If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What is a sham?” or “Describe a pillow sham.,” you’re in the right place.
These pillow covers, which are frequently referred to as sham, pillow sham, or bed sham, transform conventionally-sized pillows into bed decorations. Even though they resemble regular pillowcases, they frequently have a more decorative front and an opening in the back as opposed to the end.
You frequently use a regular pillow sham solely as an accessory or to raise yourself in bed while reading or unwinding because of its decorative nature. Although the decorative pillow might not be the most comfortable, you can sleep on them. They can also take longer to wash than standard pillowcases, depending on the style of decoration covering the front.
Please read on.
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What Is A Pillow Sham?
According to the internet, the phrase “sham,” at least in the context of bedding, has its origins in trickery. In the 1700s, cases with removable decorative fronts first came into fashion and were appropriately labeled “shams.” Since then, people have used comparable decorative cases on their beds as decoration. Why have pillows intended only for display, you pragmatists out there might be wondering? And just what is a sham? It’s only a pillowcase, after all.
When To Use A Bed Sham?
A couple of pillow shams can easily change the look of your bedroom without requiring you to buy brand-new pillows.
In order to give the bed your desired appearance during the day, you typically place bed shams and accent pillows in front of your sleeping pillows. You can throw them off the bed before going to sleep or put them behind your pillows at night to help you stand up.
What Is The Distinction Between A Pillow Case And A Sham?
Simply put, a pillow case is used to keep your pillow clean as you sleep while a pillow sham is used to hide your pillows behind a more decorative façade.
But how can you distinguish between the two?
Pillowcases typically have no type of closure and are open on one end. They typically lack ornamentation because they are typically simpler. They are frequently made of the same material as the sheets they go with. Better-quality pillowcases may have decorative accents, typically along the open cuff. Incorporating matching fabrics for the cuff or adding embroidery or hemstitching may be examples of this.
Pillow shams, on the other hand, typically open from the back; occasionally, they do so with a covert closure, and other times, they do so with an overlapped piece of fabric. A flat piece of fabric known as a flange usually borders them on three or, more frequently, four sides. The flange can be left plain or embellished with accents like embroidery. Typically, the pillow sham is made to coordinate with the bedding’s more decorative components, like the coverlet or duvet cover. However, it can also be specially made to add a splash of color, incorporate colors from the room into the bedding ensemble, or stand out in some other way.
Does A Sham Allow You To Sleep?
While technically yes, you can sleep on a pillow sham, and certainly some people do, that’s not really their purpose. In fact, many shams might be less comfortable to sleep on because of their textured decorative fabrics or because their flanges might be bulky and awkwardly bunch up while you sleep.
So what do you do with them when it’s time for bed? Some people prefer to sleep with their shams behind their pillows, adding an additional layer of padding between their head and the bed’s headboard. More often than not, shams can simply be removed from the bed entirely at night to keep them clean and prevent them from becoming soiled with body or hair oils.
Choose The Right Sham Pillow
To choose the ideal bed sham, you must first decide what size pillows you want to use as bed accessories. It isn’t worth buying if it won’t fit the pillows you already own unless you’re willing to buy new pillows as well. All you need to know is what size pillow you want it to cover because matching pillow shams typically come in your standard pillow sizes.
A pillow sham’s compatibility with your duvet, comforter, and other types of pillows is another thing to take into account. While decorative shams occasionally come with a duvet and sheet set, you might need to buy them separately in other cases. Aside from these two things, another thing to think about is the sham’s style, which entirely depends on your preferences.
Which Type Of Pillow Fits In A Sham?
Bed shams are designed to fit conventional sleeping pillow sizes, as was previously mentioned. Measure your pillow to see if it will fit in the spaces provided below if you’re unsure of the type of pillow you need for each pillow sham size.
- Standard sham: 20 inches by 26 inches
- Queen sham: 20 inches by 30 inches
- King sham: 20 inches by 36 inches
An Explanation Of A Euro Pillow Sham
A decorative cover for a pillow with a Euro size is called a Euro sham. Standard Euro pillows measure 26 by 26 inches, and Euro shams are designed to fit over them. Just for a pillow that isn’t the standard size, they serve the same purpose as other sized bed shams. A Euro sham will typically match the duvet and other bedding to complete the look, just like other pillow shams do.
Styling With Shams
Although there are numerous ways to arrange your bed pillows, a few standard configurations are the most popular.
Stacked
This set up is most likely the simplest and is typical of homes all over the world. Laying your pillows flat against the mattress should be your first step. The cuffs are typically angled outward toward the bed’s edges. Add pillows and decorative shams on top of the stack. This results in a straightforward but attractive arrangement. Some people then decide to lean decorative accent pillows against the stack, but a more minimalist look doesn’t necessarily require them.
Layered
This is one of our favorite arrangements because it enables you to symmetrically and attractively display pillows of various sizes, materials, colors, and textures. Once more, with the cuffs toward the edge of the bed, begin by leaning your sleeping pillows against the headboard. Display a few Euro-sized pillows covered in shams in a straight or overlapping row leaning against them. Place two pillows, either standard or king size, in front of them. In the front, if desired, add decorative pillows in the boudoir, bolster, or neck roll sizes. You can easily alter this style to fit however many or few decorative pillows you prefer for virtually endless design options!
Asymmetrical
A less formal, more creative sense of style is produced by this one. The set-up is similar to the layered option above, but only one side of the bed is used in this arrangement, depending on whether larger or smaller pillows are used. With the possible exception of the smaller decorative throw pillows in the front, it works best if all the pillows are the same color and texture.
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