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When new visitors come into our showroom, they are often amazed at the amount of pillows displayed on our beds—and all the different types! Sleep pillows, decorative pillows, and pillow shams all serve their own purpose, but we have a special place in our hearts for the classic Euro sham. Over the years, we’ve introduced new Euro sham sizes and styles to meet changing trends and customer requests. So now the question is not ‘do I need a Euro sham’, but ‘what kind of Euro sham do I need?’ We’re here to help you figure that out.
Euro sham sizes at a glance
Twin | 1 Dutch Euro sham for a perfect fit. 1 standard Euro sham looks great too! Consider 1 petite Euro for low-profile beds. |
Full Queen | 2 standard Euro shams. Consider 2 petite Euros for low-profile beds. |
King Cal King | 2 Dutch Euro shams for a fitted look. 3 standard Euro shams for added depth. |
Wait—what is a bed sham?
Reinhart includes mustard Euro shams, ogee standard shams, and a mauve decorative pillow
First let's talk about shams. Bed shams (or pillow shams) are decorative bed pillows typically placed in front of or on top of sleep pillows. This creates a clean, sophisticated look while adding depth.
Unlike sleep pillows, which are typically solid, neutral, and crafted from the very finest fabrics, pillow shams are hardier and purely decorative. Use them to add style and add flair to your bed, and contribute to the design aesthetic of your bedroom.
Bed shams are filled with decorative pillow inserts. At Eastern Accents, we have three decorative pillow fill options. Our Plume 100% duck feather gives a perfect karate-chop look. Cloud inserts feature ultra-fine microfiber that mimics the feel of down. In addition to being hypoallergenic, Cloud microfiber holds its form the longest, rarely needing to be fluffed. Bliss, our most popular option, offers a 50/50 feather/microfiber blend. A perfect mix of the two, Bliss has the crisp karate-chop of Plume and the low-maintenance convenience of Cloud.
And what is a Euro sham?
Behind all this, is the Euro sham. Euro shams (or Euro pillows) are the backdrop of your bedding ensemble, providing a vital aesthetic background. They also provide support for the other, smaller pillows in front, ensuring they sit upright and look their best.
Euro shams have plenty of practical uses too: they are comfy to lean against while you’re reading in bed, and they can make luxurious throw pillows on high-backed sofas.
The standard Euro sham size is a large, square 27”x27”. Two of these pillows perfectly fit Full and Queen beds. A single 27x27 can also suit a Twin bed, while three 27x27s work on King and Cal King sizes.
How about ‘extra’ Euro shams?
In addition to its standard Euro shams, Tilda is merchandised with a silvery extra Euro sham
At Eastern Accents, you have the option of purchasing many bedding collections either a la carte or as part of a bedset. Bedsets provide all the standard items of that collection in one easy-to-purchase package.
However, our collections feature many more items, including approximately a dozen optional decorative pillows, that are not included in the bedset. At least one of these optional pillows is often an extra Euro sham: an alternative Euro sham that gives the collection a whole new look.
On some bed sizes, we love including the extra Euro sham on the main bed, positioned in the middle directly in front of the two standard Euros. This adds a little dimension and visual interest, while giving you a taste of how this optional sham would look on a bed.
What does it mean if a Euro sham is ‘boxed’? 
Boxed Euro shams have a 3" gusset. The added dimension gives the pillow a plump, stately appearance. It also brings additional depth to the bedding ensemble.
Depending on the product, some boxed Euro shams have gussets that match their face fabric, and some have decorative contrasting gussets.
Our most common boxed Euro sham size is 27”W x 27”H x 3”D. Two boxed Euro shams of this size are ideal for Full and Queen beds. Additionally, one boxed Euro will fit a Twin bed; and three would fit King and Cal King sizes. We also offer some 24"W x 24"H x 3"D boxed decorative pillows, which can be used as petite Euro shams.
How about petite Euros?
Amberlynn's floral petite Euro shams are shown here flanking a larger 27x27 extra Euro sham
These little guys pack a big punch. Petite Euro shams are just like standard Euro shams, but scaled down. They are ideal for low-profile beds, contemporary aesthetics, and for anyone who feels that other Euro sizes are simply too big. These pillows are modest but mighty.
