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Bedding FAQ's |
COMMON AND EVERYDAY BEDDING TERMS
Throughout our website you may stumble upon a word that makes you go “hmm”. The bedding industry uses quite a few terms that are unique to the trade, including foreign and sometimes “fancy” names, for something as simple as a pillow. Our terms and everyday words that are found in bedding may help ease some of the confusion or questions you may have.
General Mattress Sizes
Baffle Box
Bedspread
Bed Skirt
Binding
Blend
Breakfast Pillow (Boudoir Pillow)
Comforter
Comforter Set
Coverlet
Daybed & Daybed Set
Drop
Duvet Cover
Euro Sham (European Sham)
Envelope Pillow
Flanged
Neckroll
Quilt
Sham
Thread Count
Welt
COMMON BEDDING FABRICS
Bedding is as diverse as the people who purchase it. Bedding fabric therefore, needs to come in all sorts, styles and colors. From cotton sheets to luxury damask and jacquard designs, each type of fabric used is unique. We have included the top 6 fabrics used in bedding today, from cotton to jacquard to silk, how they are made and why some are more expensive than others.
Cotton
Damask
Jacquard
Polyester
Sateen
Silk
COMMON BEDDING TERMS
Generally, the main sizes that are considered when creating bedding are the following:
Twin: 38” x 75"
Long Twin: 38” x 80"
Full: 54” x 75"
Queen: 60” x 80"
King: 78” x 80"
California King: 72” x 84"
Comforters, bedspreads and top of the bed covers therefore, are sized to accommodate these sizes. There are however, exceptions to every rule, and bedding is not left out.
Over the years oversized and overstuffed bedding has become quite popular, creating a need for different sized bedding. These are usually classified as “super queen, super king” extra long twin” and etc.
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BAFFLE BOX
A baffle box is a three dimensional box, made of stiffer fabric, and is found in better comforters and down comforters.
The boxes maintain an even distribution of fill and allow for maximum thickness.
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BEDSPREAD:
A bedspread is lightweight bed cover. It is large enough to fold over and cover the bed pillows, and hangs down to the floor (on a standard bed). On larger beds (more than 21” from the top of the bed to the floor), a bed skirt can be added if desired, to complete the bed.
Bedspreads are not usually as fluffy or as thick as a comforter, and provide a more lightweight, cooler cover. Usually, coordinating shams are available to decorate the bed, but are an optional accessory as the spread will cover the pillows.
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BED SKIRT, DUST RUFFLE, BED RUFFLE
Also known as a dust ruffle or bed ruffle, a bed skirt is used when the box spring of the bed is visible. Most any comforter, some bedspreads, and all coverlets will not cover the entire box spring or extend to the floor. In these cases, a bed skirt is a popular choice.
Bed skirts are placed in between the bottom of the mattress and top of the box spring, and reach to the floor to create a decorative look and feel.
Skirts are available with drop lengths of 14”, 16”, 18” or 22”. To correctly measure for a bed skirt, measure from the top of the box spring to the floor. For example, if the measurement is 15”, a 16” skirt will be necessary.
To ensure your skirt does not touch the floor, there should be about a 1/3” or ˝” space between the end of the skirt and the floor. Using a slightly longer drop will cause the skirt to cascade onto the floor. In these cases, a shirred or ruffled skirt is used.
There are 2 main types of bed skirts.
Tailored:
Has a straight, clean edge, with pleats in the corners to allow curving around the mattress.
Shirred or “Ruffled”:
Gathers the fabric to create a ruffled, more full look.
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BINDING
Also commonly referred to as piping or edging. Binding is used to describe decorative trim on the fold down area of a pillowcase, sham or flat sheet. Binding usually contrasts the colors of the linens for detailing to stand out, or to simply give an overall decorative appeal to the bedding.
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BLEND
Blend refers to the combination of two or more different types of fibers or fabrics which are woven together to create a unique cloth. With bedding, it is common for polyester to be blended with cotton to create a warmer fabric that will not wrinkle as easily as cotton.
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BREAKFAST PILLOW or BOUDOIR PILLOW
A rectangular shaped decorative bed pillow. It is also commonly referred to as a “boudoir” pillow.
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COMFORTER
A comforter is basically 2 pieces of fabric combined, with filling in between, and come in every style, color and design imaginable. They are thicker, fluffy and provide a warmer cover than a bedspread, blanket or coverlet.
