Best Pillow Shams to Elevate Your Home Décor
Time for some pillow talk! Let’s discuss your bed for a minute. It’s likely your largest piece of bedroom furniture and the place where you spend around a third of your life, as well as the visual centerpiece of your bedroom. The bedding and decorative elements you choose for your bed say a lot about you, so if you’re looking for ways to elevate your bedroom décor, the best place to start is by focusing on the bed itself. And one of the best ways to take your bed décor to the next level is with pillow shams.
Luxurious Pillow Shams
But what is a sham? Essentially, it’s like a pillowcase, but a little more interesting. A sham is a decorative pillow covering that transforms a normal pillow into an ornamental accent.
Sham-covered pillows have been around since the 1700s, typically arranged around or on top of sleeping pillows, to give the bedroom a stylish finish. If you ever visit a 5-star hotel bedroom, one of the first things you’ll notice is the way the bed is elegantly layered with tasteful shams.
Pillow Shams for Bedroom Décor
One question many people have is can you actually sleep on a sham? While there’s no rule against it (and our pillow shams are soft enough to sleep on), that’s not really what shams were designed to do. Shams tend to be thicker and more textured than normal pillowcases and are better suited for decoration than for nightly sleep.
When it’s time for bed, many people choose to remove the shams until it’s time to make the bed again in the morning. Others choose to place the shams as a padded buffer between their sleeping pillow and the headboard. Shams can also be useful for helping to prop you up when you’re reading or just relaxing on your bed.
One of the nicest things about including shams in your bedroom décor is the number of options they give you. Many people choose shams that match their duvet cover or comforter, but that’s not the only way to go! For example, you could change things up and opt for shams made with different fabrics like our soft, waffle weave Del Mar Sham made from 100% long-staple cotton, or our plush, warm Velvet Diamond Sham to contrast with the texture of your other bedding. Switching up fabrics and textures is an easy and effective way to freshen up your décor with the changing seasons. You can also use shams to add a nice pop of color to your bedding ensemble.
Of course, shams aren’t limited to just your bed. Shams also make nice accents on other pieces of bedroom furniture and can help to create a unified look in your bedroom.
Shams Beyond the Bedroom
Shams are obviously well-suited for decorating beds, but don’t limit yourself. Think outside of the bedroom too! As decorative pillows, shams are versatile in their application and can be creatively arranged in other places. You can arrange shams on sofas, benches, and chairs in the living room, den, hall entryway, sunroom, and bathroom, for example. Shams can also be layered on a rug, or used to cozy up a reading nook or meditation space. In other words, shams make great accent pieces all over your home!
Of course, to set any living space apart and make it softer and more welcoming, it’s all about choosing the right sham. We have a beautiful selection of luxurious shams (see the full collection here) in a range of fabrics, including our Relaxed 100% Long-Staple Cotton, Relaxed Linen, Velvet, and premium Brushed Microfiber. Here are a few highlights:
- A Euro Sham is a square sham that is usually placed behind the pillows and against the headboard. Our Linen Shams are handcrafted in Portugal of the softest 100% linen on the front with 100% long-staple cotton on the back.
- Our Amelia Quilted Shams come in a variety of colors, making them extremely versatile in helping to add new style to your bedroom. These include white, neutrals, and a beautiful soft sage green.
- Our Lux Diamond Shams add an ultra-luxurious feel to your bedroom and can either be used on their own or matched with our Diamond blankets/coverlets.
- For a clean and crisp look, our Laguna Shams are the way to go. They feature a subtle chevron-stitched pattern and are a lovely way to embellish your bed.
- For a soft sham that still adds a bit of textural interest, we love the Torrey Sham. It features a quilted rectangular weave pattern and comes in key neutral shades of linen, storm gray, and whisper gray.
Explore Jennifer Adams for Luxury Shams, Bedding, and More!
Jennifer Adams has spent decades helping people like you. She’s passionate about providing the tools to help you create your best sleep experience ever, and she’s also passionate about helping your home feel like a cozy, personal sanctuary that expresses your unique personality and tastes.
When you visit Jennifer Adams you’ll find lots of useful tips, along with a great selection of luxury bedding sets, pillows, blankets, towels, bathrobes, home décor items, and more!
