Sateen weave is a type of cotton weave, which is one thread over and three threads under. This is different from the percale cotton weave – the traditional one thread over and one thread under. These additional threads make sateen slightly warmer on the skin, so it's great for cooler sleepers.

The 19^th century saw the invention of the cotton gin. This machine quickly and easily separates cotton fibres from their seeds which revolutionised cotton production. Thus, the cotton sheet was born. This was the start of a new industry. It became much easier to produce cotton than flax and that in turn made it a cheaper product. Ultimately cotton became the popular choice for bedding, though the name bed linen stuck.

Duvet covers are always equipped with a closure mechanism, such as buttons or zippers. Some are available with various ornamental decorations that add elegance and texture to them, such as embroidery, ribbons, or buttons, while others are plain. Duvet covers with pleats, ruching, and flocking are examples of various decorations that may be seen on high-quality bedding. Similarly, pleating is a form of fold that is created by folding fabric over itself while ruching is a procedure created by gathering little ripples in the fabric together. Flocking is the deposit of microscopic particles on the surface of a cloth.