Comforters do not usually cover the pillows, and shams are a popular way to decorate and coordinate the top of the bed. Bed skirts are also often used, as most comforters will not fall to the floor, leaving the bottom of the box spring and bed visible.
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COMFORTER SET
A comforter set usually includes a comforter, bed skirt and shams. Twin and full sets usually include 1 standard sham or 2 standard shams, while queen, king, and California king sets usually include 2 queen or king shams. Bed skirts will vary in drop length by manufacturer, however, the standard options for length are 14”, 16” or 18”.
If you are purchasing a combination of these items, a comforter set is usually recommended as they will be slightly less expensive than buying each item separately.
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COVERLET
A Coverlet is very similar to a bedspread in the make and feel. They are more lightweight than a comforter and are usually used in warmer months. Coverlets are usually quilted. Unlike a bedspread however, Coverlets do not cover the bed pillows, nor do they reach the floor. Coverlets are usually used in conjunction with a bed skirt and matching decorative shams.
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DAYBED & DAYBED SETS
To put it simply, a daybed is a twin bed turned to the side. In order to save space, the daybed is used to create a comfortable seating area in place of a couch, at night the piece is used for a bed.
Usually, the daybed has a frame, with a headboard, footboard and sideboard along the back. It fits a twin sized mattress which doubles during the day as a seating area. It is common for daybeds to have shams or large bolster pillows along the back to be used as backrests when used for seating.
The daybed uses twin sized sheets. It is common to find a “daybed set”, which is a comforter, special bed skirt designed for the three sided design and 3 pillow shams.
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DROP
Drop is a term that usually refers to the distance from the top of the bed to the floor. It is also used to describe the distance from the top of the box spring to the floor.
Drop measurements are essential when considering a bedspread, to insure the spread will fall to the floor. The standard “drop” from the top of the bed to the floor is 21”.
Drop measurements are also essential when considering a bed ruffle or skirt for use with a comforter or coverlet. In this case, the “drop” refers to the distance from the top of the box spring to the floor. The standard drop on a bed skirt is 14”, however thicker mattresses and higher beds have created the need for newer sizes. Skirts are also available with a 16”, 18” and in some cases, 22” drops.
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DUVET COVER
Basically, a Duvet cover is just that, a cover to protect your duvet, but it has many purposes that are not often considered.
First and foremost, duvet covers are used to protect your comforters, usually a down comforter. The duvet protects the fabrics from wear, tear and the everyday elements in comes in contact with (dust, stains, pets etc.), and in the case of down comforters, a duvet cover is useful in trapping escaping feathers.
The Duvet cover however, has many other features. In the warmer and humid months, a duvet cover can be used on its own as a bed cover. It provides you a cooler, lightweight cover without the hassle or cost of buying a lighter comforter, bedspread or blanket.
Covers can also be used to redecorate. If you have a favorite comforter for example, or are repainting your room but your current comforter is still in wonderful condition, a duvet cover over your current comforter will allow you to totally redesign your bed, without having to spend extra money on a comforter or throw away your favorite one. When washing one, you can always use the other without needing an expensive “back up” comforter or blanket.
Duvet Covers have become extremely popular over the last few years because of their versatility, and the designs and styles available are endless.
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EURO SHAM
Named after its popularity in Europe, a Euro sham has dual purposes. It is a square pillow, with a standard 26” x 26” measurement. It can be used for decorative purposes to accent the bed, and is also an excellent pillow to lean back on to read, write or sit up in bed.
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ENVELOPE PILLOW
A smaller pillow, usually with different fabrics or design where one piece of fabric is enveloped over the other, creating a unique, multi fabric or colored look.
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FLANGED
Bedding products that are described as “flanged” mean they have a decorative band of fabric surrounding them. This is most common for pillows. A flanged pillow’s decorative fabric is usually straight or has a more tailored look, rather than a ruffle.
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NECKROLL
A neckroll is a cylindrical pillow, usually small, about 12” x 6, however, with neckrolls being increasingly popular, different sizes are now readily available, anywhere from 19” x 6” and up. A neckroll pillow can add a simple and unique element to any design style.
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QUILT
Quilts are created by sewing different fabrics together to create a design. Quits are typically smaller and more lightweight than comforters or bedspreads, and usually require the use of a bed skirt.
Quilts are generally used in warmer months, much like a coverlet. Quilts are also popular for hanging on a wall for unique decoration, as most quilts are hand made and involve intricate patterns and designs.
