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Sometimes called a dust ruffle or valance, the bed skirt’s primary function is to cover the space between the bottom of the bed frame and the floor and hide anything stowed beneath the bed. They also serve the purpose of covering a box spring since many of today’s popular bedding options feature quilts or comforters that only extend to the bottom of the top mattress or a few inches below.
There’s a wide assortment of bed skirts in various fabrics, designs, and styles here. The best bed skirt will complement your bedding and overall bedroom décor and be made of high-quality material. Ahead, learn what to look for when shopping for a bed skirt, and find out why the following nine top the list of choices.
- BEST OVERALL: Italian Luxury Hotel Collection Bed Skirt
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Martex Ruffle Bed Skirt
- BEST TEXTURED: Greenland Home Paisley Quilted Bed Skirt
- BEST WRAP AROUND: N&Y HOME Box Spring Cover Wrap Around Bed Skirt
- BEST DETACHABLE: ShopBedding Ashton Detachable Bed Skirt
- BEST TAILORED: Today’s Home Microfiber Classic Tailored Bed Skirt
- BEST SPLIT CORNER: Sleepwell Ruffled Bed Skirt with Split Corner
- BEST BOX PLEAT: Utopia Bedding Bed Skirt Quadruple Pleated
Types of Bed Skirts
Bed skirts come in various colors and styles, and while many feature a flat cloth panel that fits along the top of a box spring or a platform frame, this style can be challenging to fit on beds with mattresses that are too heavy to lift. Fortunately, other types exist that are easier to fit on a bed.
Wrap-Around Bed Skirts
A relative newbie to the bed skirt stage, wrap-around bed skirts are designed to cover the box spring. This skirt features stretchy material and elasticized top and bottom edges that smoothly mold the fabric to the box spring. Keep in mind that because they neatly hug the box springs, they won’t cover the space under the bed. However, wrap-around skirts are available in a range of colors and will keep the sides of the box spring covered, adding an element of design.
Detachable Bed Skirts
If you have a large or heavy top mattress, a detachable bed skirt might be the best option for you. With this skirt, there’s no need to lift the mattress every time you want to launder the skirt. However, you may have to lift the mattress the first time because some detachable skirts attach to a panel that fits between the box spring and mattress. Other types are elasticized and designed to stretch around the top of the box spring, so no lifting is necessary.
Tailored Bed Skirts
Not a fan of ruffled bed skirts? You might want to take advantage of a tailored bed skirt that features smooth, flat fabric panels. This style is elegant and classy and will feel at home in modern and contemporary-style bedrooms.
Split Corner Bed Skirts
A split-corner bed skirt features two splits on the skirt between the end panel and the side panels. So if the bed has a footboard, the user can tuck the end skirt panel beneath the footboard without the fabric of the side skirts pulling and bunching. The splits allow the side skirts to hang evenly along the sides of the bed.
Box Pleat Bed Skirts
Box pleating creates a sleek design element and is accomplished by folding the fabric back and forth along the side and bottom panels of a bed skirt and then pressing it flat. A bed skirt may feature one or more box pleats. If you can’t picture how one looks, think of the pleat just under the yoke on the back of a man’s dress shirt. This type of pleat is strictly for design and will not alter the function of the bed skirt. After laundering, you may need to iron this type of bed skirt to make the box pleats lie flat again.
Gathered Bed Skirts
Gathering creates vertical waves and ruffles around a bed skirt that are well-suited to many styles of bedroom décor. The more fabric gathered at the top of the bed skirt, the more ruffled the effect will be. Bed skirts with only slight gathering are suitable for most bedroom decor, while skirts with lots of fabric gathered at the top will make the skirt flare outward and create a frilly effect.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Bed Skirt
Early bed skirts were functional, fashionable, and often referred to as dust ruffles because they helped keep dust from gathering under the bed.
Material
The fabric used to make bed skirts is less important than the fabric used for bed sheets and comforters since it won’t be in close contact with your skin. That said, some materials might still be a better choice than others because they’re more durable and less likely to attract dust.
- Cotton: The most popular choice for bed skirts is a 100 percent cotton or a cotton/polyester blend that will hold up to many washings without wearing out.
- Linen: This strong, upscale fabric, made from the flax plant, is a top choice for tailored or box-pleat bed skirts because it will hold a pressed crease. When laundered, however, linen tends to wrinkle and will likely require ironing to get the fabric nice and flat again.
- Microfiber: Usually a combination of polyester and nylon, this fabric is durable, super soft, and nearly wrinkle-free, going right from the dryer to the bed without the need to iron. However, it possesses a slight static charge, which gives it a tendency to collect dust.
- Thread count: The number of stitches per square inch of fabric is known as the thread count (TC). In bed skirts, thread count will typically range from 100 TC to 300 TC. The higher the thread count, the tighter the pores in the fabric. Fabric with lower thread counts and larger pores and are more likely to gather dust.
Bed Frame Dimensions
Most often, you can choose a bed skirt by the size of its bed frame, such as full, queen, or king. If you find that you’re still unsure what size your bed is, refer to the following measurements and order accordingly.
