What is a Pillow Sham?

The word sham means something that is false, and a pillow sham is a false decorative pillow. It lends the illusion that you have purchased specially decorated pillows instead of just covering a standard bed pillow with a pillow sham. Unlike the typical pillowcase, the pillow sham is often open in the middle of the back, with slightly overlapped fabric. Typically, you insert one side of the pillow into the pillow sham, and then insert the other side of the pillow into the opposite side of the sham. The overlapping fabric in the back covers the pillow completely, and by having pillow insertion in the middle instead of on one side like a pillowcase, the pillow sham allows for a uniform design around the four edges of the pillow. Pillow shams are often sold as part of comforter sets, and may either be of the same fabric that makes a comforter or quilt, or may be a different contrasting fabric that works well with the rest of the bedding. Because they turn regular pillows into “decorative ...  more

Pillow shams are decorative cases for pillows that are meant for display rather then for use by a person sleeping on the bed.  more

A PILLOW SHAM IS A COVERING FOR YOUR PILLOW - NOT TO CONFUSE IT WITH A PILLOW CASE. THE SHAM IS MORE DETAILED AND CAN BE DISPLAYED ON YOUR BED ATOP THE OTHER PILLOWS ALONG WITH THE DECORATIVE PILLOWS.  more