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SHAM
A sham is similar to a pillowcase, but more decorative and is usually not slept on. Shams are usually ruffled, quilted or flanged and are used to hide pillows or to simply decorative the top of the bed. They are popular for use with a comforter or coverlet, as neither will cover your pillows. They are usually available in 4 sizes; standard (20” x 26”), queen (20” x 30”), king (20” x 36”) and Euro (26” x 26”)
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THREAD COUNT
Thread count is used to determine sheets softness. As the thread count rises, the weave of the sheets is made tighter, which creates a softer, smoother feel. Thread counts begin at about 180 and can go as high as 1500.
A higher thread count however, does not always mean a better sheet. High thread count sheets with a cheaper fabric generally tend to pill, (create those small, hard, round balls that are common with pants and cotton shirts).
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WELT
Welt is another name for cording. Cording is often used on comforters, shams or decorative pillows. Self-Welt means the cording is made from the same fabric as the main fabric of the item. Welts are created in different sizes to obtain different styles and looks for each piece.
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COMMON BEDDING FABRICS
COTTON
Cotton is a natural fiber popular in bedding due to its breathable and soft nature. Cotton comes in all different types. In bedding, the most popular cotton is Pima, Egyptian and Combed.
The term “cotton staple” is used to determine types of cotton. The longer the staple, the higher quality. This is because there are fewer fibers in the weave of fabric, which means there are less ends to fray in the fabric. Short to medium cotton staples are 25mm-30mm in length, a long or extra long staple can range from 30mm to over 37mm.
Pima Cotton uses very strict standards on the length of the staples used. It is a hybrid cotton, developed in the southwestern United States from using Egyptian and domestic cotton grown by the Pima Indians, which creates a longer staple and is more lustrous than standard American cottons.
Pima cotton is noted for its superior quality and softness, and is commonly referred to as a luxury fabric.
Egyptian Cotton is known throughout the world for its extremely high quality. It is fine, lustrous and soft. Grown in Egypt, this cotton boasts the longest available cotton staples. It produces an exceptionally soft fabric. Most commonly used in sheets for its softness and breathable design, it is also extremely popular with towels due to its extraordinary absorption qualities.
Egyptian cotton is identified by consumers as extremely high quality.
Combed Cotton is cotton yard that has been “combed” to remove shorter and uneven staples and arrange the longer staples that are left over in a straight line. Doing this produces a cleaner, stronger, smoother and more lustrous fabric that will not pill as easily. Combed cotton is also known as a higher quality fabric.
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DAMASK
Damask is fabric made of silk, linen, cotton, rayon, silk or synthetic fibers. Within the fibers, an intricate and detailed pattern is weaved. The term damask originally refers to silk fabrics from Damascus (the capital of Syria), that were intricately woven in an array of vibrant colors, often with gold or metallic threads.
Similar to brocade but lighter, damask woven patterns are usually slightly raised off the fabric to create a more elegant effect.
Damask designs are endless, however the most popular designs include floral, plants, animals and fruits.
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JACQUARD
.“Jacquard”, named for the French inventor that designed the jacquard attachment, allows the user to have control over each and every piece of yarn that is used in the fabric. Using this technique, almost any type of design can be created. Jacquard prints are known for the complexity and intricately of their designs.
Jacquard patterns are woven directly into the fabric, rather than printed on it, creating an extremely detailed, slightly raised, woven design. The end result of a Jacquard comforter produces a very complex and intricately unique design that cannot be found on a fabric that has the design printed upon it.
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POLYESTER
Polyester is a manufactured (man-made) fiber. It is created using a number of synthetic resins and produces a strong, hard wearing and durable fabric. Polyester, unlike cotton, is wrinkle-resistant and will not shrink.
It is well known for its ease of care, longevity and crispness, however, also unlike cotton, polyester does not breathe and is usually not quite as soft.
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SATEEN
Sateen is a weave that allows more yarn surface on the face of the fabric, which in turn produces a softer and more lustrous or shiny look by smoothing the fabrics. Sateen is usually made using a higher than average thread count for extra softness and durability.
Sateen used on a comforter or duvet creates a shiny finish, on sheet sets, the sateen weave creates a smooth, silky feel.
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SILK
Silk is a natural fiber which is produced by the silkworm. The fibers are secreted by the worm to make its cocoon. It is this fabric that is collected and used to create anything from wedding gowns and clothing, to bedding. It is extremely soft and shiny.
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