How you style your bedroom can say a lot about you. So, when you’re putting together your bedspreads, duvets, and other bedding essentials, you may also be selecting pillowcases that spruce up your bed. 

But have you heard of “bed shams”?

Probably not. And if you are here to find an answer to the question, “what is a bed sham?” you’ve landed on the right page! 

So, what is a sham for a bed exactly?

Simply put, it’s just a fancy name for a fancy pillow cover. 

It’s a decorative bedding accessory that can add a lot of personality to your bedroom. Interested in knowing more? Keep reading.

To add some style and charm to your bed. 

Well, that may be an oversimplified answer to what are bed shams. So, let’s hear from an industry insider who can offer more insight: 

As you can tell, shams are essentially a decorative element. When people buy bed sets, they get shams as a part of the package, which makes them wonder, what is a sham in a bed set? Well, now you know.

But if shams are just fancy pillowcases, you must be wondering what are bed shams used for and whether they serve the same purpose as a regular pillowcase. 

Well, yes and no. 

A bed sham is basically used for decorative reasons. It adds an aesthetic appeal to your bedroom or your living room. 

On the other hand, pillows are functional bedding pieces that offer more comfort when you are resting. However, when it is not in use, pillows can be used for decoration. 

Shams make the pillows visually appealing. They can be designed according to the decor of your bedroom or living room to add more personality to the space. You can find bed shams in various textures, patterns, and designs and in a range of colors and styles. 

Apart from knowing what is a bed pillow sham, it’s also important to learn about the different types of shams. Since they are pillowcases, just decorative ones, shams come in all standard pillow sizes. Let’s take a look at some common types of bed shams.

A standard sham is for a standard-size pillow. So, the dimensions of a standard sham are 26 inches by 20 inches. A single standard bed sham is enough to style twin or twin XL beds, but you’ll need two shams for a queen or full bed.

Designed to fit the queen pillow, queen shams measure around 30 inches by 20 inches. They are rare in the sham world and finding one may be a bit difficult. So, even if you don’t, you can simply use two standard bed shams to style your queen-size bed.

As the name suggests, these shams are for king-size pillows. They’re 36 inches by 20 inches in size and are ideal for king-size or California king beds. You can also use a single king-size sham pillow for decorating a queen or full bed.

Also known as continental or Euro shams, European shams measure 26 inches by 26 inches. They fit the European pillow, which is not rectangular but has a square shape. It is more decorative and offers more creativity in terms of placement. They also tend to have frills or flanges and coordinate with the coverlet or duvet cover.

Boudoir shams are for small rectangular pillows. They measure 16 inches by 12 inches and are mostly placed in front of the sleeping pillows. Boudoir shams are often sold along with the respective pillow, but you can always change them. 

A neckroll sham is for a bolster pillow but can also encase a neck roll. It is different from the other shams in that it has a cylindrical shape as opposed to square or rectangular.

Now that we know what is a sham for your bed, you must have noticed that shams are very different from pillowcases despite them both being covers for pillows. 

Pillowcases are functional and meant to be slept on; shams are just for decoration. 

Here are some more differences between bed shams and pillowcases:

• Pillowcases are made from cotton, polyester, or linen. Shams are made from a variety of fancier materials, such as silk and satin.
• Pillowcases typically do not have any additional decorative fabric. Shams may have extra strips of fabric to make the pillows look larger and more attractive.
• Pillowcases are identical on both sides. Shams have a decorative front and plane back.
• Pillows have a closure at either end or an envelope closure to prevent the pillows from sliding out. Shams open at the middle of the backs and may have a zipper, overlapping length, or button closure. 
• Pillows can be machine washed. Shams can get damaged in a machine. 

If after learning all about what is a bed sham you’re curious about making one for yourself, you can! Here’s a quick and easy guide to help you make your very own personalized bed sham. 

• Fabric (one piece for the front and one for the back; they can be the same or different)
• Pins
• Matching thread
• Scissors 
• Ruler

Measure the pillow you want to make a cover for, mark it on the fabric, and start cutting. If you are adding flanges, you can make them as large or small as you want, or skip them altogether. The design of the sham is completely up to you. Once you have both pieces cut, cut the back piece in half since that’s where the enclosure will be.

Place the fabric for the front side of the pillow front-side up. Now take the back-side panels and place them one by one on the front-side part. The back side pieces are placed face down, so, the faces of both the front side and back side face each other. Align the edges properly so that the back panels overlap in the middle. The overlap must be around 7 to 10 inches.

Secure the fabrics using pins so they do not move while sewing. Now, sew all the edges, and when you have gone around the cover, just flip it inside out. 

This step is only required if you want to add flanges. Measure and cut the flanges according to how big you want them. Place them at around two inches from the edge of the sham and start stitching. 

Your bed sham is ready for use! Place them on your pillow and style them how you want. Not sure how to put on a bed sham? You just have to flip the cover, widen the closure, and insert the pillow on one side first. That’s it! 

There is no restriction on the type of fabric that you must use to make a bed sham — everything from cotton to silk will work! However, as shams are used for decorative purposes, soft, shiny, and textured fabrics are mostly preferred.

Some common fabrics used to make shams include cotton, linen, polyester, silk, flannel, bamboo, wool, lace, and blends. 

The final decision depends upon your personal taste, the material you prefer, and whether you want your shams to be soft, silky, or sturdy. 

How do you go about using shams to style your bed? Can you just toss these sham-covered pillows any way you like? Is there a structure? Just how do you put shams on a bed?

Well, there are many ways in which you can improve the aesthetics of your bed by adding bed shams. 

You can arrange your sleeping pillows against the headboard and place a single sham pillow or a pair in the front to add an accented element. You can lay your sleeping pillows flat on the bed and stack your shams on them.

You can also place your shams below your sleeping pillow while sleeping and behind them when leaning to watch television or read a book.

If you have more than one-sized pillow, keep them in descending order, with the largest leaning against the headboard, to create a layered look.

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Bed shams are decorative covers for your pillows that help you add aesthetics to your bedding. So, once you put them on a pillow, you can arrange the pillow on your bed any way you like. 

No. A sham is just a decorative pillow case and does not include a pillow. You can either make a sham for your regular pillows or buy cheap pillows that are just used as an accessory with shams. 

It depends on whether or not you want to decorate your bedroom. Pillow shams add texture, layer, and style. They can be made to match the decor of your home and make your bedroom interior more appealing. If this is what you want, bed shams are a good investment.

As shams are only for decorative purposes and not for functionality, there will not be much wear and tear. And since you also won’t be sleeping on them, you don’t have to worry about any neck or back pains due to inferior quality. So, you can safely opt for cheap, inexpensive pillows for a bed sham.