Pillows aren’t necessarily bedding essentials but they are a must-have if you want to add a decorative flourish to your room. With the best pillow shams, your entire sleep space will look all spruced up and put together. You can get them to match your quilt, duvet, and other bedding or get them as one-offs to blend with your overall aesthetic. While it might seem easy to pick the best pillow sham for your space, the myriad brands, with different materials, dimensions and colors can be a tad confusing.
We scoured the market and came up with a refined list of some of the best-rated pillow shams to help you make a quick and informed decision. Some of the features we considered in our review include: color, pattern, fit, dimensions, and material. They determine the quality of the sham and its aesthetic appeal. The dimensions of the sham are a crucial consideration as it will help you find the perfect fit for your pillows.
Other features: charmeuse weave, French seams, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, environmentally friendly dyes, naturally resistant to common allergens
This Euro sham is cut from the same grade of mulberry silk you would expect on a good pillowcase, and at 22 momme it is a little heavier than the 19-momme silk most bedding uses. The charmeuse weave is smooth and breathable, so the sham looks glossy on a made bed and still feels gentle if you lean back against it while reading.
Mulberry Park finishes it with French seams and a zipper closure, which keeps the insert hidden and stops the edges fraying after repeated washes. It is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified and colored only with environmentally friendly dyes, which is worth knowing if allergies or sensitive skin are part of your decision.
Other features: hygroscopic, ventilative, anti-static, natural mineral or vegetable dyes, envelope design
Just from the look of it, these 2-piece pillow shams offer interesting textural detail that could add some character to your space. They are the ultimate choice for organic freaks as they are dyed with natural minerals and vegetable dyes that are a tad gentler on your skin and the environment than other dyes.
You not only get beauty and comfort with these shams but also top-notch convenience. Unlike most pillow shams, they are designed with an envelope closure to hold the pillows in place without giving you the tough zipper frustration.
Moreover, the shams come in various colors so you can pick what makes you tick.
Other features: invisible zipper closure, 21 available colors
This is quite the piece if you want to add some casual ruggedness to your sleep space or living area. The stylistic corduroy velvet will not only add texture to your space but will also blend with your other décor pieces easily.
We are partial to this neutral and cozy grey color but you have other 20color options to pick from. It also comes in tons of sizes so you can get a perfect fit for your bed pillows or living area throws.
What’s more, the shams have an invisible zipper closure because who wants to see a tacky zipper on an incredibly beautiful decorative pillow sham?
Other features: wrinkle-resistant, machine washable and dryable
This is a fantastic choice for everyday spaces and the bedroom because of its simple but elegant design and colors. They are mind-blowingly soft and durable with superb airflow.
The quilted patterns not only elevate the shams’ beauty but also give it some extra padding for superior comfort. The 2-inch flange adds some flare to the shams’ design which gives your space a finished chic look.
Further, you will love the 100% cotton material that you can wash in the machine and pass through a dryer. And the best part is that it is wrinkle-resistant, so, it will always look sharp and ready after a wash.
Other features: 400-thread-count, envelope closure, three-stripe embroidered border, machine washable
Cotton sateen has a smooth, faintly lustrous surface, and at 400 threads per inch this pair feels substantial without going stiff. The shams measure a standard 20 x 26 inches with a 2.8-inch border, so they sit neatly over a standard pillow, and the envelope closure on the back keeps the pillow tucked in with no buttons or zippers to fuss with.
The plain white face is finished with a three-stripe embroidered border, which is enough detail to look deliberate against patterned or solid bedding. Care is straightforward as well: cold machine wash, tumble dry low, and a cool iron if you want the crisp look back.
Other features: two available colors, machine washable, macrame tassel cute lace trim
For a Boho vibe, you couldn’t make a better choice than these YINFUNG pillow shams. It has pretty macramé tassels, a cute lace trim detail, and pintuck handwork that will spruce up your space and add a luxurious yet homey touch to it.
The shams come in a set of 2 in 2 colors. They are made of 100% cotton which is soft to the touch, breathable, and easy to maintain. The shams are machine washable, though they will wrinkle as they are 100% cotton which isn’t much of a deal-breaker as you can always iron them.
