Removable duvet covers are great for a number of reasons. They are easy to wash, and you can change the entire look of your bedding without having to shell out for a whole new comforter. But the major downside is the dreaded comforter shift. If you have a comforter with a removable cover, you've most likely had your comforter shift or bunch up inside the cover at some point. This causes a giant lump on one side, and an empty flap on the other. At the end of a long day, the last thing you need is to struggle with a floppy bed cover.
We surveyed 500 duvet owners across the country, and 85% said their comforter shifted "Usually" or "Always." However, more than three-quarters of them never tried anything to solve this problem! It seems that most people either don't know that duvet fasteners actually exist, or they don't want to deal with the cost or hassle of finding a solution.
If you are part of this majority, this blog post is for you! We've scoured the market, and compiled a comprehensive list of how to keep your duvet from shifting inside the cover. The first four solutions are DIY hacks, with items that you may already own, or can easily purchase at an arts and crafts store. The other six solutions are actual products designed to keep your duvet in place. All of these can be purchased on Amazon. Read below for a description of each method, along with a summary of pros and cons. There are so many different solutions out there, you never have to deal with a lumpy duvet again!
1. Ribbon
To use this method, you need to sew ribbon or strips of fabric to the corners of your duvet cover to create ties. Then you sew small loops onto the corners of your comforter. Feed the ties through the loops on corresponding corners, and then tie together. There are many excellent tutorials online that walk you through how to do this. Many newer duvets and covers already have corner ties built in, which eliminates the need for sewing. The best thing about this method is that the ties are hidden inside your cover, which allows for a seamless look. If the corners are tied too closely together though, it can pull in and create an unsightly pucker. The biggest downside is that you actually have do the sewing, which many people would rather not do. Additionally, if your knot isn't tight enough, the ties can easily unravel.
👍 Pros: affordable, invisible
👎 Cons: requires sewing, can untie easily
2. Safety Pins
This no frills solution is the most convenient method on the list, since you probably already have safety pins lying around the house. All you have to do is pin the corners of your duvet cover and comforter together. It's best to pin from the inside in order to hide the pin, but there will be a small lump. Safety pins are a versatile solution, since there are so many sizes of safety pins available. Use smaller pins for thinner comforters, and bigger pins for thicker ones. Although they do the job, safety pins can also open up fairly easily if you move around a lot.
👍 Pros: affordable, convenient
👎 Cons: looks lumpy and unappealing, creates pin holes
3. Tie Tacks
Tie tacks are similar to safety pins in that you are pinning the comforter and cover together. The difference however, is tie tacks are typically pinned from the outside, since the shape doesn't work well from the inside. Tie tacks are extremely easy to use as duvet fasteners. Just poke the pin through the corners of your duvet, attach the back, and you're done. There are a number of different backs you can use, such as: butterfly clutch backs, locking pin backs, and rubber pin backs. Tie tack pins have a rather thick shaft, in order to accommodate a groove for the back to latch onto. The unfortunate consequence is that tie tacks will create a much larger hole than a safety pin would.
👍 Pros: affordable, easy to install
👎 Cons: visible on the outside, creates large pin holes
4. Suspender Clips
If suspender clips can grip a pair of pants, why not try them to grip your duvet? Turn your cover inside out, lay your comforter on top, and then attach a clip to each corner. Tuck the comforter back in and turn the cover right side out. Easy to attach, easy to remove, and no pin holes! This is a great solution in theory, but suspender clips aren't really meant to hold multiple layers of fabric, let alone a thick duvet. So you might be able to use them for very thin comforters, but if yours is on the fluffier side, these clips may not stay on very well. Also, keep in mind that your corners will obviously be tucked in where you attached the clips.