Our current petite Euro shams sizes are 24x24 or 25x25. Two petite Euros look great on Full and Queen size beds. For larger beds, three petite Euros will fit. While they may not have been originally intended or merchandized as Euro shams, many of our 24x24 decorative pillows make wonderful petite Euros.
What makes Dutch Euro shams.... Dutch?
Two Giorgina Dutch Euro shams on a King size bed, eliminating the need for a third Euro
Because they are popular in the Netherlands, of course! These sleek and sophisticated Euro shams are most widespread in the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and other parts of northern Europe.
A relatively new addition to our line, Dutch Euro shams are specially designed to suit beds that do not fit a comfortable number of 27x27 Euros in one row. In other words, they work wonderfully on Twin, King, and Cal King beds.
Our Dutch Euro sham size is 27x37. This means that two Dutch Euros fit perfectly in one row on King and Cal King beds (which are 72"-76" wide). When styling standard 27x27 Euro shams on a King size bed, we usually use 3 Euro shams, with the middle sham sitting in front of the other two. Because two Dutch Euro shams fit straight across, they do not require this extra layer, and can be a good option if you're looking for a more minimal or streamlined style.
On a Twin size bed, Halprin staggers a standard 27x27 Euro sham with a sleep pillow, standard sham, and decorative pillow. A Dutch Euro would fill the whole back layer. Dutch Euro shams are also ideal for Twin size beds (which are 38" wide). A single 27x27 Euro is not wide enough to fill the bed, while two 27x27s would be too wide. When styling a Twin size bed with a 27x27 Euro, we recommend pairing it with other shams and decorative pillows to fill that space and create a rich, layered look. A single Dutch Euro sham fits this space perfectly.
Ready to shop Euro shams? Click here and use our web filters to sort by shape, size, color, and more!
FAQs
What is a Euro sham?
Euro shams (or Euro pillows) are a large bed sham, a type of decorative bed pillow. It is the backdrop of your bedding ensemble. Euro shams have plenty of practical uses too: they support for the other, smaller pillows in front, ensuring they sit upright and look their best, and they are comfy to lean against while you’re reading in bed.
The standard Euro sham size is a large, square 27”x27”. Two of these pillows perfectly fit Full and Queen beds. A single 27x27 can also suit a Twin bed, while three 27x27s work on King and Cal King sizes.
What are bed shams?
Bed shams, or pillow shams, are decorative bed pillows typically placed in front of or on top of sleep pillows. This creates a clean, sophisticated look while adding depth.
Unlike sleep pillows, which are typically solid, neutral, and crafted from the very finest fabrics, pillow shams are hardier and purely decorative. Use them to add style and add flair to your bed, and contribute to the design aesthetic of your bedroom.
How many Euro shams should I use on a Twin bed?
1 Dutch (27x37) Euro sham will fit perfectly on a Twin size bed. Alternatively, style 1 standard (27x27) Euro sham with other shams. Consider 1 petite Euro shams for low-profile Twin beds.
How many Euro shams should I use on Full bed?
On a Full size bed, style 2 standard (27x27) Euro shams next to each other. Consider 2 petite Euro shams for low-profile beds.
How many Euro shams should I use on a Queen size bed?
On a Queen size bed, style 2 standard (27x27) Euro shams next to each other. Consider 2 petite Euro shams for low-profile beds.
How many Euro shams should I use on a King bed?
2 Dutch (27x37) Euro shams will fit perfectly next to each other on a King size bed. For additional depth, style 3 standard (27x27) Euro shams with the middle Euro sham placed slightly in front of the other two.
How many Euro shams should I use on a California King bed?
2 Dutch (27x37) Euro shams will fit perfectly next to each other on a Cal King size bed. For additional depth, style 3 standard (27x27) Euro shams with the middle Euro sham placed slightly in front of the other two.
How do I style Euro shams with a low headboard?
If you have a low-profile bed, or a low bed/headboard, you may want to consider a smaller Euro sham. 24x24 or 25x25 shams work perfectly on low-profile beds.
What is a Dutch Euro sham?
Dutch Euro shams are a Euro sham variety popular in northern Europe. These pillows are rectangular (27x37) and designed to suit beds that do not fit a comfortable number of standard 27x27 Euros in one row. They work wonderfully on Twin, King, and Cal King beds.
