A duvet (say it like “doo-VAY”) is a soft, flat bag filled with feathers, down, or synthetic material that you use as a blanket on your bed. Unlike a regular blanket, a duvet is designed to be used inside a removable fabric cover called a duvet cover, which works like a giant pillowcase. This means you can easily take off the cover to wash it without having to clean the bulky duvet itself.

Duvets are popular in Europe and have become common in America too. They're wonderfully warm but surprisingly light, especially ones filled with down (the fluffy underlayer of feathers from ducks or geese). On cold winter nights, you can snuggle under a duvet and feel cozy without being weighed down by heavy blankets.

When you make your bed with a duvet, it's usually much simpler than dealing with top sheets, blankets, and bedspreads. You just pull up the duvet and smooth it out. Some people love this simplicity, while others prefer the traditional way of making beds with multiple layers.