What Is a Bed Sham? A Designer's Guide to Pillow Shams

If you've ever bought a bedding set and found two extra pillow covers with a wide fabric border and an opening at the back, you've met the bed sham. They're one of the simplest ways to make a bed look finished, yet they cause a surprising amount of confusion. Is a sham just a fancy pillowcase? Do you sleep on it? And what exactly is the "sham" in a bed set?

As an interior designer, I use shams on almost every bed I style, because they bridge the gap between a bed that's simply made and one that looks like it belongs in a hotel or a magazine. In this guide I'll explain what a bed sham is, how it differs from a pillowcase, the different types and sizes, and my go-to formulas for styling them.

What Is a Bed Sham?

A bed sham (or pillow sham) is a decorative pillow cover designed to make a bed look styled and polished. Unlike a standard pillowcase, which is meant to be slept on, a sham is mainly for show. It's usually made from a heavier or more decorative fabric, often matches or coordinates with the duvet cover or comforter, and is typically finished with a flat fabric border (called a flange), piping or a ruffle.

Shams usually open at the back, with an envelope or zip closure, so the pillow is hidden neatly inside and the front looks smooth from every angle. During the day they sit at the head of the bed in front of, or instead of, your sleeping pillows. At night they come off and go on a chair or bench.

So when people ask "what is a sham for a bed?", the short answer is: it's a decorative cover that dresses up your pillows during the day.

Why Is It Called a Sham?

The name is surprisingly literal. "Sham" means something that isn't quite what it appears to be, and the earliest pillow shams were decorative covers laid over the real, everyday pillows to disguise them during the day. Embroidered, lace-trimmed shams were a fashionable part of the made bed in the 19th century, then removed at night so the plainer sleeping pillows could be used.

Today's shams are more practical, but the idea is the same: they're the dressed-up face of your bed.

Sham vs Pillowcase: What's the Difference?

The easiest way to remember it: pillowcases match your sheets and are for sleeping; shams match your duvet or comforter and are for show.

What Is a Sham in a Bed Set?

When you buy a comforter set or duvet cover set, the "shams" are the matching decorative pillow covers that come with it. A typical set includes:

• Twin or single sets: one comforter or duvet cover and one sham.
• Full, queen or double sets: one comforter or duvet cover and two shams.
• King and super king sets: one comforter or duvet cover and two king-size shams.

Some sets also include Euro shams, cushion covers or a bed skirt. Shams in a bed set are made from the same fabric as the comforter or duvet cover, which is why they look so cohesive on a made bed. Pillowcases are usually sold separately with the sheets.

What Is a Sham on a Bed For?

Shams do more than look pretty. On a bed they:

• Finish the look. A row of tailored shams makes even a simple bed look intentional.
• Hide everyday pillows. Slightly flat or mismatched sleeping pillows can sit behind or underneath.
• Create height and layers. Shams in different sizes build a headboard-like backdrop.
• Add colour, pattern and texture. They're an easy way to bring in a new shade without changing your duvet.
• Make seasonal updates easy. Swapping linen shams for velvet in autumn changes the whole mood of the room. It's one of my favourite tricks from 12 cozy autumn interior design trends.

Types of Bed Shams

Flanged sham

The most common style, with a flat fabric border around the edge, usually 5cm to 8cm (2 to 3 inches) wide. It frames the pillow neatly and looks crisp and tailored. In the UK, a pillowcase with a flat border like this is known as an Oxford pillowcase, and it's the closest British equivalent of a classic sham.

Corded or piped sham

Instead of a flange, the edge is finished with a fabric-covered cord. It gives a smart, upholstered look and suits classic and traditional bedrooms.

Ruffled sham

A gathered frill around the edge for a romantic, cottage or vintage look. Choose linen or washed cotton ruffles for a relaxed, modern take.

Knife-edge sham

No border at all, just a simple seam. It's the most minimal option and works well in contemporary or Japandi-style bedrooms, where the calm, edited approach I describe in Japanese house design suits the bedroom beautifully.

Quilted or matelassé sham

Stitched or woven with a raised pattern, these add texture and work well with a coverlet or quilt.

Euro sham

A large square sham, usually 26 x 26 inches in the US or 65 x 65cm in the UK and Europe, where it's often called a square or continental pillowcase. Euro shams stand upright at the back of the bed and are the secret to a hotel-style layered look.

Boudoir or breakfast sham

A small rectangular sham (around 12 x 16 inches or 30 x 40cm) placed at the front of the pillow arrangement as an accent.

