Pillow Shams
We're all familiar with pillows and pillow cases but pillow shams are a bit more exotic. What exactly does the term mean?
What Is A Pillow Sham?
The name pillow sham derives from the word "sham" in its sense of "false". A pillow sham is thus a "false pillow case".Essentially the key point of a pillow sham is that it is designed to be decorative rather than functional. When you buy one you are likely to be thinking more of how it will look in your bedroom than of how comfortable it might be to sleep on. It's a display pillowcase. Some bedding sets in the stores come with coordinated pillow shams.
Designs
Many pillow shams have textured patterns or tassles and ruffs that could actually be rather uncomfortable to sleep on. In addition the decoration could be adversely affected by sleeping on and constant washing. Thus it is common for pillows with a sham cover to be "day only". At night the sham pillow is either removed or placed underneath another pillow with a conventional case.There are an endless variety of shams available to buy. Since the emphasis is on the visual impact many popular designs on the market include features such as ruffles and cording. Euro pillow shams are a popular choice.
As with pillows themselves, shams are available in a variety of sizes. The most sigificant difference in size probably depends on where you're planning to use it. Small pillows with shams are sometimes best used to enhance the decor of rooms other then the bedroom.
Stuffers
A sham stuffer or insert is simply a pillow designed specifically to place inside a decorative sham. It normally uses filling materials designed to hold their shape and show off the sham to its best, rather than ones designed for comfort and flexibility.Be sure to buy the right size!