The humble pillowcase is often an overlooked part of our bed design, and yet it can be a real centerpiece when you choose the right style and fabric.
Most people use one style of the pillowcase, but did you know there are several pillowcase styles that you can choose to add a decorative flair to your bedroom?
Each style has its own benefits for your home, so let’s dive into our short guide on which types of pillowcases may be the best for you.
Pillowcase Styles
When choosing the right pillowcase for your bedroom, you may be surprised to learn that there are actually three main types of pillowcases. The most popular styles you will find are the Housewife, the Mock Oxford, and the Bag.
The Housewife
The Housewife is the most common pillowcase option that you will encounter. It is found in almost every home, particularly in the western hemisphere of the globe.
This is what comes to mind when you picture a pillowcase. It is rectangular in shape with an opening at one end.
Inside the opening is a small flap that you can tuck the inserted pillow into. This is to stop it from slipping out during a night’s use.
They are designed to fit tightly so that the creasing of the material is limited, giving it the best look when on the bed. They are commonly manufactured and often the cheapest option to buy. When you buy a set of linens for your bed, including pillowcases, this is the pillowcase style the manufacturer will include.
The Bag
The Bag style pillowcase is designed to be quick to remove and easy to maintain. It is open at both ends for the quick removal of the insert. Because of this feature, these of the kinds of pillowcases you will find most commonly in hotels.
They are usually designed to be much longer than the pillow itself so that you can fold the ends of the pillowcase inwards to create a neat finish. However, they do tend to move around much more on the pillow than the other styles.
If you have to remove your pillowcases often to wash them, this is the best pillowcase. Bed and Breakfast owners, for example, may find the added time saved changing beds with this style can be valuable.
The Mock Oxford
The Mock Oxford pillowcase is probably the luxurious option on this list. This is the premium possibility when it comes to choosing pillowcases. You can tell the Mock Oxford style of pillowcase by its decorative trim around the edge.
The pillow insert fits very snuggly inside the rectangular-shaped case. However, they appear much larger than the Housewife pillowcases due to the large border that runs all around the edge.
The border gives off a very elegant look and feels and is very popular with upper-end hotel chains that value aesthetics over the speed of changing the bedclothes.
The difference between a Mock Oxford pillow and an Oxford-style pillowcase is so slight it is barely worth delineating. Oxford style pillowcases have mitered corners on their edges, whereas Mock Oxford pillowcases do not.
Other Kinds of Pillowcases
Those mentioned above are the most common styles of pillowcases that you will encounter 90% of the time when clothing beds. However, there are two more styles of pillowcases you may find.
The square pillowcase is more common in Europe, where they favor one large square pillow on their beds. The style itself is very similar to the Housewife, with a fold at the edge to keep the pillow snug inside.
They are large and very square and designed specifically for the European pillow style that is particularly popular in France.
The Envelope pillowcase is more commonly seen on cushions than pillows but can be used for both. It is a popular style with those who like to make their own pillowcases as it is very easy to sew.
Again, it is modeled on the Housewife style of the pillowcase, but the difference is that the entry point is in the center of the pillowcase, so you fold the case like an envelope. This style is more popular with cushions because it limits the use of the pillow to only one side.
Pillowcase Materials
As important as the pillowcase styles are the pillowcase materials. The fabric you choose for your pillow can affect the look and feel of the pillow and the quality of your sleep.
Many will say that you need to choose your fabric first before deciding on a pillowcase style. The best pillowcase fabric will determine the life of the pillowcase and the amount of comfort the sleeper receives.
Cotton pillowcases are the most commonly available. Cotton is natural, durable, and quite soft to the touch. It allows the air to pass through, which makes it great for all seasons.
Polyester is a man-made synthetic material that is common in more affordable pillowcase options. Polyester mimics cotton but is much less breathable and tends to feel hot under the skin at night. They also tend to hold more static due to their design.
Satin is also a synthetic material made from polyester, but it mimics silk instead of cotton. It is smooth and much cooler to the touch than its polyester cousin. Some people claim the smooth material helps reduce wrinkles appearing on your face overnight.
Silk is the luxury option for your pillowcases. Cool and soft to the touch, it provides the same benefits as satin but to a much higher quality. Silk is a natural fiber, so it feels great on the skin. However, the luxurious look and elegant feel come at a higher price.
Choosing the Best Types of Pillowcases
Hopefully, this guide has given you a much better understanding of the types of pillowcases available to you when purchasing them for your home. There are many things to consider if you want to find the right match of style, materials, and color for your interior design.
Mix and match and enjoy your pillowcase design journey!
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