They wash them between guests (or if you ask them to) which is probably why the opening is not closed at all. But, when it's at the foot of the bed, it drapes nicely. You don't see the guts :) they only show when at the head because it can't drape naturally over the quilt. (did that make sense?) I was always told you don't want to "feel" any sort of blanket covering stitching or openings so they always go on the foot. I and the maid disagree obviously!

Sounds like a form vs. function thing to me. I would agree that the opening belongs at the top so it doesn't show when you walk into the room and look at the bed. But it would bug me near my face when sleeping, and if it drapes better the other way, then, put it the other way. What does the maid know anyway? She's just following protocol.

Red

My duvet cover has buttons at the end, but they don't close it completely. I always put that end at the foot, but in manufacturers' and retailers' photographs the open end is usually at the head.

From time to time it is necessary to hold the duvet and cover together at the open and and shake them to even out the duvet inside the cover. To my mind, that means that the open end should be at the foot.

IMHO the opening *belongs* at the bottom, whether it has closure(s) or not. That aside . . .

Here, you are the guest, you are paying the bill and how/where you want the closure is how it should be and remain. You have enuf on your mind without having to remake the damn bed every day. Pleasantly tell said maid (and ask her to pass along to her housekeeping cohorts) that X is how you would like the bed made and to please ensure that it is done in the manner you wish it to be for the balance of your stay. And I'd likely tip her to help her memory bank. :-))

Buttons are at the end of the bed.

Always at the bottom of the bed. I can't stand to use a duvet if its a the top.

LOL - I seemed to have something similar on my last trip. Though my way was wrong, I just didn't like their scratchy pattern on top so I turned it over so the soft silky side was on top. Took them half the week to stop turning it.

I grew up with Duvet covers in Europe and the opening is always at the end. At least that is what we'd been doing since I was born in 1970.

I put the buttoned side at the foot of the bed, but now that I think about it, my cleaning persons put the buttons at the top whenever I have them make the bed (which I usually don't). It doesn't seem like you would want hard buttons up near your face when sleeping, and I tuck the duvet into the foot board a bit so it's not noticeable anyway.

LOL Holly...I did leave a note this morning asking that they not make the bed as I'd already made it to my satisfaction, with a $5 tip on top. They didn't remake the entire bed...they just flip flopped the duvet...with the danged opening at the top again!

Fortunately at the hospital this kind of suffering never happens...I'll be sleeping in a chair for two months...no duvet to flip flop :oP Perhaps this torture is to get me aclimated to my future heh heh

I have always put the buttons down at the end of the bed, positioned so they can't be seen. Igloo, I think those maids must have a side bet going to see if you will continue playing the game with them. :)

Igloochic, I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this silly annoying problem at this time. Can you speak to the hotel manager? I truly hope you have a successful and productive hospital visit for your baby's sake. (((HUGS)))

I have never known anyone to put the opening anywhere except at the bottom of the bed. I don't know if that is a "rule" but I've stayed at many hotels that use duvet covers and everyone I know uses them in that position.

Sky

LOL Polkadots...that's probably it :) I complained at check in that the handicapped door wasn't working...I'm now on the maids hit list heh heh

I emailed the Hilton national and told them it was annoying (but more so I spent time on the door...which has been locked for two weeks which is honestly beyond awful! If you're in a wheelchair you have to stand outside and hope someone will help you open it. I HATE that!)

Maybe I'll cut the tip down to two bucks...heh heh Oh wait..I wonder if a plastic snake under the sheet would stop them from turning it.....

My one duvet has a envelope type of closing - the buttoned area is a fold over section that is toward the top. The expensive Ralph Lauren covers (I work part time at Dillards) have hidden buttons that work well at the bottom or the top.

This thread is actually funny for me because I never gave it a second thought. I put the opening at the foot of the bed because we didn't want the buttons, zipper, or whatever up near our faces.

Igloo, I'm not saying this to be mean, but maybe your maids don't read English. I'm serious. I'm in your court - especially in a hotel!!! I wouldn't want the opening up by my face. Geesh, you never know what might crawl out during the night. :)

I also don't like buttons and such up by my face. I tend to scrunch up the duvet around my face so that would get annoying fast.

However since I'm tall (6') I will turn the duvet whichever way as long as the long way goes down the length of the bed and not across (so my feet don't stick out!). :D If it's a square duvet (maybe for a king-sized bed?) then buttons by the foot and the rest doesn't matter.

I made my own duvet and it has cording around it, so the opening went at the head. That's how I have always seen them. I used Velcro for the closure and it sometimes bothers me, so I just fold it back when sleeping.

I also made a duvet for my daughter with the envelope type closure with buttons. Once again, the opening is at the head.

I never thought of it either. I discovered duvets in Europe and they were always at the bottom. I would agree that with an envelope type cover, you'd want the flap at the top because it's decorative. But if there is anything non soft, I think it belongs at the foot (it's a king size bed).

Sippi I did think about the non-english thing. But I also left a note requesting extra dishwasher soap and two regular coffee's verses a decaf....they did all of that, so I think they really just believe from the deepest part of their heart, that the duvet goes the wrong way LOL Or they're just screwing with my little brain :oP

No matter how "downproof" the inner duvet covering, some little bits and shreds of down, and probably some dust and who knows what else, always escape. You would not want all that poofing out of the opening towards your face, especially if you have allergies. In all the years I've slept under duvets, at home and in hotels and a few homes in Europe and Asia, I've never seen or heard of putting the opening at the head of the bed.

If this really is done, it must be for appearance only and not for best function. Makes my nose itch just thinking about it.

I don't know, but me & duvets do not get along at all...never again. It seems to not work as well as a comforter without one.

And that's a problem since many down and down-alternatives only come in white.

Susan

I always put the finished side at the bottom of the bed so it looks neat. I fold the top sheet over the closure end to keep the snaps, ties, buttons away from my face.

This is turning out to be a "how to hang the toilet paper" discussion!

Susan, The Company Store has many different grades of down and down alternative comforters in all kinds of colors.

As for me, I hate duvets too but any day I'm in a hotel nice enough to have duvets in the first place, I'm just happy to be there and have someone else picking up my messes for a while. :)

I was reading some listings on a web site this morning, and the descriptions of duvet covers all said "button closures at the foot."

Holy cow! I had no idea my duvet was on upside down for the last 10 years. We don't use it at night anyway, but I always thought the closures went at the top. Silly me!

My problem is I can never get it back in correctly after I've had it cleaned. Off to turn my bedding around! LOL