Pillowcase pillow shams — Pillowcases are for sleeping; pillow shams are decorative covers. Our team explains the difference, when to use each, and how to size them correctly.
James on our team admits to not knowing the difference until 2018. Plenty of Australians are in the same boat. Here’s the simple version.
The core difference (Pillowcase pillow shams)
| Pillowcase | Pillow sham | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Sleeping | Decorative |
| Closure | Open end (envelope flap) | Hidden zip, button, or envelope |
| Trim | Plain | Often piped, flanged, ruffled |
| Removed at night? | No, you sleep on it | Yes — taken off and stacked at the foot of the bed |
Why pillow shams exist
For aesthetics. A made bed with stacked decorative pillows reads “hotel” or “designed.” Shams use feature fabrics (linen, velvet, silk, embroidered) that wouldn’t feel good against your face but look great propped up.
Standard sizes (Australian)
- Standard pillowcase: 48 × 73 cm
- King pillowcase: 53 × 95 cm
- European pillow sham: 65 × 65 cm (square — these are usually decorative only)
- Boudoir sham: 30 × 50 cm (small accent)
How to use shams in a bed
Standard layering: 2 sleeping pillows in plain pillowcases at the back, 2 European shams (square, decorative) propped against the headboard, 1 boudoir sham at the front for accent. Take them off and stack at the foot of the bed before sleeping.
Should you bother with shams at all?
If you make the bed properly every day and you like the hotel look — yes. If you don’t want to handle decorative pillows nightly — get one quality pair of pillowcases instead and skip the rest.
What fabrics suit each
- Pillowcases: cotton sateen, linen, silk, bamboo. Anything skin-friendly.
- Shams: velvet, woven jacquard, embroidered linen, leather (yes, really). Anything visual.
For independent guidance on sleep and wellbeing, the Sleep Health Foundation is a good starting point.
Pillowcase pillow sham: how the pieces layer on a queen bed
Standard hotel-style layering on a queen: two sleeping pillows in plain pillowcases at the back, against the headboard. Two European pillow shams (square, 65cm × 65cm) propped in front. One pair of standard-size shams on top of the sleeping pillowcases for daytime decoration. One small boudoir sham at the front for accent. Take the shams off at night and stack them at the foot of the bed.
Care
Pillowcases get washed weekly because you sleep on them. Shams get washed every 6–8 weeks because they’re decorative — but always before guests arrive, especially the European squares which collect dust at the headboard.
Australian sizing notes
| Size | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Standard pillowcase | 48 × 73cm |
| King pillowcase | 53 × 95cm |
| European sham | 65 × 65cm |
| Boudoir sham | 30 × 50cm |
Fabrics that travel well together
For pillowcases (skin contact): cotton sateen, linen, silk, bamboo. For shams (visual): velvet, jacquard, embroidered linen. Mixing matte (linen sham) with sheen (silk pillowcase) reads designed; matching everything reads matronly.
When you really don’t need shams
Most Australian bedrooms function fine with just pillowcases. Shams are aesthetic — if you don’t make the bed every morning, save the money.
