{"id":26559,"date":"2022-02-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/what-is-a-sham\/"},"modified":"2024-08-22T16:02:59","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T16:02:59","slug":"what-is-a-sham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/what-is-a-sham\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Pillow Sham?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Among the dizzying variety of terms related to bedding<\/a>, you might have encountered the term \u201cpillow sham.\u201d \ufeffSimply put, a pillow sham is a type of pillow cover used to turn ordinary sleeping pillows<\/a> into decorative pillows. \ufeff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pillow shams (also occasionally referred to as bed shams) can sometimes be included as part of bedding sets along with bedspreads, duvet covers, bed skirts, and so on. Standard pillowcases, on the other hand, are typically sold as part of sheet sets along with fitted sheets and flat sheets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the difference between a pillowcase and a sham?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite having a very similar relationship with the pillow, pillowcases and pillow shams are actually two different entities that serve distinct purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200b\ufeffRegular pillowcases\u200b\u200b\u200b <\/strong>are typically made of the same material as the sheet set they’re part of. \ufeffTheir primary purpose is to protect the pillow and create a comfortable enough surface to sleep on, so the fabrics they’re made with tend to be thin and plain. Pillowcases aren’t meant for decoration, although some fancier ones might feature embroidery or other embellishments along the edges. \ufeff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ufeffPillow shams, on the other hand, are essentially decorative pillowcases that are meant to turn normal pillows <\/strong>into additional room flourishes, similar to throw pillows. \ufeffUnlike regular pillowcases, pillow shams typically open from the back and are bordered by a flange. Shams don’t usually match the sheets but instead are designed to match the bedspread <\/strong>or <\/strong>duvet cover. \ufeff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ufeffDifferent pillow sham types and sizes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ufeffLike pillowcases, pillow shams come in a variety of types and sizes to accommodate any type of pillow and match any room decor.\ufeff The types and sizes of pillow shams include the standard sham (26″ x 20″), king sham (36″ x 20″), and Euro sham (26″ x 26″). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consult the below table for a breakdown of the most common pillow sham types and sizes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pillow Type<\/strong><\/td>Description<\/strong><\/td>Pillow Sham Type<\/strong><\/td>Pillow Sham Size<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
King-Size Pillow<\/strong><\/td>King-size sleeping pillow<\/td>King sham<\/td>20\u201d X 36\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
Queen-Size Pillow<\/strong><\/td>Queen-size sleeping pillow<\/td>Queen sham<\/td>20\u201d X 30\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
Standard-Size Pillow<\/strong><\/td>Standard-size sleeping pillow<\/td>Standard sham<\/td>20\u201d X 26\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
Euro Pillow<\/strong><\/td>Decorative square pillow<\/td>Euro sham<\/td>26\u201d X 26\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
Boudoir Pillow<\/strong><\/td>Small, decorative rectangular pillow<\/td>Boudoir sham<\/td>12\u201d X 16\u201d<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ufeffWhere does the sham go on the bed? \ufeff<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shams typically stay on your bed together with ordinary pillows. During the day, pillows with shams are usually placed in front of ordinary sleeping pillows for decoration. \ufeffAt night, they’re either placed behind sleeping pillows to provide additional cushioning or removed altogether from the bed. \ufeff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ufeffWhat is a sham on a bed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\ufeffShams are decorative covers <\/strong>that turn regular sleeping pillows into accent pillows to add to the room decor or to create a specific look. Unlike ordinary pillowcases, bed shams typically match the bedspread and duvet cover and not the sheets underneath. \ufeff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ufeffCan you sleep on a pillow sham?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It’s definitely possible to sleep on a pillow sham (after all, inside it you’ll find a regular comfy pillow)\u2014but you may find pillow shams feel less comfortable than normal pillowcases. It’s also much harder to keep shams clean if you use them for sleeping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that, unlike normal pillowcases, the fabrics for pillow shams aren’t chosen with comfort and washability in mind. Their primary purpose is decoration. That’s why most people tend to put pillows with shams behind their regular pillows for extra cushion against their headboards. Alternatively, they simply remove them altogether from the bed when it’s time for sleep. \ufeff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ufeffCan you wash a pillow sham?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can typically wash your pillow sham the same way you wash your bedspread or duvet cover. If the sham has embellishments like embroidery or beading, or if it’s is made of a particularly delicate fabric, you might want to hand wash it. Otherwise, it is usually OK to just throw it in a washing machine. Always check the manufacturer’s care instructions first. (Check out our guide to washing pillows<\/a>.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Give your bed a makeover with these duvet covers and matching shams<\/p>\n \n \n \n

\n \n \"Saatva\n <\/a>\n\n \n

\n Embroidered Sateen Duvet Cover Set<\/a>\n <\/h4>\n\n \n

Add a luxuriously inviting finish to your bed with our organic cotton duvet cover and matching shams. Silky-soft 300 thread count sateen weave gets softer with every wash.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n \"Saatva\n <\/a>\n\n \n

\n Organic Sateen Duvet Cover Set<\/a>\n <\/h4>\n\n \n

Add a luxuriously inviting finish to your bed with our organic cotton duvet cover and matching shams. Silky-soft 300-thread count sateen weave gets softer with every wash.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n \"Saatva\n <\/a>\n\n \n

\n Organic Percale Duvet Cover Set<\/a>\n <\/h4>\n\n \n

Instantly give your bed a dose of cozy-casual luxury with our organic cotton duvet cover and matching shams. Its crisp and cool 200 thread count percale weave gets softer with every wash.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n \"Saatva\n <\/a>\n\n \n

\n Linen Duvet Cover Set<\/a>\n <\/h4>\n\n \n

Add a luxuriously inviting finish to your bed with our deluxe linen duvet cover and matching shams. Made with responsibly-sourced, all-natural European linen that gets softer with every wash.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\ufeffUp your bedding game at Saatva<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A pillow sham can be thought of like a fancy cousin of a pillowcase. The two are similar yet serve very different purposes. A pillowcase is designed to protect your pillow and provide a comfy surface to sleep on, while a pillow sham’s primary purpose is to add to your room decor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One doesn’t replace the other, and while pillow shams are definitely not an essential piece of bedding like sheets or pillowcases, they can greatly contribute to the decor of your bedroom and help create that special sleeping environment designed just for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Saatva, we offer a variety of duvet cover sets that come with pillow shams. These bedding sets are made with high-quality fabrics including cotton and linen and are super-soft, comfortable, and stylish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out ourembroidered sateen duvet<\/span>,sateen duvet cover set<\/span>,percale duvet cover set<\/span> andlinen duvet cover set<\/span>\u00a0to find a duvet cover and pillow shams that are perfect for you and your bedroom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What exactly is a pillow sham and what does it do to your pillow that can’t be achieved with a pillowcase? Find out here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":165,"featured_media":26560,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[384,403],"tags":[],"coauthors":[421],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-26559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bedding","category-blankets-comforters-duvets"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/165"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26559"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33189,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26559\/revisions\/33189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26559"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=26559"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=26559"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=26559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}