What is the difference between a sham and a duvet

Standard Shams may either be placed behind or in front of the pillows used to sleep on. They are placed behind the cases in our bed illustration. This is also referred to as the top sheet. In most cases, this is the item closest to you and the fitted sheet.

It is typically placed between the coverlet and the fitted sheet then folded over the coverlet. Most people may not know this but there is an actual difference between pillow cases and pillow shams and it can change the way your bedding looks by the fit, feel, style and texture of a pillow cover.

As a customer, a pillow case and pillow sham offer different benefits and uses. Both pillow covers go over the pillow you would lay your head on. A pillow case protects the pillow you use to mainly sleep on which is hidden underneath a pillow sham. A pillow sham covers another set of pillows that sit or lay over the pillow cases. They are typically less fancy looking and are machine washable. Bed shams come in a variety of sizes that are meant to fit different types of pillows, from standard all the way up to king size.

There are even shams for decorative pillows that are square or rectangular in shape. Mattress Reviews. Mixed Foam. View All Accessories. Featured Articles. Different Types Of Bed Shams Like pillowcases, bed shams come in different sizes to fit the size and style of pillow that you own. Standard bed sham: Fits a standard pillow Measures 26 inches by 20 inches Queen Sham: Fits Queen size pillows Measure 30 inches by 20 inches Queen pillows are an in-between size that is not as common as standard or King size, so queen size shams may be more difficult to come by.

King size sham: Fits King size pillows Measures 36 inches by 20 inches European sham: Fits square pillows Measures 26 inches by 26 inches Tend to be more decorative Boudoir Sham: Fits smaller, decorative pillows Measures 12 inches by 16 inches Most boudoir pillows come with the shams, but you can swap them for a different look.

Shams Pillowcases Decorative Functional Typically not meant for use Meant to be used and slept on Come in a variety of fabrics, including fancier materials like silk or cashmere Typically made from cotton, linen or polyester Have extra strips of fabric, called flanges, to make the pillow look larger Do not have flanges May not be meant for machine washing Can be machine washed How To Make Your Own Bed Sham You can easily make a bed sham yourself.

They can be the same or different. Matching thread Pins A ruler Scissors Step One: Cut the fabric to fit your pillow You can measure yourself or check the dimensions mentioned above for common pillow sizes. Step Two: Assemble your sham Begin by taking your front-facing pillow panel and face it front side up. Step Three: Sew, sew sew! Another consideration is whether or not a pillow sham will match your duvet , comforter, and other types of pillows.

While decorative shams occasionally come in a duvet and sheet set, sometimes you may need to purchase them separately. Aside from these two points, another thing to consider is the style of the sham, which depends entirely on your preference. As mentioned previously, bed shams are made to fit traditional sleeping pillow sizes.

A Euro sham is a decorative covering for a Euro-sized pillow. Euro pillows are typically 26 inches by 26 inches and Euro shams are made to fit over them.

They play the same role as other-sized bed shams, just for a nontraditional-sized pillow. Similar to other pillow shams, a Euro sham will typically coordinate with the duvet and bedding to tie the look together.