What Is A Bedroom Sham

Use pillow shams to add color and texture to your bedding.

Walking through the bedding section in your favorite department store can be confusing. You have the choice of down comforters, cotton duvets, velour blankets, patterned quilts and matching sheets. Another staple of a fully made bed is the array of pillows in various shapes and sizes. Complete bed sets often come with a selection of throw pillows and another accessory you might be unfamiliar with -- the bedroom pillow sham.

Facts About Pillow Shams

A sham is a cover for your bed pillow. It's typically made of sturdier material than a pillowcase and has no open end. You insert the pillow through a slit across the back of the sham or through a hidden zipper along its edge. Shams in most bedding sets are made to fit standard-size pillows, but shams are also available to cover the square Euro type.

Styles

Shams are prevalent in traditional and country style bedding sets. You'll find print, brocade, eyelet and quilted fabrics with ornate lace or ruffled edges. The pillow sham has become a common feature in other design styles as well. Silk, satin and heavy textured fabrics with corded or fringed edges work with Victorian and Middle Eastern style bedrooms. Look for simple cotton and linen shams in neutrals or bright primary colors to complement a modern bedding set.

Practical Uses

While the pillow sham can be an added design element in the bedroom, it also has the very practical purpose of protecting your pillow. Clean your bed frame, ceiling fan or walls, and your pillowcase remains free of dust. When you come home to find your dog or cat curled up and sleeping on the bed, you know the pillow you rest your cheek against at night won't be covered in pet hair.

Make your bedroom look instantly more orderly with pillow shams. No matter how faded and wrinkled your sheets are, you can cover the pillows with pretty shams and spread a comforter over the bed for an instant and attractive fix, which is especially helpful when you're selling your house and never know when a prospective buyer will stop by.

Use in Bedroom Design

Brighten up a dark or neutral bedroom with boldly colored and patterned pillow shams. Choose pillow covers with beads and fringe to instantly add elegance to the bedroom. Select thinner fabrics in pastels or simple prints for a more casual, comfortable environment. Pay tribute to vintage style beauty with an all-white bed ensemble, complete with white-on-white patterned pillow shams and throw pillows.

Buy pillows to keep permanently in the shams, and add them behind your existing bed pillows, highlighting your patterned sheet set. Choose a solid or contrasting print for the shams, creating added interest and a focal point for the room. Make your own pillow shams to complement vintage bedding or to match the new curtains. Use bed sheet fabric so you can comfortably rest on all those pillows when you want to sit in bed and read or take a quick afternoon nap. (See Resources.)

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