The word sham means something that is false, a pillow sham is a false decorative pillow. It lends the illusion that you have purchased specially decorated pillows instead of just covering a stard bed pillow with a pillow sham. Unlike the typical pillowcase, the pillow sham is often open in the dle of the back, with slightly overlapped fabric. Typically, you one side of the pillow into the pillow sham, then the other side of the pillow into the opposite side of the sham. The overlapping fabric in the back covers the pillow completely, by having pillow ion in the dle 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, 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 pillows,” people don’t usually sleep directly on pillows covered by a pillow sham. Instead these may be placed behind pillows with pillowcases when one is sleeping, or they may simply be removed from the bed. When making a bed, pillow sham covered pillows often are placed in front of pillows in pillowcases.

Additionally, unlike a decorative pillow, you can replace the pillow if it gets worn, without having to search for another decorative pillow that matches your bed. The pillow sham cover will remain the same, but a new, more comfortable pillow, as long as it is the same size as your old pillow, can be purchased. This is definitely a convenient feature of the pillow sham, because comforter sheet styles may no longer be available in the design you own.