What are shams? They’re the decorative pillow covers that create that crisp, layered look in styled bedrooms. In simplest terms, a sham is a pillowcase with better manners. It’s cut to fit a pillow insert, has a tidy closure in the back, and is often finished with a flat, stitched border called a flange. Instead of holding your head at night, it leans against the headboard and makes the bed look finished.
Why Not Just Use Pillowcases?
You could, but a pillowcase and a sham have different jobs. A pillowcase is open at one end and easy to slide on and off for frequent washing. A sham closes in the back with an envelope flap or hidden zipper, so the front stays smooth and seamless. It’s also cut more snugly than a pillowcase, which helps it keep a crisp, upright shape when you’re not sleeping on it.
That’s the key difference: pillowcases are made to sleep on; shams are made to be seen. If you buy a bedding set, shams usually match the duvet cover or quilt, giving the bed a pulled-together look.
Common Types and Sizes
Shams are labeled by the size of the pillow insert they fit. If you already have standard sleeping pillows, matching standard shams is an easy place to start. Here’s the quick rundown:
| Sham type | Insert it fits | Where it looks best |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 20 × 26 inches | Behind your sleeping pillows, upright against the headboard |
| King | 20 × 36 inches | Behind sleeping pillows on a larger bed |
| Euro | 26 × 26 inches | Flat against the headboard with sleep pillows in front |
| Boudoir | 12 × 16 inches | Leaning forward as a low accent pillow |
For a standard look, choose two standard shams for a full or queen bed, and two king shams for a king bed. Add a Euro or boudoir sham only if you like a fuller, more styled arrangement. When in doubt, measure the pillow insert you plan to use—the sham should sit snugly, not balloon around it.
How to Style and Care for Shams
Make the bed as you normally do, then set the shams in place. Against the headboard, set them firmly upright so the tops stand at a similar height. In front of them, place your sleeping pillows in plain pillowcases, angled slightly or lying flat. At night, simply move the shams to a chair or bench; pull them back up again in the morning.
Because shams don’t collect as much skin oil as sleeping pillows, they don’t need washing as often. When they do, unzip the cover and wash it in cold water on the gentle cycle, then line-dry or tumble on low. Flange edges press best while the fabric is still slightly damp.
🛏️ Note: Always remove the inner pillow insert before washing the sham. Most inserts are too bulky for a machine and hold their shape better with occasional spot cleaning alone.
Now that you know what shams are, they’re easy to use: treat them as the final step in making the bed, take them off before you sleep, and wash them gently. That little habit is all it takes to make your bedroom feel calmer and more polished.
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