Bedding

Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for warmth and decorative effect. Bedding does not include the mattress, box spring or bed frame. Down materials are frequently used for warmth in bedding, however it is an irritant for many people with allergies, and several natural and synthetic down alternatives are marketed.

Bedding sizes

Bedding sizes usually are made with the dimensions of the bed and mattress for which it is to be used in mind. Bed sizes vary considerably around the world, with most countries having their own standards and terminology. Furthermore, mattresses within a particular nation may have different thicknesses, and bedding may be sized for different thicknesses.

Mattress sizes are best categorized by their country of sale:

UK Bed Sizes

Europe Bed Sizes

North American Bed Sizes

Australian Bed Sizes

Bettgrößen

Bedding materials

Bedding is made from a variety of materials, including cotton, flannel, down, polysatin, polyester, satin, silk, wool and latex

History

Around 3400 BC Egyptian pharaohs had their beds moved off the ground and slept on a raised surface.

Roman Empire mattresses were stuffed with wool, feather, reeds or hay. The beds were decorated with paint, bronze, silver, jewels and gold.

During the Renaissance, mattresses were stuffed with straw and feathers and then covered with silks, velvets or satin material.

The arrival of the 18th century brought bed frames made from cast iron, and mattresses that were made of cotton. The 19th century saw the invention of the bed spring, also called the box spring.

The 20th century brought the inner spring mattress, futon, water bed (starting in the 1960s), air mattresses, foam rubber mattresses and pillows.

Terminology

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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 the floor.

Bed spread: A bed cover with sides that go to the floor. This does not require a bed skirt, and was particularly popular in North America after World War II.

Boudoir pillows (or breakfast pillows): Small rectangular decorative throw pillows.

Comforter: A filled bed cover that is quilted and usually reversible. They typically are paired with a bed skirt to form a complete ensemble, as the sides only go about halfway to the floor.

Drop: The length 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.

Duvet cover: A decorative and protective covering for a duvet. Most duvet covers have a button or tie closure at one end.

Egyptian cotton: A high grade of cotton, the long staple or long fiber of Egyptian-grown cotton has more continuous fiber to use when creating threads or yarns. This 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. Egyptian cotton is frequently used to make upscale sheets and towels, which are marketed as a luxury product.

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 and lay 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 your 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. Hotel bedding is typically designed to be soft, durable and inoffensive to variable tastes, and the expansion of business travel created a consumer demand for similar products.

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.

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 thread ends per square inch in a woven fabric.

See also

Bed sheet

Blanket

Comforter

Duvet

Futon

Pillow

Quilt

References

Bedding