Tips for Buying Bed Skirts

Bed skirts are designed to hide a bed's box spring or foundation. An additional benefit is that a bed skirt on a bed allows you to use the space under the bed to store things out of sight but easily accessible.

For home decor, a bedskirt offers a way to add style, pattern, and color to the bedroom.

A bedskirt can be tailored with pleats or a flat panel, gathered into ruffles, or combining several layers of coordinating fabrics.

When you're planning to buy a bed skirt for your bed, there are several things to consider.

• Size
  Don't just guess that your queen size bed is 60" wide and 80" long. Mattresses, box springs and foundations can vary slightly in size. It's important to get the right size of bedskirt so thatit will hang properly on your bed.

• Drop
  When speaking of the drop of a bed skirt (or a table cloth), we're referring to the measurement from the top of the foundatino to teh floor. A standard measurement for ready-made bed skirts is 15", but they do vary. If your "drop" measurement is 16", the standard bed skirt will not go all the way to the floor. If your "drop" measurement is 14" the bed skirt will drag on the floor.

• Color
  A solid color bed skirt is a versatile choice for a bed skirt. If you select a light color such as white, pink, yellow, or other pastel, be sure that the bed skirt is lined or made of a heavy fabric so that light does not show through from under the bed.

• Pattern
  A bedskirt is a great place to use an interesting pattern, stripe, plaid, check, or texture. This can either complement or contrast with other fabrics in the room.

• Texture
  A bed skirt made with heavy-textured fabric will keep its shape and stand fresh for a number of years. You'll only need to take it off for cleaning. Fabrics like chenille, velvet, faux suede, and matelasse work well.

• Ready-Made Bed Skirts
  When you're buying sheets or a comforter, you will often find a matching bed skirt. But beware! Most of these pieces are made out of inexpensive fabrics and will not give a good look when placed on the bed. And often, the pattern may be the same or similar but the fabric may be of an inferior quality and the piece will not hold up. Be sure that you can return any piece that is not correct.

• Finishing Touches for Bed Skirts
  A plain bed skirt can be embellished to look custom-made with the addition of a trim of lace, an overlay of eyelet or sheer fabric, ribbon trim, or beaded trims. Experiment for a custom look, then buy the materials you'll need.

• Don't Settle Until the Bed Skirt is Perfect
  Once you've decided on the right size, good color, interesting fabric, and finishing touches, take a few minutes to press the bed skirt. It will hang off the side of the bed better when you eliminate unsightly wrinkles and look much more professional.