On an IKEA store run last weekend, the ‘warm duvet’ overhead sign caught my eye as we rushed through the bedding section, and on a whim, I decided to give their down-alternative duvet insert a go this winter because it was so affordable.
Honestly, I had been hesitant to pick up the expensive down alternatives often lauded as being the best duvet inserts, so the low price point of IKEA’s 7.5 tog SÄFFEROT insert made it feel like a sensible risk to take.
After sleeping under it for a fortnight and washing and drying my duvet insert twice I can confirm I have been adequately humbled. It is surprisingly outstanding for comfort, warmth, and it feels like I am sleeping under a luxury hotel duvet.
What I Love About IKEA’s Budget-Friendly Down Alternative Duvet Insert
Pros:
+ Feels fluffy and cozy, like a warm hug all night
+ Washes well in my 9kg washer drum and dries within hours
+ Does not make you sweat, even with the heating on
+ Lightweight
+ Hypoallergenic
+ Doesn't clump after washing
+ Feels luxurious and regulates heat brilliantly
Cons:
- I now need to update all my home’s duvet inserts to this IKEA one
- I can’t keep my cat off it for the fluffy comfort it gets her under-paw
This is the exact duvet insert I picked up in store a few weeks back and it’s available to order online for home delivery for orders above $35. It’s filled with 100% hollow fiber polyester, made from 100% recycled materials, can be washed up to 140°F/°60C and dries quickly.
Growing up, I spent a lot of time sleeping over at both of my grandmothers’ homes, and their guest bedrooms were packed with down pillows and duvets, which helped me sleep like a log for their regulated, comfortable warmth.
In my teens, however, I developed an allergy to the feathers, meaning my down sleep journey came to an abrupt end. That’s why I have been eyeing up alternatives recently, and at this price point, the IKEA one has turned out to be a surprising winner for our household.
I have a large bed, making bedding and duvets usually pricey to match, but this one starts at just $29.99 for a twin and just a few dollars more for a queen.
How Does it Compare?
Comparatively, our leading down alternative, tried and tested by our experienced sleep team, is the Saatva down alternative insert, which comes in at a steep $235 for a twin, and $315 for a queen.
That’s why I’m all the more amazed my IKEA pick so exquisitely warm, comfortable, lightweight, and honestly, it feels like I’m going to bed in a luxury hotel, such is the deliciousness of how this smart IKEA insert keeps a pleasant layer of warm air nestled over you all night.
For me, the IKEA SÄFFEROT is now living in my primary bedroom while the weather is biting. I’d put off switching to warmer inserts as usually, I suffer hot sweats overnight due to medical conditions and medications, and am prone to overheating under a warmer duvet.
But surprisingly, even with our heating on 70° F to help keep the house comfortably warm all over, and get rid of window condensation, I do not overheat under IKEA’s SÄFFEROT insert. It’s fantastic at regulating the air to keep things comfortable and cozy while you sleep. So much so that even my feet, which are usually like ice cubes whilst the rest of me is warm, have stayed toasty and cozy all night without sleep socks on.
Slipping under IKEA's SÄFFEROT gives you that ‘ahhh’ feeling you have when you get into a crisp, clean, and sumptuous luxury hotel bed.
Materials
As for how the materials compare, IKEA uses hollow polyester fibers made from recycled material with a soft and rustle-free microfiber outer material. The Saatva insert gives you what you pay for, as their organic cotton down alternative comforter has a unique blend of sustainable 3D lyocell fill and clever quilting to avoid clumping. The materials on the Saatva are far superior, but in terms of results? Both feel delightful to sleep under, and the IKEA one is far cheaper.
When our sleep tester tried the Saatva down alternative, they found it to be plush, cozy, and never clumped, thanks to its square quilting design (the IKEA has a long quilted design instead of smaller squares), but it was hard to dry because of the natural fibers. It also has to be washed on cold and put in the dryer on low.
In contrast, my IKEA insert didn’t clump after a wash and dry, and when I ran a second wash cycle, and air dried it over my staircase railing, it was fully dry by bedtime that day, standing up to IKEA’s promise that it’s ‘quick drying.’
The IKEA one can also be washed up to 140°F/°60C, which kills dust mites, but users are advised to avoid bleach and softeners. When I washed mine, it fit in my 9kg washer drum, cleaned really well, and there were no issues with smells.
Who the IKEA SÄFFEROT Is Good For
If you're on a budget and needing a warm winter duvet insert, this is for you.
This also makes it an excellent pick for guest rooms, especially over the holiday season, where you might see a higher turnover of visitors, spills, stains and the need to wash and dry duvets with ease. It will also fare well in children’s rooms where washing bedding more often, especially during potty training, is the norm.
It’s worth noting that whilst the vegan-friendly Saatva insert has a 45-night return policy, IKEA’s policy stretches to 365 days for unopened items, and 180 days for clean and stain-free opened ones (you’ll need your receipt either way). It’s worth noting that your online order at IKEA should be at least $35 to qualify for home delivery, which is not free, whilst Saatva offers free delivery.
My only gripe with my IKEA one is I now can’t keep my cat off it in the daytime, as she loves snoozing on the fluffy, and very cozy upgrade our bed has had. If I shut the bedroom door to keep her off, she cries and scratches at the door till I let her in.
It's a small price to pay for my total, cozy comfort at night.
What to Shop
This is my new duvet insert, which is filled with 100% hollow fiber polyester, can be washed up to 140°F/°60C and dries so quickly. It feels like a warm hug all night and helps me sleep through the night without waking up hot and bothered.
Tried and tested by us, this uses natural materials and has a clever quilting design built in to stop the material inside from clumping up. You can purchase insert corner loops separately to stop it from moving around inside their covers.
This Amazon bestseller, rated 4.7/5 stars by thousands of happy shoppers who say it is warm without making them overheated, comes in five colors. It needs a cold wash only, but it can go in the dryer, too.
Switching out lighter or summer inserts for a higher tog in the winter is a great way to to keep warm in bed in winter.
