From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 often used for warmth in bedding.

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 have different thicknesses, which must be kept in mind when designing bedding for a particular bed, especially if they are to be fitted.

Each component part of the overall bedspread is sized specifically to accommodate the individual specifications; from duvet covers to fitted sheets, everything needs to be produced with the appropriate dimensions to avoid excessive overhanging or, worse still, being too small to fit!

To help give you a clearer understanding of the different sizes and dimensions we’ve created the following straightforward chart:

UK Bed Sizes

Europe Bed Sizes

North American 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

Bedcover entitled "Buildings, Animals and Shields", Albany, New York, c. 1890. Art Institute of Chicago collections.

• 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.
• Boudoir pillows (or breakfast pillows): Small rectangular decorative throw pillows.
• Comforter: A filled bed cover that is quilted and usually reversible. They require a bed skirt to complete the look, as the sides only go about halfway to the floor.
• Drop: The length of a bed skirt.
• 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 for all of the other pillows.
• 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, to emulate the high quality bedding materials that hotels use. Often in neutral colors. Hotels often use high-quality bedding materials to maximize comfort for their customers.
• 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: 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
• Pillow
• Quilt
• Futon