Turns out, the price of a good night's sleep is $1,492 – and I think it's worth it

Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter | From $1,094 at Sferra

You might be able to save some money when you shop the bedding sales.

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The Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter was just the glow up my bedspread needed. After having five kids who have ruined every possible sheet set with markers, popsicle stains, and other shenanigans, my bedroom has felt more like a group hangout than a luxurious hotel-like getaway. Sferra products help to transport me to another place where sleep is not only possible, but enjoyable.

The Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter comes in three densities: light, medium, and heavy. Unless you suffer from night sweats or live in a really cold climate, I recommend you stick with the medium density. I tested this comforter through a harsh winter in the Midwest and found it retains a lot of heat to keep you toasty.

As a professional sleep product tester, and a regular contributor to Homes & Gardens, I've tested many of the best duvet inserts. I've learned the hard way that cheap fabrics and fibers just make you overheat, and you end up with lumps and bumps inside the duvet cover, which doesn't help anybody sleep well. I'm pleased to report that I had none of these issues with the Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter, and I'd recommend it to almost anybody − as long as you've got some cash to spare.

Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter review – two months later

I started testing the Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter in the heart of winter in Cincinnati, Ohio, where our night-time temperatures regularly fall below zero. At first, I was concerned that the comforter wouldn't give me enough warmth, so I slept with an additional blanket, but I soon found that the Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter is plenty warm by itself.

Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter specifications

Who would the Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter suit?

If you're fed up with cheap comforters and duvets that only last a few years and make you feel too hot or too cold, then the Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter might be for you. This is a splurgy item that might make the difference between hotel-quality comforter and a cheaper, less luxurious sleep. If you want to flop into bed and feel like you're engulfed in a cloud, but without too much heat or weight, you should consider this option.

• You sleep better at a hotel: this comforter is filled with real down for natural loft and that hotel-fluffy feel.
• You are usually chilly at night: in my experience, the Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter runs warm. I'd put it up there with the best warm comforters.
• You move around in the night: this duvet has enough heft that it never got tangled when I tossed and turned.
• You love the feel of crisp, clean sheets: the 100% cotton ticking feels soft and smooth against your skin.
• You want to wash your own duvet: the Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter are machine-washable and dryer-safe.

What's it like to sleep with the Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter?

Quite simply, like a cloud. The Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter feels fluffy and a bit cold to the touch, but once I'm under the covers, it’s warm and snug. I don’t sweat or feel confined or too hot. Instead, it feels like a cool and crisp clean comforter, but with the warmth of the excellent white goose down filling.

I love the fact that I get to pick the density that works for me. I had worried I might get too hot under a down duvet, especially with my space heater blaring in winter, but I never felt sweaty or uncomfortable. The cotton ticking is breathable, and there are plenty of air pockets within the down, though I wouldn't put the Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter up there with the best cooling comforters.

To set up the duvet, I've found you need to set aside around 15 minutes to get the comforter inside the duvet cover, tie the loops, and button along the sides of the duvet to secure the blanket inside. Still, the process is simple enough, and keeps the insides secured in place. For good measure, I did flip the duvet over and the entire set up around occasionally, to prevent the feathers from settling toward the bottom.

How does the Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter compare to other comforters?

For roughly half the cost, Sferra does offer a 600+ goose-down fill with its Buxton Duvet line. It is similarly made to the Somerset line, boasting the same baffle box construction to help keep the down equally dispersed and corner loops to keep the duvet from sliding too much in the cover. The main difference between the two comes in their thread counts–the Buxton is a 350 thread count of 100% cotton batiste, whereas the Somerset has a 380 thread count of a German-woven cotton sateen.

For a comparable look and feel at a much lower price, Brooklinen offers a similar fill count in their Down Comforter line. Our resident Sleep Editor, Emilia Hitching, tested the Brooklinen Down Comforter and found that the lightweight, all-season comforter was an ideal product pick for most anyone. For around $500, the Brooklinen option comes with three fill options, ranging from 650+ to 750+ down fill. Unlike the Sferra that can be washed in your home’s washing machine, Brooklinen’s line’s suggested care is dry cleaning.

Should I buy the Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter?

Sferra makes some of the best designer bedding and it comes with a luxury price tag. Even a lightweight Twin costs more than $1,000, and the price increases in correlation with the sizes and the densities. My Queen-sized Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter costs $1,492, which might feel like a stretch for some budgets.

But I can't overstate how well I slept with this comforter. Two months into testing, I feel confident that the look and feel of the down will hold up over the years. Of course, if you're allergic to down, or you prefer to purchase vegan products, then you'll have to explore down alternatives: I recommend the Buffy Cloud Comforter.

Sferra Somerset Duvet Comforter | From $1,094 at Sferra

You might be able to save some money when you shop the bedding sales.

View Deal

How we test comforters

Our resident Sleep Editor, Emilia Hitching, leads a team of testers across the country. Together, we represent a wide range of ages, sleep styles, and body types, and we live everywhere from sunny spots in the South to snow-capped corners of the Pacific Northwest. We test each duvet insert for a minimum of 30 nights before we write our review. Once the initial test period ends, we continue to sleep with the duvet insert to monitor its long-term performance and update our reviews accordingly. To learn more about how we test, consult our expert guide.

For the sake of a fair fight, we assess each duvet insert or comforter against the same criteria: comfort; cooling; and ease of care. When we assess comfort, we're considering the look and feel of the fabric and the fill type: whether the down bunches up inside the comforter to create lumps, bumps, or cold patches. To assess cooling, we switch off our HVAC systems to sleep through heat waves and cold snaps. To assess durability, we clean the comforter according to the instructions on the care tag, considering its performance before and after.

Where possible, we like to compare our findings against verified customer reviews to pick out recurring pros and cons. We also consider all the practical aspects of buying a duvet insert or comforter, including the range of colors and sizes available. Finally, we bring it all back to the price of the product to help you determine value for money.