What Are Bed Shams?

Bed-Making With Shams

• Originally popularized by the European coordinated duvet-and-pillows look of the 1970s, pillow shams can be used either to enhance or to accent a bedspread. Covering sleeping pillows with shams removes the fold-tuck-fold strategy from old-fashioned bed-making and lets even youngsters produce a made bed by smoothing out the top quilt and stacking the pillows. Using pillow shams with a duvet make bed-making quick and efficient.

Decorating With Shams

• Manufacturers now provide pillow shams that coordinate with duvets, top quilts and quilted bedspreads. Coordinated bed-skirts complete the all-over look of a bed made up with pillow shams. It is difficult to find a decor or color scheme for which sham-spread-skirt combinations do not exist.

Coordinating With Shams

• Look for shams that coordinate with both your bedspread and sheets. Because fabric choices are restricted, some manufacturers provide visual variety by offering shams in several sizes: standard, king and European-style (a square shape approximately 26 by 26 inches). Materials vary from easily maintained micro-textiles to higher-maintenance organic cottons and linens. Close coordination of shams with both spread and linens can produce a tailored upscale calm or the controlled chaos of coordinating prints.

Contrasting With Shams

• Another decorating strategy comes from the history of daybeds, designed to provide rest during the day (and the possible loosening of corset stays or cumbersome court clothing). Covered pillows helped transform the daybed into a multi-use piece of furniture, suitable as couch seating in the daytime and slumber at night, a boon to dorm residents and studio apartment tenants throughout the 20th century. Coordinated shams mixed with contrasting ones could make a comfortable backrest for daytime seating while toning down the bedroom qualities of the daybed. Contrasting shams can also be mixed with other shapes and sizes of pillows for added comfort and visual interest.

Making Pillow Shams

• For new homemakers and beginners at sewing, pillow shams are easy and thrifty to create. Simple sewing skills can produce professional-looking, unique shams. Making your own shams lets you use fabric remnants that lend a note of luxury or small touches of a much-loved but overwhelming pattern. Flanged edges, ruffles or other decorative treatments are within your creative capacity and give your decor a touch of individuality.