Facts About Bedding

Bedding refers to cloth materials placed on top of a mattress or bed for warmth and decoration. Bedding does not include the mattress, box spring or frame.

Below are the various types, categories and terms related to bedding:

Bed Skirt (also referred to as Bed Ruffle, Dust Ruffle or Valance). This is a decorative cloth that is for the purpose of covering the boxspring and legs or vertical supports of the bed. It lays between the mattress and boxspring and often hangs to the floor or an inch or two above it.

Bed Spread. This is a cloth cover that typically covers the bed to the floor and does not need a bed skirt.

Boudoir Pillows (or Breakfast Pillows). These are rather small in size rectangular or circular decorative throw pillows.

Comforter. This is a quilted and often reversible bed cover that is filled with a natural or synthetic material. It needs a bed skirt to go along with them since a comforter typically won't reach the floor.

Drop. This is the length of a bed skirt from the top of the bed to the floor.

Duvet Cover. This is a decorative and protective covering for a duvet. These typically feature a tie closure at one end.

European Sham (or Euro Sham). This is a decorative pillow cover that can cover a larger sized pillow. These shams are typically put behind standard sized pillow shams as a backdrop for any other pillows that are located on the bed.

Flanged. This involves a decorative piece of fabric that is straight or tailored, and it is generally used to describe pillows or pillow shams.

Neckrolls: These are cylinder shaped decorative throw pillows.

Pillow Shams: These are decorative covers for pillows, and they generally feature trims, ruffles, flanges and or cording. They are typically put behind the primary pillows.

Pleated: This term refers to folds that are sewn in a way that resembles a fan.

Tailored. This term refers to how closely fitted the bedding is to the exact dimensions of the bed / mattress.

Thread Count. This refers to the number of threads per square inch in a woven fabric.

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