Putting the right comforter on your bed can make the whole bedroom look fabulous. Comforters are the most visible of all the bedding pieces, so when you change the comforter you make a large change in the decor of the bedroom itself. But comforters are also very functional as they make for a very warm, and soft bed to sleep in too. But getting the right comforter for your bed takes some thought and preparation, and this article will help you make the right decision when you buy.

The first factor in choosing the right comforter is to make sure that it actually fits your bed. This may sound like a simple thing, but not all mattresses are the same size because of their design. If you have a very standard mattress it will most likely fit into one of the conventional categories like "Full", Queen", or "King".

But many mattresses these days are not standard sizes because mattress makers have gone to adding more features like pillow tops on one side or sometimes both sides of the mattress. This means that the mattress is now much thicker than it would normally be. And that will also affect the size of any bedding that you are now able to put on that bed. That's why it's always a good idea to measure your bed and mattress to make sure that you know what size comforter to get beforehand and won't have to be faced with the prospect of having to return the bedding that you love when you find that it just doesn't look right on your bed.

When considering a comforter look at the TPI or threads per inch too. This figure will often give you a good idea of the quality level that has been put into that comforter. Generally speaking thread counts above 250 produce a soft and comfortable feel and fabric that will last a long time. Try to avoid thread counts below 200.

It's also not a bad idea to look for a comforter that has patterns on both sides. That way you can change the look of the bed from time to time and not just have the same pattern all the time.

If you are in the market for a down comforter, the most expensive kinds will have pure white down in them, but actually a mixture of down and feathers will do the job nicely and is not as expensive. Just avoid so-called down comforters that have a really low ratio of down to feathers. The higher the down ratio in the comforter the more important that the cover be what is called "down proof" because down is so small and can actually work its way through a normal cover. Usually this designation is listed on the comforter package.

Finally, be sure that a down comforter is stitched so that the insulation material cannot move about very freely or shift. If the stitching is not in place the down can shift so that some parts of the comforter do not even offer much insulation at all. This is widely known, and most down comforters will have necessary stitching in place on the quilt, but just make sure before you buy.

Buying a good quality comforter is an investment in practicality and appearance at the same time. Use these guidelines for choosing your new comforter and you should be happy with it for years to come.