USEFUL TIPS
What Is a Sham: A Guide to Shams & Bedding 2022
6 min read
6 min read
Have you gone most of your life sham-free? Then you're like most. Shams are usually an overlooked or underrated piece of a bed-set.
Yet, Miracle Made says it might be your new gamechanger. While your bed may work fine with just a fitted sheet, comforter, and plain old pillowcases, adding shams to your bed-set can seriously elevate the look of your room.
Yes, we're here to give you the breakdown on shams, but we also want to let you in on a couple of bedding secrets we've been itching to tell you —- let's dive in!
What Is a Sham?
Essentially a sham is a way to add a bit of flair to your pillows. Everyone has pillowcases on their pillows, but what about pillow shams?
Pillow sham means "pillowcase with a false front." The point of pillow shams is to give your pillows extra texture and color and ultimately elevate your entire bed set.
These alternative pillowcases don't cover the entire pillow. They're met with ties on the middle of the back, resembling a slip, whereas normal pillowcases are more like a sack. You can sleep with your pillow shams on, and they can even be quite comfy. However, we understand if you prefer your pillow shams as decoration only.
It's not uncommon for pillows with shams to get tossed off come bedtime. Some people sleep perfectly fine with them as regular pillows, but others prefer their plain-old pillowcases; it's entirely up to you.
Are Shams Necessary?
Yes and/or no. This is truly a “different strokes for different folks” type of situation. Fans of minimalist design techniques might prefer to populate their lives with just the essentials. On the other hand, people with a flair for maximalism or a pop of color might love their sham.
Here are a few reasons a sham could elevate your bedroom decor:
1. They Add Style.
Your bedroom is one of the parts of your home that you can make 100% yours. You want your bedroom to represent your style as much as possible.
Pillow shams offer a way to show off your style without clogging up your bed with stiff decorative pillows. Decorative pillows can be cute but aren't the most comfortable (or practical).
2. They're an Affordable Addition.
While we always say bedding is something worth splurging on, the key is to do so with intentionality. It's no secret that decorative pillows can burn a hole in your wallet, not to mention they're actually solely for decoration.
If you decide to use pillow shams on your comfortable pillows, you'll have decorative pillows without breaking your bank.
3. You Don’t Need To Sleep On Them
Shams can be fun pops of color, texture, and even ways to bring some seasonal or holiday decor into your sleeping space.
Not everyone finds pillow shams the most comfortable, especially if the shams are covered in tassels, beads, or other accouterments. No problem: All you have to do is simply slide off the sham before laying your head down, and voila, you're ready for bed.
If you do decide to use this method, we suggest double layering your pillows. Essentially, have a base layer. Slip a Miracle Made Pillow Case on your pillow under the sham. This way, when you remove the pillow sham, you won't be sleeping on a bare pillow. Made with 500 thread count Supima Cotton infused with natural silver, these luxe pillowcases help promote cool, restful sleep.
What About Both?
What about both? When we say both, we mean shams and decorative pillows. If you want to rock pillow shams and decorative pillows, we say 100% yes!
While we see that shams may be a better option for some people, that's not to say we don't wholly adore decorative pillows too. Both are a great way to add a bit of spice to your bedroom.
Other Must-Know Bedding Basics
Now that you're a sham expert, and will finally have the answer next time a friend asks the commonly referred to question, let's fill you in on all the other bedding basics you may not have known.
Duvets Are Different Than Comforters
That's right, duvets and comforters are different in quite a few ways.
It's not uncommon for people to mistakenly refer to their duvet as a comforter and vice versa, but we're here to help you avoid that mistake.
Duvets and comforters serve the same purpose — keeping you warm (in a stylish way), but they have their fair share of differences.
Duvets come in a two-piece set (an insert and a duvet cover); in contrast, a comforter is one piece of fabric.
Here is the simple breakdown of duvets vs. comforters:
Essentially, a duvet is considered warmer and is usually heavier in weight. A comforter is lighter, helping keep you cool at night. Ideally, duvets are for the winter months and comforters for the warmer ones (we're talking about you, August).
We say get whichever one you're most comfortable with, but you can never go wrong with having both on hand; just make sure that you get one that is hypoallergenic.
Supima-Cotton Is the New Satin
While silk and satin were all the rave these past few years, Supima cotton is the new top dog in the bedding industry.
Let us explain: While satin has obtained a luxurious image for itself, it may not be the highest quality fabric for your bedding after all.
Satin is produced with synthetic fibers leaving the fabric non-hypoallergenic. Yes, these sheets have a soft silky feel, but they are notorious for trapping heat and sweat. Additionally, satin is often made with synthetic products like polyester, a common allergy.
Supima Cotton is 100% American Grown, and it represents less than 1% of the cotton in the world. Supima Cotton offers top-notch color retention, durability, and breathability.
Miracle Made products are made with Supima cotton and are hypoallergenic. Our antibacterial products help protect you from unwanted bacteria and allergens.
What Are the Benefits of Antibacterial Bedding?
While we're letting you in on all the secrets regarding your bedding, we'd be silly not to spill the beans on antibacterial bedding.
Your bedding holds a lot of bacteria. While you may wash your bedding frequently, we doubt you're washing your sheets and blankets every single day. Washing bedding is often an all-day chore that consumes a large chunk of your weekends (goodbye, Saturday farmer’s markets). With antibacterial bedding, you’ll do laundry three times less. Yes, please.
An Antibacterial Bedding Collection is bedding infused with silver, a natural antibacterial that fights off harmful bacteria. Silver is used in many cleaning products since it's not detrimental to people's health.
Silver infused bedding keeps your bedding as clean as possible — our sheets use anti-microbial silver to prevent 99.9% of bacteria growth.
Sweet Dreams
Sleep is important. It affects your hormones, skin, and mental health. If you're not getting proper sleep, it can lead to various health-related issues. Here at Miracle Made, we want to ensure you get the best sleep possible.
And there is no better way to rest than in a bed that feels (and looks) amazing. Your bed must feel the part and look the part. No matter what you prefer, your bedding should be a restful place to lay your head and the perfect place to start your morning.
