Terminology
- Bed skirt (also bed ruffle, dust ruffle or valance): A decorative piece used to cover the boxspring and legs of the bed. It fits between the mattress and boxspring and hangs to or almost to the floor.
- Bed spread: A bed cover with sides that go to or near the floor. This does not require a bed skirt, and was particularly popular in North America after World War II.
- Bolster: A long, narrow and commonly cylindrical pillow filled with down or feathers.
- Boudoir pillows (or breakfast pillows): Small rectangular decorative throw pillows.
- Comforter: A bed cover also usable like a blanket, that is quilted by batting and is not exceptionally fluffy. It is usually reversible and machine-washable. Comforters typically are paired with a bed skirt to form a complete ensemble, as the comforter's sides only go about halfway to the floor. (Also see "duvet").
- Drop: The vertical dimension of a bed skirt.
- Duvet: A soft flat bag traditionally filled with down or feathers, or a combination of both, and used on a bed as a blanket. Typically not as thin as a comforter, but may be called a "down comforter."
- Duvet cover: A decorative and protective covering for a duvet. Most duvet covers have a button or tie closure at one end.
- European sham (or Euro sham): a decorative pillow covering which fits a large 26” x 26” pillow. These are often placed behind the standard size pillow shams as a backdrop, or on top of standard pillows as a coordinated set with a duvet cover.
- Feather bed: feathers contained within a fabric shell which lays on top of a mattress as a mattress topper. The featherbed will normally have elastic straps or even have a fitted sheet on it so that it fits over a mattress and stays in place.
- Fitted sheet: This is the bottom sheet used to fit tightly over a mattress. Fitted sheets are available in a variety of pocket depths, which refers to the thickness of the mattress. Standard North American pocket size is 7” to 9”. Deep pocket corners are usually 10” to 13”. Extra deep pocket corners are very generous in size, and range from 14” to as much as 22” and used for the extraordinary high/deep mattress depth.
- Flanged: Including a decorative band of fabric that is straight or tailored; often used to describe pillows or pillow shams.
- Hotel bedding: sheets with a high-thread count and unadorned designs, marketed to replicate the bedding materials that hotels use. The expansion of business travel has created a consumer demand for such products.
- Mako cotton: A high grade of cotton, the long staple or long fibre of Egyptian-grown cotton has more continuous fibres to use when creating threads or yarns. The yarn is smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller yarn means that more threads per square inch can be used to create stronger fabrics which are lighter in weight yet breathe well. Mako cotton is frequently used to make upscale sheets and towels, which are marketed as a luxury product.
- Mattress protector: Also known as a matress pad, mattress topper, or underpad. This is typically used underneath a fitted sheet to add comfort, protect against alergies, and protect the mattress.
- Neckroll: Small cylindrical decorative throw pillows.
- Pillow shams: Decorative coverings for pillows, often designed with trims, ruffles, flanges, or cording. Shams are normally placed behind the pillows used to sleep on, which would be covered with regular pillowcases.
- Pima cotton: A high grade of cotton. It has the long staple similar to Mako cotton, which is what gives it its softness and luster, as well as its durability. Its superior characteristics improve with wear. Pima cotton is used to make upscale sheets, towels and clothing, which are marketed as a luxury product. Peru produces the most of the world's Pima cotton.
- Pleated: Material that is sewn in folds, like a fan.
- Tailored: Fitted closely, i.e. made to fit the bed exactly.
- Thread count: The number of threads per square inch in a woven fabric.
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