When picking out linens to dress the bed, there’s one element that doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserves: the bed skirt. Sure, in the grand scheme of things it might not be as important as the duvet, sheets, and pillows, but it is still very important. In fact, more so than you might realize.
The Simple, Yet Functional Purpose of a Bed Skirt
Bed skirts, also called dust ruffles, are designed to hide a bed’s box spring or foundation. That may seem really simple, but that little addition offers big aesthetic benefits of keeping the bed’s foundation (and anything you need to be stored away) out of sight behind a pretty stylish cover.
Additionally, the right bed skirt can serve as that final detail that ties the entire bedroom together. Because they come in a variety of styles, bed skirts are an easy way to add some extra pattern, color, and texture to the decor style of the bedroom.
Types of Bed Skirts
Bed skirts are made up of three parts:
- Platform: the part of the bed skirt that covers the top of the box spring
- Sides: the two parts of the bed skirt that cover the sides of the box spring
- Foot: the part of the bed skirt that covers the foot of the box spring
When it comes to style types, there are many. However, we’re only going to focus on three of the most popular styles, which are tailored, gathered, and box pleated.
Tailored
A tailored bed skirt is a continuous wrap of fabric where the edges are crisp and straight along the sides and foot of the skirt. This flat design gives a cleaner, more streamlined look. Tailored skirts have splits at the corners of the bed but often also have additional splits along the sides or at the foot, which are added for visual interest.
Gathered
The gathered design is softer with loosely-bunched fabric secured in a manner that creates pretty folds. Although gathered bed skirts have a more feminine look, it’s not overwhelming. Depending on the fabric selected, this style of bed skirt can be used in any bedroom without appearing too “girly.”
Box Pleated
While there are actually several pleat styles to choose from, the box pleat is the most popular. Box pleats are formed when two equal folds of fabric are folded away from each other in opposite directions meeting at the back. To maintain their structure, pleats are either partially top- or edge-stitched. This style of pleats gives the bedroom a smart, rhythmic, and formal look.
What to Consider When Picking a Bed Skirt
The first and most important thing to consider when picking a bed skirt is size. It won’t fit well or at all if it’s too big or too small. To avoid ruining the look of your bed skirt and your bedroom, measure, measure, measure! Mattresses, box springs, and foundations can vary slightly in size, so it’s important that you take the proper measures to ensure the proper fit. Calculate how much fabric you’ll need by using our bed skirt yardage chart.
Something else to consider is the drop of the bed skirt. The drop is the measurement from the top of the foundation to the floor. More often than not, ready-made bed skirts are 15”. This means your skirt won’t hit the floor is your drop measurement is longer than that. Or, your bed skirt will drag on the floor if it’s shorter than that.
The last thing to take into consideration is how you want it to look aesthetically. What color do you want the bed skirt to be? Do you want it to have a pattern? How about the texture–should it be a heavy-textured fabric that will keep its shape and look fresh for several years? Perhaps you want to elevate the look by adding some decorative trim. Bed skirts are your chance to add that pop of personality and style to your space, so make sure you choose something that you love but also something that will complement the room.
Don’t Settle for a Sub-Par Bed Skirt
While you can certainly purchase a ready-made bed skirt from a department store, they are often made from thin, inexpensive material that will not look as good on the bed as a custom-made skirt will. A custom-made bed skirt might cost a bit more, but if you want a better-quality product that both fits and looks better, it’s an investment well made.
Be sure to stop by one of our showrooms to see how we can help you design the perfect bed skirt. From fabrics to decorative trim, we have just what you need to turn your bed into a showcase piece that will complete the look of your bedroom.
