On those unbearably warm nights in our apartment, my husband is the type who will throw off all of the covers to stay cool. I, on the other hand, have to sleep with something and that something has to be heavier than a sheet. Most summer nights, a comforter or duvet just won't cut it. Thank goodness for quilts and coverlets!
Here's a roundup of quilts and coverlets for those of you who share my sleeping need. The are cool enough for warm nights, but thick enough to feel like a substantial cover. And for cooler nights, just add a blanket and you are all set.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
1 - Taryn Teal Coverlet from Crate and Barrel, on sale for $99.95 to $149.
2 - Munjoy Coverlet from the Modern Comfort by Angela Adams Collection at Bed Bath and Beyond, $79.99 to $129.99.
3 - Sundra Blossom Quilt from Anthropologie, $168 - $228.
4 - Tailored Stripe Coverlet from West Elm, $109 - $149.
5 - Louie Coverlet by Area from Design Public, $229 - $330.
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
Party Recipe: Creamy Crawfish Dip
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
I have a "winter" down comforter and a "summer" down comforter. The summer comforter is about 15 years old and at this point not much more than two layers of cloth with a few feathers still inside. It's perfect....
Does anyone use 'spellcheck' at all?
"throw" not through. Although to be fair, spellcheck does not find incorrect word usage.
My husband and I each use just a twin light cotton thermal blanket. I fold mine for double thickness since he runs warmer. The blankets breathe well, are very soft, look nice, and have pilled little. I push any snags through to the underside with a toothpick. They've been machine washed and dried frequently for years. Making the bed is quick and easy--no top sheet, no comforter, no quilt, and no bed spread. They're always comfortable since for various reasons we almost always use air conditioning.
Is it safe to assume that the bed and nightstand in the first pick are from Crate and Barrel? The nightstand, especially, is really tripping my trigger.
Are those coverlets randomly chosen for looks, or are they made out of cool/breathable fabrics?
KayinKCMO - I didn't notice that nightstand until you mentioned it and I want to know where it's from too.
I'm the same way: I need to be under a blanket. I find that my down comforter keeps me super warm in winter but stays pretty cool in the summer. I have a light cotton duvet cover.
My husband and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in Portugal and our souvenir (besides embryo #3) was a locally made stunning matelasse coverlet in ivory. We paid 1/2 of what we would have here in the states. It is the perfect summer layer over a sheet. If you have plans to visit Portugal, definately remember to check out the fine linens, flannels, and matelasse coverlets, they have it down perfectly.
i just use my duvet cover, without the duvet in it. that and a top sheet and i am set for the night.
I've always had good luck finding similar quilts and coverlets at Target.
I've always used a comforter, but this summer it wasn't cutting it. We had a duvet & tried putting a super light insert in, but still too warm. Ended up (skeptically) at Target in the market for a coverlet. We got one from Dwell Studio & LOVE it! It's the perfect material/weight/thickness for summer!!
http://www.cozylittlecave.com/2010/06/warm-weather-bedding.html
Pixie- yeah the bed and nightstand in the first pic are from crate and barrel. It's their furniture line you have to assemble yourself. I was interested in buying the entire bedroom set, so I went to see it in person at the Lincoln Park store in Chicago. Not sure about the nightstand, but the chest from the same line was either poorly constructed or poorly assembled-- when you open one drawer, the adjacent drawer would also open. I decided against buying it.
I saw this post and it made me laugh. Only in San Francisco and in the summer would someone be writing about quilts and coverlets for "warm" winter nights! Well, here in Italy, in the summer we dispense with any and all fru fru and just sleep with one, light, cotton sheet!
http://lapsushumanus.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-do-you-make-your-bed.html
I like using a flannel sheet as a blanket in the summer. Just enough weight.
Why use a cover if it's too warm? It is just going to lead to one needing to set the air conditioning to run more and/or add more fans. In the summer I just use a top sheet as our so-called "blanket".
ChrisGal, You're right, and when I do that, the temperature is right, but the weight is so light that I feel umcomfortably bare.
You could try two sheets instead of a blanket...haven't tried it myself but it could give you that feeling of a blanket without actually using one.
A flannel sheet is a bit too heavy for our Calif summer heat waves when it stays fairly hot at night for a few days at a time. I shopped and found a cotton thermal blanket that is lightweight enough to pull up on the evenings when it cools off. Meanwhile, under that I have just a sheet but not any old sheet. It's cotton jacquard. Just perfect!