warm when it’s cool and cool when it’s warm. It’s simple: there’s no need for any quilts or throw pillows, the beautiful design is enough. And it’s sustainable: European flax fields, where flax used for our linen bedding is grown, act as a carbon sink, sequestering tons of harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Craftsmanship

Material isn’t the only aspect of bedding that determines quality. Craftsmanship—the way the bedding is woven, stitched, and otherwise finished—can make a big difference to how your bedding feels and how long it lasts. If buying in person (or when your duvet covers arrive), check the stitching and fastenings—is the thread strong and the stitching even? Do the corners look neat?

Our European linen sheets are crafted by artisans in Guimaraes, Portugal, with a particular focus on excellent craftmanship. We love hearing how our customers appreciate the thoughtful details—like the corner ties that help keep your duvet perfectly in place.

Finishing Touches

Finishing processes, such as dyeing, printing, and softening, can have a huge effect on the quality and safety of the finished product. Some companies will use harmful chemicals such as Azo dyes during the finishing process, but we have made a conscious decision not to—and we’ve got the OEKO-TEX certification to prove it.

Companies will also often use chemical softeners to make their bedding seem softer than it is; not only is this potentially harmful, but it may interfere with the natural properties of the material, such as breathability and moisture-wicking. At The Modern Dane, we garment-wash our European linen bedding using only enzymes—this leaves it soft and smooth without compromising on its natural properties.

The Modern Dane: Recommended by Wirecutter

Don't believe us? Ask the critics at the New York Times. Our European linen duvet covers have been featured in Wirecutter's The Best 9 Duvet Covers of 2026—cementing their reputation for both sustainability and quality. Wirecutter’s experienced reviewer, Jackie Reeve, wrote:

“The prints are stunning, it’s a dream to sleep under...I was skeptical that the bold designs could be as saturated and punchy in real life, but they are. And they stayed that way through several washes in testing. This is a curious cover that could satisfy both minimalists and maximalists. The nature-inspired motifs are huge and colorful, but somehow also restrained; there’s plenty of white space to give your eyes a rest. I tested the Fugle print, and the spacing made every beautifully rendered bird sing. It was also wonderful to sleep under in summer, perfectly rumpled but never aggressively crinkled in the wash, and the set includes matching shams.”

Are you team duvet cover or team top sheet? Have you ever tried European linen bedding? Let us know on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter!