I'm not a sewer, but can tell you I have a Ralph Lauren duvet cover that is a woven linen type fabric, much heavier than sheet like fabric. I think it is cotton and linen and looks like a light upholstery fabric. It is made with a lighter weight fabric on the underside, so the weight on the bed isn't too heavy, which you might consider doing. I think what you are planning will be beautiful.

I made the coverlet for our bed using upholstery fabric. It is a little heavy when it's folded at the bottom of the bed. We don't normally use it as a cover during the night.

Custom duvet covers are frequently made with somewhat heavier fabric. Check out the Calico Corners website. I'm sure they have photos.

Thank you.... homersmom, for sharing info and especially the pic (beautiful work you did!): is there a backing on the fabric, when you say "coverlet" or it a cover on a quilt? It seems to lay as I'd want, but it's tucked in. I want to use a bed ruffle (antique bed), so I need to be able to have it fall out over the boxspring. Seems it would need some weight, or come to the floor like a bedspread.

And olychick (and I can use any encouragement after finding just the right colors and design).. I thought I'd seen comforters with 'designer' (heavier fabric and altogether bulk) covers on comforters at the dry cleaners! It's a great idea to put maybe a sheet weight on the back, though I bought enough for both sides (on sale, but expensive).

There is a cotton/poly backing on the coverlet - no quilt inside. I just stitched wrong sides together on the bottom and sides, then used bias tape to bind the top to the backing. Pretty basic sewing.

I only use it in the winter since it has a heavier, warmer look to it.

I splurged on a duvet comforter cover and lovely window panels from Country Curtains last year. The panels hang in a wonderful fashion as the heavier fabric makes them drape and hold their shape nicely. Sorry to say I do not like the duvet as it is too HEAVY. It is reversible to an alternate pattern-lovely to look at-but way too heavy for my bed. Even without the comforter inside- the fabric is too dense and is double the weight for its function. I waited too long to decide so I'm stuck with it.

I have made a duvet cover from upholstery weight fabric (both sides) and it was HEAVY. Your fabric selection seems to be drapery weight which is much lighter and will hang nicely over the bed. As you suggested, you can use sheeting material for the back of the cover to further lighten the load. I must add that I do have concerns about laundering your expensive decorator fabric. Once washed, the factory sizing will be gone and will make the fabric limp and maybe even shrink. Hope this helps.

Hmmm.. is it more important 'to look at' in this case, or use as a duvet/quilt cover that might be too heavy to be practical/comfortable for our day to day life here. Easy (or less expensive) cleanability is important to me, and if I'm not mistaken, dry cleaners charge quite a bit for drapes, slipcovers, etc.. and I have a dog and active family, etc.

I'm so glad (thank you all!) I wrote and got additional ideas/perspectives (I forgot about Calico Corners; and it was where I started my search so many months ago!). I think I'm going to lightly pin the fabric to the quilt and see what it's like to move around; if it seems too cumbersome, maybe I'll make a coverlet that can be folded down and supplemented by quilt or blanket..

Isn't a duvet cover something you're supposed to sleep under? If you're just going to cover your comforter for looks, it doesn't really matter. If you're planning to use your duvet to sleep under - fabric adds a tremendous amount of weight (trust me, you'll understand at some point in time why that's important!). Two things I dislike about duvet covers, they add weight (fabric on top and bottom) and they block the natural air flow of a good duvet. But if it's all about looks and not necessarily function, you can put decorator fabric on your duvet if you want. We use our down duvet year round and we live in a very hot/very cold seasonal climate. No duvet cover; I use other pieces for decorator affects.

Thank you for your thoughts and comments, annie1971.. I suppose I'm trying to work something out where I might accomplish the most I can. I love my down duvet, but keep it aside with a light cotton cover on it that I made, and it seems to work fine for our needs. I also have a comforter I can cover (believe duvet covers are used to cover them as well.) I am here trying to find a way to add the colors/design of the fabric I found, to my bed, and show it, the furniture, room, etc, off - let it sort of function as a whole on another level(an enjoyable and relaxing room to be in). The colors in this fabric will bring the whole thing together... especially if I can find a way to being it together with 'function' - also important, as you indicate. I'm also trying to be practical, as regards how much upkeep any addition would need to keep it clean and look its best, with our lifestyle. Not so simple, so I appreciate all participants' input.

I had a custom bedspread made with upholstery fabric. It is heavy and it is lined. It was about 6 years ago and it seemed that all I could find was floral bedspreads. A local company offered to make custom bedspreads for $99 plus fabric. I found a remnant for $20 and they had to honor their ad. The next ads excluded remnants.
I had pets at the time and thought perfect solution to their hair.

Here's a picture of the upholstery fabric bedspread

Thanks so much, katy-b! So nice to see and get a feel for how a 'bedspread' would work out with this fabric. And my furniture is antique too (though mahogany); it seems to set the furniture off nicely (the fabric - and style - is a perfect choice for your set), instead of the fuss of a dust ruffle.

Are the styles of bed coverings used in different bedrooms in the same house, usually the same style?