Linen glossary

Boutis (quilted bedspread)

A boutis is a quilted bedspread of Provençal origin: two fabrics stitched together over a light filling, drawing raised motifs. By extension, the word now covers most light quilted bedspreads that dress the bed by day and serve as an extra layer in mid-season.

On a hotel-style bed, the boutis (or bed throw) is the finishing layer: laid over the made bed, it protects the white linen from dust and parked luggage, structures the room's photo, and comes off at night. In a riad or guesthouse, a plain boutis over white linen is the cheapest way to visually "furnish" a room without touching the white of the sleep surface.