A reversible duvet cover is a duvet cover with a design on both sides, so you can turn it over for a second look without buying another set. Most duvet covers have a printed front and a plain back, while a reversible one has two sides that are both meant to be seen. Adam Home sells 2 reversible sets, from £26.99 for a Single. This guide covers what makes a cover reversible, whether both sides are the same fabric, how our reversible sets look on each side, how the pillowcases fit in, styling, when to flip, washing and value for money.
What is a reversible duvet cover?
A reversible duvet cover is a cover where the front and the back look different and both count as the right side. To show the other design, you turn the duvet over, cover and all.
German bedding maker Moeve describes reversible, or double-face, bedding as products where the front and back look different. It lists three ways the two sides can pair up: both sides plain colours, one plain side and one patterned side, or both sides patterned. A cover with a print on the front and a white back you never show isn't reversible in this sense, even though you could turn it over. Nor is a cover printed the same on both sides, like our Mona Stripe duvet cover set: turn it over and you see the same grey stripes.
How is it different from a printed front and plain back?
A printed-front cover has one design side and a plain back that faces the duvet, while a reversible cover has two design sides. Most of our sets are the first kind: 89 of our 91 duvet cover sets have one design, and nearly all of those have a plain white back.
On a printed cover, the plain back is what you see when you fold the top down: a white band that frames the print against a white sheet. A reversible cover gives you a second pattern there instead, so the fold shows both designs at once.
| Cover type | Front | Back | Adam Home sets |
|---|---|---|---|
| One design | Printed design | Plain white, or the same print | 89 of 91 |
| Reversible | Printed design | Second design | 2 of 91 |
Are both sides the same fabric?
On most reversible duvet covers, yes: both sides are the same fabric with a different design on each. Moeve notes that a maker could use a different material on each side, but the usual approach is one fabric throughout.
Our two reversible sets each list a single fabric for the whole cover: 100% polyester microfibre on both sides, the same fabric as most of our range. So the feel is the same whichever side faces up. Only the design changes, and both sides fasten with the same snap buttons.
What do our reversible sets look like on each side?
Each of our reversible sets pairs a busy main design with a quieter reverse. The table below lists both sides, the fabric and the size range, taken from each product page.
| Set | Side one | Side two | Fabric and closure | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nordic Christmas | Red and white Nordic folk art: nutcrackers, birds, penguins, little trees, stars, hot-chocolate mugs and North Pole signs in rows | Small red snowflakes on white | 100% polyester microfibre, snap buttons | Single to Emperor |
| Winter Chalet | Cream ground with gingerbread-style chalets in red, rose, taupe, slate blue and ochre, grey paths, pine trees and snowflake medallions | Soft grey snowflakes on cream | 100% polyester microfibre, snap buttons | Single to Emperor |
Our Nordic Christmas reversible duvet cover set and the Winter Chalet reversible Christmas set are part of our Hearthside Christmas Collection, designed and made in the UK and only available at adamhome.co.uk. Both pair a busy festive side with a quiet snowflake side, so one cover works for the whole season.
How do pillowcases work with a two-sided cover?
The pillowcases come in the set at 54 x 77 cm and match the cover. Our product pages call the duvet cover reversible but don't say the pillowcases are printed on both sides, so check the photos if you want to flip them too.
Both sets come with 1 pillowcase in a Single and 2 in Double to Emperor. If you'd like a plain case behind the patterned ones, our plain pillowcases come in packs of 2 at 48 x 74 cm, smaller than the cases in our sets. Our guide to what comes in a duvet cover set lists every piece.
Where a pillowcase does have two designs, Moeve suggests using the matching pillow and duvet to show both sides at once, for example one pillow each way up.
How do you style a reversible cover?
Style a reversible cover by choosing one side to lead and folding the top back to show the other. Pick cushions in a colour from the side facing up.
Moeve says the two sides are often coordinated in colour, which is why the fold-back works. With patterned sides, it suggests picking out one dominant colour for extra pillows. Roomie Design, a bedding retailer, gives the same advice for cushion covers: match them to the side that's on show.
Our Christmas pages make the colour pairings concrete. Nordic Christmas suits pale wood, white walls and a wreath above the bed. Winter Chalet sits well with warm neutrals, linen headboards and burgundy accents. Our guide to the order of bed layers shows where a throw and cushions go on top.
When should you flip a reversible duvet cover?
Flip a reversible duvet cover whenever you want a change, such as a new season or guests coming to stay. There's no fixed rule. Both sides are made to be used.
Roomie Design suggests a darker side with heavier throws in winter and a lighter side in spring and summer, and keeping the more neutral side up in a guest room. For our Christmas sets, we'd put the busier side on in December and turn to the snowflake side halfway through the season or after the big day, since snowflakes still look right in January. Our guide to when to put Christmas bedding on covers timing.
How do you wash a reversible duvet cover?
Wash a reversible duvet cover by following its care label, because the label reflects the fabric. Both prints sit on one cover, so they get washed together every time.
Both of our reversible sets are machine washable. Mattress brand Puffy suggests turning a duvet cover inside out and fastening the buttons before washing, to stop it tangling. Roomie Design adds that a gentle cycle, mild detergent and no high dryer heat help both sides keep their colour.
Is a reversible duvet cover good value?
At Adam Home, a reversible set costs the same as a one-sided set, so you get two designs for the price of one. Prices run from £26.99 for a Single to £42.99 for an Emperor.
| Size | Cover size (cm) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 137 x 200 | £26.99 |
| Double | 204 x 204 | £30.99 |
| King | 235 x 225 | £34.99 |
| Super King | 265 x 225 | £38.99 |
| Emperor | 290 x 235 | £42.99 |
The trade-off is that you only see one side at a time, and you lose the plain white band that frames a print when you fold the top back. Both of our reversible sets are Christmas designs, so they suit November to January best. The duvet itself isn't included with any of our sets.
Written by the Adam Home team in the UK.
