While pillowcases are meant to cover the pillows that you sleep on, pillow shams cover up additional, decorative pillows that might be on your bed or elsewhere in your bedroom. These shams serve dual purposes: They help keep your pillows clean, and they can also upgrade your bedroom decor by creating a more cohesive look.
There are a lot of pillow shams on the market, so how do you find the best one for you? Start by thinking about your aesthetic preferences when it comes to designs, colors, and so on. (For instance, do you want a plain sham or one with embroidery or other textural elements?) Then consider whether you have a preference when it comes to materials. Finally, think about your budget. Together, these factors and our roundup will help you settle on the best pillow shams for your needs.
Editor’s Choice
NTBAY Brushed Microfiber Pillow Shams
Pros:
- The shams come in tons of colors, so you can tailor them to your bedroom decor.
- They’re made from 100 percent brushed microfiber, which is soft to the touch. The manufacturer claims it’s also stain- and wrinkle-resistant.
- These are very budget-friendly pillow shams, especially considering the quality.
- The shams are machine-washable and dryer-friendly.
Cons:
- Some users have reported that certain colors don’t exactly match their pictures.
- The stitching might not be the most durable.
NTBAY Brushed Microfiber Pillow Shams
Enjoy budget-friendly shams with a high-quality feel thanks to the NTBAY Brushed Microfiber Pillow Shams. They’re soft to the touch and machine-washable.
Sleepopolis Score
4.50 / 5
Best Silk
ALASKA BEAR 100% Silk Pillow Shams
Pros:
- The shams are made from 600 thread count, 100 percent mulberry silk, which is smooth, soft, and breathable.
- The material is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, which means it’s free of certain harmful chemicals and meets environmental standards. The manufacturer says it’s chemical-free and naturally dyed.
- They’re available in many colors, so you can tailor the shams to your bedroom.
- There’s some evidence that silk is gentler on skin and hair than other pillow sham materials.
Cons:
- This is a pricier sham, and it won’t be accessible to all price points.
- Some users have reported that the shams don’t hold up super well to repeated washings.
ALASKA BEAR 100% Silk Pillow Shams
Mulberry silk makes the ALASKA Bear 100% Silk Pillow Shams soft and smooth to the touch. The material is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified and naturally dyed.
Sleepopolis Score
4.60 / 5
Best Embroidered
MarCielo Embroidered Pillow Shams
Pros:
- The shams are dyed primarily with natural mineral or vegetable dyes, which is gentler on your skin and the environment.
- The envelope closure holds the pillow in place without exposing you to tough zippers.
- The shams come in several colors, so you can tailor them to your aesthetic preferences.
Cons:
- The shams are sized a little large, so the edges might droop a bit.
- The material is fairly thin, so it’s unclear how durable it will be.
MarCielo Embroidered Pillow Shams
A pretty embroidered design and a variety of colors ensure the MarCielo Embroidered Pillow Shams will upgrade the look of your bedroom. The shams are dyed primarily with natural mineral or vegetable dyes.
Sleepopolis Score
4.60 / 5
Best Waffle Weave
PHF Waffle Weave Sham Cover
Pros:
- The shams are made from 100 percent cotton, which is soft and smooth to the touch.
- The material is made in an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 factory, which means it meets certain safety and environmental standards.
- They’re machine-washable and dryer-friendly.
- The textured waffle weave is ideal for covering feather pillows, because the thick knit helps prevent feather leakage.
Cons:
- The shams aren’t available in many colors, so your aesthetic options are limited.
- Some users have reported that certain colors may not exactly match their pictures.
PHF Waffle Weave Sham Cover
The thick-textured PHF Waffle Weave Sham Cover is made from 100% cotton in an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 factory. The shams are machine-washable and dryer-friendly.
Sleepopolis Score
4.50 / 5
Best Egyptian Cotton
Pinzon 400-Thread-Count Egyptian Cotton Sham
Pros:
- The shams are made from 400 thread count, 100 percent Egyptian Cotton in a sateen finish, which is durable and fairly soft to the touch.
- They’re made in an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 factory, meaning they meet certain safety and environmental standards.
- The envelope closure helps hold a pillow in place without the discomfort of a zipper.
- The shams are machine-washable and dryer-friendly.
Cons:
- The shams are sold individually instead of in a set of two, which means it costs more to outfit a bed with two (or more) pillows.
- The shams are prone to wrinkling after washing, which might annoy some people.
Pinzon 400-Thread-Count Egyptian Cotton Sham
Quality materials and manufacturing distinguish the Pinzon 400-Thread-Count Egyptian Cotton Sham, which is made from 100% Egyptian cotton in an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 factory. The shams are machine-washable.
Sleepopolis Score
4.60 / 5
Best Bargain
FLXXIE Standard Shams
Pros:
- These are very budget-friendly shams that come in a pack of two.
- The shams come in tons of colors, so it’s easy to tailor them to your bedroom decor.
- They’re made of microfiber, which is soft to the touch. The manufacturer says the material is stain- and wrinkle-resistant.
- The shams are machine-washable.
Cons:
- Some users have reported that certain colors don’t exactly match their pictures.
- The fabric is very thin, and certain colors might be a little see-through.
FLXXIE Standard Shams
The budget-friendly FLXXIE Standard Shams come in tons of colors, so it’s easy to match them to your bedroom’s color scheme. They’re machine-washable and made of soft microfiber.
Sleepopolis Score
4.50 / 5
How We Picked
There are a lot of pillow shams on the market, so we used several criteria to narrow down our search. Here’s an overview of the factors that informed our decision making.
Aesthetics
One of the main reasons that people purchase pillow shams is to upgrade the look of their bed and create a more cohesive look for their entire bedroom — so aesthetics are important. We chose options in a variety of materials, designs, and color choices so there’s something for most tastes.
Ease of Care
While you might not wash your pillow shams as frequently as regular pillowcases, you’ll still want to clean them on a regular basis. We think that process should be as hassle-free as possible, so we focused on shams that are machine-washable. In most cases, the options on this list are also dryer-friendly.
Manufacturing
The way in which a pillow sham is manufactured can have an impact on its safety, quality, eco-footprint, and so on. Whenever possible, we prioritized options that are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, which means they’re free of certain harmful chemicals and meet environmental standards.
Materials
The materials used in a pillow sham have a big impact on its feel and (to a lesser extent) its appearance. Different people have their own preferences when it comes to materials. For instance, some people love the feel of silk, while others won’t think of using anything but cotton. We included shams made from a variety of materials — including microfiber, silk, and cotton — to accommodate different tastes.
Sleepopolis Buying Tips
Hunting for the best pillow shams around? Narrow down your search by considering the following:
- What material do you prefer? Shams can come in a range of materials including cotton, microfiber, silk, and so on. If you have a strong preference, that can refine your search.
- What are your aesthetic preferences? Do you want a plain sham, or one with intricate embroidery or a waffle weave? What color are you looking for? If you want a specific look, this is another quick way to shrink the list of possible options.
- What size pillow are you trying to cover? Pay close attention to measurements before ordering shams online, as they come in a variety of sizes to accommodate different pillow sizes and shapes.
The best pillow shams for your needs will help keep your decorative pillows clean while enhancing your bedroom’s aesthetic. To find the right shams for you, think about your budget along with your preferences when it comes to materials, designs, colors, and so on. Then bask in the glory of finally having cohesive bedroom decor!
