A sham is a decorative pillowcase that is used to add some aesthetic variety to the bedroom. It is typically used on decorative pillows that are removed from the bed at night. Shams can be used as pillowcases in some situations, although this is not what they are intended for. They may also be called pillow shams, and other related terms that you might see include Euro sham, standard sham, or king sham. All three of these terms refer to distinct sizes of the same product that match the corresponding pillow size. Because they are designed purely for decorative use, bed shams are typically only embellished on the front side, while the back is made with solid fabric. Most bed shams are fastened at the back of the pillow using overlapping fabric, a hidden zipper, or buttons. Shams can be easily removed from their fills to be washed or replaced.