Can You Use a Plain Comforter & Print Shams?

Color

• Color plays a key role when mixing plain material and a print. The print should tie in to the plain material by picking up its tone. Choose a plain comforter in a neutral shade, such as black, white, tan, gray or brown, as neutral colors tend to blend with all colors, giving you more styling options. Some examples include a black comforter with black-and-white damask shams, or a royal blue comforter with blue-and-white striped shams.

Proportion

• Look to the proportion of the print, as it will effect the visual impact. Proportion refers to the size of the print on the sham in relation to the size of the comforter. Although the comforter will command more visual space, a large graphic print will command attention. A smaller print, such as small tiny flowers, will be less noticeable. A large thick stripe will have more impact than many thin ones.

Versatility

• Combining a plain comforter with a print sham gives you a lot of versatility in your design. Because the comforter is plain, revamping your bedroom decor is merely a matter of swapping out the old shams for some new ones and possibly adding a new window treatment. The shams can be used to bring a new accent color into the room or to change to a different design theme.

Cost

• Although there is no difference in price between a plain comforter and a print comforter, there is a difference between a comforter set and a comforter. A comforter set includes the same print on both the comforter and shams, and the cost reflects the price of the two matching items. As individual shams are fairly inexpensive, buying the two pieces separately can save on costs yet achieve a similar look in your bedroom.