You've heard of pillow shams, but what is a euro sham? It's a decorative accent pillow and case that completes your bedding. We break it down in the guide below.

What Is a Pillow Sham?

First, it's important to understand what a sham is. Pillow shams are pillowcases that typically match or complement the bedding; they are used primarily for decoration rather than to sleep on like traditional pillowcases.

A standard pillow sham is rectangular and measures 20" x 26" – the same size as a regular pillowcase – to fit a standard bed pillow. Queen and king shams (and pillowcases) are also rectangular, but they're longer: 20" x 30" for queen; 20" x 36" for king. The general rule of thumb is one sham for twin bedding and two shams for full, queen, and king bedding. Pillow shams can be purchased individually or in pairs, but most bedding sets include them.

What is a Euro Sham?

A euro sham is another layer of bedding decoration. It is differentiated from other shams by its large, square shape. The euro sham measures 26" square and requires a square pillow insert. In fact, it's called a "euro" sham because that's the standard size in Europe. It is not designed to fit rectangular pillows. Traditional pillowcases for sleeping are also available in the 26" euro size if desired.

Like the pillow shams described above, a euro sham is mainly decorative and comes in a color or pattern that matches or complements the rest of the bedding. As shown in the photo below, the euro pillows (aqua) are usually placed in front of the sleeping pillows (with gray pillowcases) and behind the other pillows. Of course, you can feel free to arrange them in whatever way you find pleasing!

In the image above, the all-white bedding features a comforter, flat and fitted sheets, standard pillowcases, and euro shams.

So, now that you know what a euro sham is, will you make it part of your bedroom display?

Article by Mary Fetzer.