What is a featherbed? Is a featherbed the same as a mattress topper?

A featherbed is exactly what it sounds like; a bed usually filled with a blend of feathers and down. A true featherbed is quite thick (about 5" or more), compared to a "mattress topper" which is usually only an inch or two thick. A true featherbed will offer much more support than a mattress topper.

Most people use their featherbed on top of a mattress. If the featherbed is thick enough, it can be used as a spare bed on the floor. Plumeria Bay® featherbeds are about 5" to 6" thick, suitable for use just about anywhere. We love to take ours camping!.

Featherbeds are available in different fills. Some manufacturers use feathers for the main body of the bed, then a separate layer of down on the top. Plumeria Bay® uses different blends of white goose feather and white goose down, blended throughout the whole featherbed. We feel this improves the overall feel, support and longevity of a featherbed.

Sometimes we are asked if we can make an all goose down (no feathers at all) featherbed. We can, but we do not recommend it. An all down featherbed would lose much of it's loftiness & support over time, you'd likely have to replace it every 2-3 years. Also, an all down featherbed will sleep much warmer than a feather/down blend featherbed. The feathers that we use in our featherbeds are the soft and pliable body feathers. When mixed with goose down they proved a nice "springy" feel. We offer various percentages of goose down blends, 10%, 20% and 50% white goose down. Higher goose down content does result in a more luxurious feel, with the soft body feathers providing the necessary support. Be cautious of featherbeds that use cut feathers, as this type of feather is not nearly as pliable or supportive, with sharp ends that can be quite uncomfortable.

A featherbed is a great way to soften the feel of a overly firm or lumpy mattress. When used on top your mattress, you can use a fitted sheet (if the pockets are deep enough) or you can use a cotton featherbed protector, suitable for sleeping on, which fits over the featherbed like a pillow case.

Caring for your featherbed is relatively easy. Just give it a good shake and flip it over once a week and you're good to go. It's also a good idea to turn it end to end (top to bottom) to help reduce wear patterns. Plumeria Bay ® featherbeds are very substantial, and not suitable for washing. Use a protector and spot clean when/if necessary.