I Upgraded My Bedroom with This Viral “Cinched” Duvet Cover, and Yes, It’s *That* Cute IRL

I first moved into my apartment almost two years ago, and obviously I was so excited to decorate every little nook and cranny. But I decided to focus on styling one room at a time to avoid getting overwhelmed. So I started with the most “visible” areas: the living room (where I eat, work, and host), then the kitchen, and then the bathroom. My bedroom was sadly the very last room on the list. 

So this year I decided it was long past time to show my bedroom a little love, too. The first order of business? The bed, of course! And as luck would have it, I got the chance to test the very duvet cover I had been lusting over since I moved in. You know her, you love her, you’ve probably pinned her once or twice: Say hello to the duvet of my dreams, Urban Outfitters’ Melody Cinched Core Duvet Cover!

If your Pinterest algorithm looks at all like mine, you’ve seen the Melody Duvet Cover before; “cinched” or “ruched” bedding has been trending for a minute now, and I’m betting it’s here to stay for a while longer. I got the queen size in white, which is a perfect off-white shade. It’s bright, but still slightly warm-toned; not a stark white, which can look far less luxe. 

The cinched detailing and adorable bows on the side keep this solid white duvet far, far from basic or boring, though. I love the depth and texture that the ruched design adds to the bed. It almost looks like a puffy cloud. And who doesn’t want to nap on a cloud? 

The Melody Duvet Cover is made from 100% cotton, which means it’s super lightweight and easy to clean. It has a hidden button closure, which I love, and corner ties to keep the insert in place. Plus the shams feature an envelope closure, which keeps the whole setup looking so neat and luxe. 

When I say I’ve been obsessed with this duvet for a while, I mean it. I actually bought a similar, less expensive comforter online about a year ago, for about half the price, and let me tell you now — just save the extra $40 and go for the real thing! The difference in quality and feel was HUGE; and I think the look is dramatically better too.

The comforter I had before barely even held up for a year, which feels really wasteful. Not only was it a huge pain to wash (as a comforter vs. a duvet cover), but it was also a cat fur magnet. The old version was microfiber, not cotton; so while it was admittedly a bit softer to the touch, it clung to every bit of lint and fur that so much as looked its way. Plus, the stitching tore pretty easily when washed, given the cheap fabric, and it even pilled.  

Within seconds of setting up my new duvet, of course, my cat Phoebe (a certified bed-making enthusiast and Apartment Therapy’s harshest critic) made herself right at home. She spends pretty much all day on her my bed, so I was shocked to see an almost fur-free cloud of comfort and coziness waiting for me that night. 

Because of this, I’ve only had to wash my new Melody Duvet Cover once so far since I received it, but it held up very well. Other reviewers have reported damage to the stitching with washing, though, so I kept my machine on a delicate cycle and washed the duvet separately (and it did just fine). It also got a bit softer, so I imagine that will only continue to improve with time. 

So don’t wait a year like I did, and definitely don’t waste your time on a lesser version. My new duvet looks so good, it even inspired me to reupholster my headboard — a task I’d been putting off for months. I really can’t overstate it: If you’re thinking about buying it, just do it! 

Buy: Full/Queen Melody Cinched Core Duvet Cover, $99.00