Other features: 20 available colors, a 90-day return and replacement, a life-time free customer service
So if you are on the market for basic looking yet high-quality shams on a low budget this is your best bet. The pair comes in tons of colors that you can choose from bright neon colors to calming bedroom tones.
The shams are smooth and pretty simple but fun. They don’t have much going on in terms of style except for their decorative flange but with the large color variety, you can tailor them to suit your room’s style.
You will love the 100% microfiber material that is superbly soft to the touch as well as stain and wrinkle-resistant.
Even more, the shams are machine washable and dryable.
Other features: wrinkle-resistant, machine washable, low shrinkage
These are the best 2-pack pillow shams on this list because they come in myriad sizes. Also, they offer the best value for money as they are surprisingly cheaper than most pillow shams that offer similar features and quality.
The shams have multiple color options from which you can pick something to match your bedroom color scheme. They are made of super-soft microfiber that can be washed and dried in the washing machine and dryer. The material doesn’t shrink as much as others and it is wrinkle-resistant.
They are pretty basic design-wise, which is perfect for a minimalistic décor style or a simple vibe addition to a sophisticated space.
Other than an attractive design, there are a lot of considerations to make before buying the perfect pillow sham for your space. This section contains a few quick tips on how to choose the best pillow sham. You will get to know the most crucial features you have to be on the look for when you go shopping.
Here are some of the features any great pillow sham should have.
This is the most crucial aspect. Before you go shopping for a sham you have to ensure you have the right size and shape of your pillows for a perfect fit. Shams come in 3 different sizes: 36”x20” which is the king-size, standard size 26”x20” and 26”x26” which is the Euro sham. The Euro sham has a square shape and is more versatile.
The choice of material is a matter of personal preference. However, it is advisable to consider the existing materials in your space like furniture and beddings. For instance, a sateen sham will look out of place on a corduroy textured bed cover or comforter. The most commonly used sham materials include: microfiber, linen, percale, and satin cotton.
Most shams meant to be used in the bedroom come in neutral colors with calming yet elegant patterns. For the living space, the colors and patterns are very versatile. You can get plain white or dark and simple patterns or even bright neon with more pronounced patterns.
You can go with whatever suits your tastes but do note that neutral and soft colors fade the slowest compared to dark and bright colors. Also, crisp whites have the risk of visible discoloration over time.
There are 4 common types of sham closures: the envelope, button closure, permanent closure, and the hidden zipper closure.
The envelope closure is also common on shams. It also allows easy removal for cleaning. The button closure is the most decorative of all as it is a decorative element added by a rectangular or square overlapping fabric connected to a single or more button. It also allows easy removal of the sham for cleaning.
You should choose a pillow sham that you are well capable of cleaning and maintaining. Some shams have material that calls for hand washing and sun drying while others can be easily washed and dried in the machine like the YINFUNG Boho Pillow Shams.
For instance, shams made with silk are easy to care for as they require dry-cleaning only while those made of cotton-like the RANZNAZ 400-Thread-Count Cotton Sateen Pillow Shams tend to shrink after washing and might need ironing to look great again.
If you are the kind of shopper who is never sure they have the right thing, then you should consider buying your shams from a company with a good return and sleep trial policy. It will allow you to see if the colors and patterns fit well in your space.
For excellent value for your money, you can opt for a sham set that includes 2 or more pieces. A sham set has a blended look and can help you achieve a coordinated look in your space. The only downside to this is that it might not appear like you bought and matched them creatively yourself.
Pillow shams are a must-have if you want a super spruced up space. The information on this guide is enough to give you buyers’ confidence when you go shopping for pillow shams. You can also choose any of the top-rated shams on our product list to glam up your space. Our best overall pick Mulberry Park Silks 22 Momme Silk Euro Sham, is the best pillow sham you can get, with pure 22-momme mulberry silk, French seams and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification.
The MarCielo 2-Piece Embroidered Pillow Shams was out premium pick and it stood out because it’s a set of 2 made with high-quality materials and natural dyes. Its hygroscopic and ventilative nature also makes it one of the safest options.
Third on our list, the Home Brilliant Decorative Euro Throw Pillow Sham scooped the spot because of its decorative velvet corduroy. The fact that it has multiple color and size options makes it one of the best pillow shams out there. Plus, it has an invisible zip closure which makes it even more aesthetically appealing.
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