👍 Pros: affordable, easy to install
👎 Cons: not reliable for thick duvets, creates tucked-in corners
5. Comforter Clips
Comforter clips are essentially padded suspender clips that have been repurposed for the bed. They can be used to hold your comforter in place by gripping the corners of your bedding together. If you attach them from the inside of your bedding, they'll be invisible. A lightweight foam padding is added to the clips, so that the hard metal parts don't jab you if you roll over them. These little clips are a great when they work, but they don't seem to be quite as reliable as pins. Many people find that they easily slip off.
👍 Pros: invisible
👎 Cons: falls off easily
6. Duvet Donuts
These plastic fasteners are such a clever idea. Just place the bulbous piece on one side of your bedding, and the donut piece on the other. Then, press the two pieces together, so that the donut essentially hugs your bedding around bulb. Duvet donuts are a great concept, but unfortunately, they only work if your bedding is just the right thickness. If your comforter is too thin, there won't be enough bulk for the pieces to fit together. If your duvet is too fluffy, the pieces won't be able to close. The other downside is that these fasteners tend to fall off just as easily as they snap together.
👍 Pros: easy to use
👎 Cons: not for thin or thick duvets, falls off easily
7. Duvet Pins
Duvet pins are pin fasteners specially designed to keep comforters from shifting. These work similarly to safety pins in that you pin the comforter and cover together, but they attach from the outside and are actually meant to be seen. Therefore, they typically contain buttons or other ornamental features that look fantastic against your bedding. Duvet pins come in multiple fabric colors to match or complement your comforter cover. Additionally, because the pins are sized specifically to hold bedding materials together, they fit nice and snug when closed. Primpins are high quality duvet pin fasteners that are easy to install and just as simple to remove with a push of a button. Duvet pins will be more expensive than safety pins, but if you want a functional and stylish fastener, these are your answer. However, if you don't like the idea of using pins on your bed covers, there are other options.
👍 Pros: strong lock, easy to use, attractive, comes in multiple colors
👎 Cons: creates small pin holes
8. Duvet Magnets
Magnets are everywhere these days. Why not put them on the bed? Duvet magnets are powerful magnets attached to pretty fabric buttons. We especially like that the fabric buttons match on both sides, and they couldn't be easier to apply. Just snap them together in the corners to hold the comforter in place. These work best with thinner bed covers. If you have a really thick comforter, these may not stay closed. Just beware these magnets are heavy. If you move around a lot, the corners can actually swing and hit you!
👍 Pros: attractive, easy to use
👎 Cons: heavy, not for thicker duvets
9. Corner Keepers
These nifty contraptions are plastic snaps attached to iron-on fabric circles. To attach them, you iron one side to the comforter and the other side to the cover. Then, snap the two pieces together. They're so lightweight and flat, you won't even know they're there! They are supposed to be permanent, which is not good for those of you who don't like the idea of gluing fabric onto your expensive down comforter. They may fall off in the wash however, since the glue doesn't seem to stick well to all kinds of bedding.
👍 Pros: invisible, lightweight
👎 Cons: requires ironing, may fall off after washing
10. Duvet Gun
Duvet guns are essentially retail tagging "guns" for clothing that have been repurposed for bedding. Instead of attaching tags, they are used to attach a pair of little silicon buttons to your duvet. To use a duvet gun, simply load it with the included plastic holders and place one of the buttons onto the needle. Then, push the needle through the fabric and place the other button onto the needle on the underside. Finally, pull the gun's trigger, and everything should secure in place. The buttons are relatively small and soft, and once installed, these safely keep your duvet and cover in place. While this does the job and offers some versatility, there are quite a few issues. The gun needle is thick so it can leave a big hole. Also, the plastic holders are flimsy and can easily come apart if pulled. Finally, they are single use only. You have to cut and discard the plastic to remove them, which can be annoying and is an additional cost.
👍 Pros: simple, buttons are soft
👎 Cons: creates large holes, comes apart easily, hidden replacement cost
There are so many ways to keep your comforter from bunching. We hope this list helps you find the right solution for you!