They make clips for duvets? I always just use safety pins through the seams. Honestly, and it works just fine. Typically use IKEA inserts. I heart duvets, both used as intended, and used empty as a bedspread. Tina - Is a duvet insert the same as a down comforter or down comforter alternative? A duvet cover is the outside. The insert is whatever you want. Some are down, some are down alternative, some are poly, etc. Think of a duvet cover as a slipcover for comforter guts, or an ugly comforter you would to give a facelift to. Now on to some stuff posted earlier... Bedding labeled as "machine washable" does not necessarily mean it is. Sure, you can toss it in and it will probably come out in one piece but I did that once upon a time with my first "real" bedding set (about $550) and ended up with a comforter that looked like a big sock full of melons. The filling balled up terribly, and I absolutely could not get it smooth again. Lumpsville! It wasn't unusable, but it was horribly unappealing. Which is how I happened upon duvets. I ripped the top seam, re-seamed the two layers separately, pulled out the stuffing, added snaps and shoved a cheapo comforter inside. And just in case someone out there doesn't know this, because of all the things the internet is not, phonetic ranks near the top... ...it's "doo-vAy" (rhymes with hooray) not "duv-it" (rhymes with covet)... as I smartly asked for once in a Pier 1 store. :(

A rich dark brown sounds like it would go well. Then you can bring back in the linen and sage with throw pillows and/or a blanket. Dark brown is (IMO) one of the more forgiving colors out there. Before we had kids, but hoping we would soon, I bought dark brown microfiber leather-look couches mostly for the kid factor. :)

I have 3 sets of Ballard covers. 2 twill and one a ticking fabric. All are great construction and fabric. Have been washing them for 6 years without any issue. Some spot cleaning prior to washing. The pillow covers won't need ironing, they fit tight. Full cover may need a quick iron, but if you put them on slightly damp it is easier and then stretch out. Also recently bought a steam machine for clothing. Not the type for carpets and upholstered furniture. Just point it at the fabric and it steam irons. Use it on my bedding also, takes wrinkles away quickly. I love tailored covers and change with the season. My covers were bought using the dimensions of Ballad furniture, the furniture I have is not Ballard. Yet, they fit as wanted. Just a note about the current chair in picks. Have one and the only issue is where people tend to set their elbows. Mine has sunk down in this area. May have to cut in and add some bulk.

tnfarm - wanted to get back to you. I washed my white cotton sofa slipcover and it came out great. I dissolved about six scoops of Oxy-clean in a bowl of hot water, stirred it around for a few minutes and added that to the cold water in the machine. I also used detergent. I let the machine run for a few minutes then stopped it and restarted it the next day. They came out great. Best thing is I had these strange orange/yellow discoloration spots on one of the cushions, I thought it was from bleach and would never come off but it did. I think instructions do say to use Oxy-clean with hot water but I didn't want to risk these slipcovers shrinking, and they came out really better than they ever have.