Once upon a time I decided to purchase "shams" for my bed. Then I realized that there are shams, European shams, cushions, king shams, and cushion covers, and I had merged all of these items into one fictitious pillow in my head.Here's a breakdown of what each type of decorative pillow actually is, so that you don't find yourself having a panic attack in the corner of store. Just kidding—that didn't actually happen. At most high-end retailers, pillows (the inside, stuffing part) and covers (the outside, decorative part) are always sold separately (not as one stuffed, ready-made decorative piece, like a big throw pillow). Spend on the cushion cover, since that's the part you see—the inner filler can be purchased anywhere and isn't important as these pillows are just for decoration, not for sleeping. There are two primary types of decorative pillows for your bed:Shams are the pillows that usually go right in front of the headboard, and they often match your duvet or quilt. They're not meant for sleeping on, just decoration.
They're different from a basic pillowcase in that they have flanges around the edges, and are meant to add color/texture to anchor the rest of your pillow collection. There are three sizes: standard shams (around 20" by 26"), king shams (around 20" by 36"), and European shams (which are square, around 26" by 26" or larger).The smaller decorative pillows that often go in front of your pillow collection are actually commonly called cushions, but you might know them as decorative or throw pillows. Cushions are generally square and vary in size: 18," 20," and 24". Some high-end retailers also have larger cushions in 50" by 50" and 65" by 65" sizes. But if you don't have a king-size bed, I wouldn't recommend it (unless you're using one in place of a European sham).Here's a bed above to serve as an example so you can see the pillows in action. Shown here:In the back: European shams (square)In front of the Euro shams: standard shams (rectangular)) In front, sides: boudoir cushions (rectangular)In front, center: European cushion (square)As for the pillows you actually sleep on, those would generally be placed in front of the shams and before the cushions.
In the example above there are only decorative pillows for the sake of this explanation.Does that clear things up? Did you already know the difference between all of these common pillow types?Snug V50 Coolmax Silver Memory Foam Topper Snug V60 Outlast Gold Memory Foam Topper Snug V85 HD Outlast Platinum Memory Foam Topper If you're thinking about investing in some memory foam for your bed, a mattress topper is a good place to start. If you've recently bought a new mattress or you aren't 100% sure memory foam is right for you, a mattress topper gives you the option to test it out without having to replace your entire mattress. Our toppers are the perfect solution if your old mattress is starting to wear out, giving you the ideal layer of comfort to make your bed feel brand new again. Memory foam is designed to mould to your body reducing pressure, offering a better night's sleep. With varying thickness options on offer you can choose the perfect comfort level for your needs;
5cm/2 inch toppers are great for those who like a firmer sleeping surface whilst thicker 10cm/4 inch toppers offer a softer more enveloping feel. We would normally recommend the 7.5cm/3 inch thickness as offering the best balance of comfort and support. We also offer a choice of three mattress topper densities; the higher the density the more luxurious the feel, durable and longer the lifespan V50kg/m3, V60 kg/m3 or luxury HD V85 kg/m3. The higher the weight or density the more durable and comfortable the topper. All our mattress toppers are hypoallergenic. If you have any allergies, the hypoallergenic cover will ensure that these are kept under control. An cover meanwhile will allow your mattress to store and release heat for perfect optimum comfort. We also have a selection of toppers utilising technology (that helps to wick moisture away to ensure your bed stays cool and dry throughout the hotter summer months All toppers are available in a range of different sizes, so whether you have a single bed, a half king, or even an Ikea European sized bed, you will be able to find the right topper for your needs.
Please call us if you have a bespoke or custom size requirement please call us on freephone 0800 027 7017 or email us for further advice. We also offer free next working day or day of choice delivery, so order your topper today and look forward to some very comfortable nights of blissful sleep.Crate and Barrel has everything you could want in your bedding and bed linens—from class to comfort and everything in between. We offer comforters, duvet covers, sheets and pillow cases as well as complete bedding collections. Learn more about the bed linens we offer.About Our Bedding CollectionsOur bedding adds comfort to your bed. Many of our textiles are sourced globally to create a diverse collection with an option for whatever your style. Our textile designs are compiled from manufacturers, professional designers, original artwork and internal inspiration. Color trends from fashion and home design are constantly observed and remapped in our collections to bring you stylish, on-trend bedding options.
Bed Linen MaterialsAs you choose your bedding, you'll find that we have a variety of materials and weaves, including:Percale—Percale is a plain weave in which warp and weft threads of equal thickness cross each other one at a time. It is characterized by a smooth, flat, sturdy, balanced close weave. It is the primary technique for high quality cotton bed linens. A percale weave for bed linens must have a thread count of 180 or higher.Sateen—The beautiful shine of this weave is created by passing four horizontal weft threads over or under one vertical warp thread creating more "yarn face" on the surface of the cotton cloth. Unlike percale, it may not be balanced as threads of unequal thickness are often used to achieve the look. It has a wonderful silky soft hand. Cotton thread used for this weave will often be combed and mercerized to achieve an even smoother look. Mercerization is a process in which the cotton thread is treated in order to prevent it from shrinking and give the final product a lustrous look.
Linen—Designed to get softer with every wash, our linen sheets bring a warm, relaxed feeling to your bed. Linen sheets have unique short fibers with naturally-occurring knots and slubs as well as a comforting weight.Thread Count Considerations for BeddingThread count is the number of threads woven per square inch of fabric. In general, the higher the thread count, the better the quality of the bedding. However, there is a physical limit to the number of threads you can fit into an inch. Bedding experts agree that premium sheeting will have a thread count between 200 and 450 threads per inch. Top layers, such as duvets and comforters, may use a lower thread count because they are not typically used against the skin, but rather to dress the bed. At Crate and Barrel, you'll find bed linens in high thread counts that feel great with every use. All of our bedding is tested for quality of materials, details of careful tailoring and functionality so you can enjoy it for years to come.Find the bedding you need in our selection.