Bed Sham Sizes

Sizes vary between brands and between the US and UK, so always check the dimensions of your pillow inserts before buying. As a guide:

The flange on a flanged sham sits outside the pillow area, so a standard sham with a 5cm flange looks larger than the pillow itself. That's intentional, and it's part of what makes the bed look generous.

Can You Sleep on a Pillow Sham?

You can, but most people don't. Shams are often made from heavier, textured or embellished fabrics that are less comfortable against your face and less breathable than a cotton or linen pillowcase. Back closures and flanges can also be uncomfortable to sleep on.

If you prefer fewer pillows, choose shams in a soft cotton or linen and treat them as pillowcases with a nicer finish. Otherwise, take them off at night and place them on a chair, bench or blanket box.

How to Style Bed Shams: A Designer's Formulas

These are the arrangements I use most often. Each works from the headboard forwards.

Single or twin bed

1. One sleeping pillow in a pillowcase.
2. One standard sham in front.
3. Optional: one small cushion or boudoir sham.

Double or full bed

1. Two sleeping pillows in pillowcases, lying flat.
2. Two standard shams, propped against them.
3. One lumbar cushion in the centre.

Queen bed

1. Two Euro shams upright against the headboard.
2. Two sleeping pillows in pillowcases.
3. Two queen shams in front.
4. One accent cushion.

King or super king bed

1. Three Euro shams across the headboard.
2. Two king sleeping pillows in pillowcases.
3. Two king shams.
4. One long lumbar cushion or two smaller cushions.

Styling tips

• Stick to odd numbers for accents and keep the overall look symmetrical for a calm, tailored bed.
• Layer from large to small, back to front.
• Mix textures rather than lots of patterns. Linen shams with velvet cushions and a cotton duvet always look good.
• Use the 60-30-10 idea for colour: a main neutral, a supporting shade and one accent. My guide to choosing the perfect colour palette explains how to build one.
• Chop the cushions, not the shams. A gentle karate chop looks great on a down-filled cushion but leaves shams looking dented.
• Don't overdo it. If making the bed takes longer than a minute, there are too many pillows.

How to Choose the Right Shams

• Match the shams to the duvet or comforter, and the pillowcases to the sheets.
• Choose natural fabrics such as cotton, linen or wool blends for a relaxed, breathable look, and velvet for warmth and richness in autumn and winter.
• Check the closure. Envelope closures are easiest to use; zips give the neatest finish.
• Buy good inserts. A plump insert one size larger than the sham, or a feather insert, keeps shams looking full rather than flat.
• Think about care. Machine-washable shams make life much easier.

How to Wash and Care for Shams

Because they aren't slept on, shams don't need washing as often as pillowcases. Every two to four weeks is usually enough, or more often if pets share your bed. Always follow the care label, wash similar colours together and remove the inserts first.

Shams sit at the top of the bed collecting dust all day, so a regular wash and shake helps keep the bedroom fresh. For more ways to keep a bedroom clean, see my guide on how to prevent dust in a room. Storing spare shams neatly folded in a drawer or blanket box also keeps the room tidy, one of the small details that make a space feel more organised.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bed sham?

A bed sham, or pillow sham, is a decorative cover for a pillow that makes the bed look finished. It usually matches the duvet or comforter, has a decorative edge such as a flange or piping, and opens at the back.

What is a sham in a bed set?

In a comforter or duvet set, the shams are the matching decorative pillow covers that come with it. A queen or king set usually includes two shams, while a twin set usually includes one.

What is the difference between a sham and a pillowcase?

A pillowcase is for sleeping and matches your sheets. A sham is decorative, matches your duvet or comforter, opens at the back and often has a border or trim.

Do you put a pillow in a sham?

Yes. A sham covers a pillow or pillow insert. Many people use separate, firmer inserts for shams so they stay plump and upright, and keep their softer sleeping pillows in pillowcases.

What is a Euro sham?

A Euro sham is a large square sham, usually 26 x 26 inches or 65 x 65cm, placed upright at the back of the bed to add height and a layered, hotel-style look.

What do British people call a pillow sham?

In the UK, a decorative pillowcase with a flat border is called an Oxford pillowcase, and a large square one is often called a square or continental pillowcase. The word "sham" is used more in the US, though it's increasingly common in British bedding shops.

Make Your Bed Look Finished

A bed sham is a small detail that makes a big difference. Choose shams that coordinate with your duvet, layer them in a simple formula and take them off at night, and your bed will look beautifully styled every day.

If you'd like help creating a bedroom that feels calm, cohesive and properly finished, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me. For more styling ideas, browse my decorating articles.