- Twin: 39 inches by 75 inches
- Full: 54 inchesby 75 inches
- Queen: 60 inches by 80 inches
- King: 78 inches by 80 inches
Drop Measurement
Another important measurement when choosing a bed skirt is the drop measurement. This is the distance from the floor to the top of the box springs. When taking this measurement, consider whether you’d like the bottom of the bed skirt to touch the floor or rise an inch or so above the floor. The choice is entirely up to you, but skirts that sit a bit above the floor are less likely to gather dust than those that touch the floor.
Colors, Patterns, and Textures
Most bed skirts come in standard colors, such as red, blue, brown, gray, etc. However, some come in patterns, including multicolor plaids, stripes, or even floral designs. Others are available in a textured fabric, which adds additional visual interest to the bedroom.
Ease of Cleaning
Most bed skirts are easy to clean: just toss it in the washer on the cold cycle, tumble dry on low, shake it out, and put it back on the bed. If the bed skirt contains 100 percent linen, be prepared to iron it to remove wrinkles before putting it back on the bed.
Our Top Picks
To qualify as a Top Pick, a bed skirt should feature a durable fabric that won’t stretch or tear easily, be well-constructed, and stand up to laundering without fading. The best bed skirt for your bed will depend on the color and style of the bedroom’s décor and whether you want a traditional bed skirt that slips between the box springs and the mattress or prefer one that’s simpler to take on and off.
Best Overall
Italian Luxury Hotel Collection Bed Skirt
Made from microfiber, the Italian Luxury Dust Ruffle remains wrinkle-free even after laundering, so you don’t have to iron the bed skirt before putting it back on the bed. It comes in a corner-pleated style with flat sides for a clean, elegant look that will complement contemporary and modern bedroom décor. The bed skirt comes with a 15-inch drop and is available in various non-fade colors. Its skirt attaches to a flat cotton panel that slips between the mattress and box springs. Machine wash on cold and tumble dry on low.
Best Bang For the Buck
Martex Ruffle Bed Skirt
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to dress up your bedroom and hide the items being stored under the bed. The affordable Martex Ruffle Bed Skirt features 100 percent polyester for strength and durability and comes in a range of colors. The skirt is lightly gathered at the top, giving it a soft look and feel that will complement any bedroom décor. It features a standard 15-inch drop and is machine washable on the cold cycle. Tumble dry on low.
Best Textured
Greenland Home Paisley Quilted Bed Skirt
This matelassé-textured bed skirt features stitching in an attractive paisley pattern on lightly- quilted fabric. The Greenland Paisley Bed Skirt features 100 percent cotton in a thicker material, so it will completely block the sight of any items under the bed. The skirt comes in white only with a generous 18-inch drop to accommodate higher beds. The bottom of the skirt is gently scalloped for an elegant touch. Split corners allow the fabric to lie smoothly without bunching at the bottom corners of the bed. Machine wash on cold and tumble dry on low.
Best Wrap Around
N&Y HOME Box Spring Cover Wrap Around Bed Skirt
For a sleek modern look, check out this N&Y HOME Wrap Around Bed Skirt that fits the box spring like a glove. Made from a stretchy polyester/spandex blend, the bed skirt is designed to stretch around the edges of the box spring. It comes with four cloth buttonhole straps that attach beneath the corners of the box springs to snug the skirt for the smoothest fit. Because it encases the box spring entirely, there’s no drop on this skirt, so you can still see under the bed. Machine wash on cold and tumble dry on low. Remove from the dryer promptly and put back on the bed for wrinkle-free results.
Best Detachable
ShopBedding Ashton Detachable Bed Skirt
If your bed mattress is heavy and the prospect of trying to lift it every time you launder the bed skirt fills you with dread, check out the ShopBedding Ashton Detachable Bed Skirt. Be aware that you may have to lift the mattress one time to position its panel over the box spring, but it will never have to be lifted again to wash the bed skirt. The panel features a strip around the edge with attached hooks. The bed skirt comes in three sections: two side sections and one end section that attaches to the hooks on the panel via loops.
The bed skirt, which comes in various colors, features attractive box pleats and is made from a poly/cotton blend for strength and durability. Choose from three drop lengths, 14 inches, 18 inches, or 21 inches, for a custom fit. Toss it in the washer on cold and tumble dry on low.
Best Tailored
Today's Home Microfiber Classic Tailored Bed Skirt
The Today’s Home Classic Bed Skirt is the epitome of elegance, featuring sleek panels covering the box spring and giving the bed a chic look. The corners of the skirt feature box pleats that align meticulously to form crisp-looking corners. The skirt comes with a 14-inch drop and features 100 percent polyester microfiber. This bed skirt is wonderfully soft to the touch and can be laundered in the washer on cold and tumbled dry on low. Available in a few colors, this classic, tailored bed skirt will give any bedroom a finished touch.
Best Split Corner
Sleepwell Ruffled Bed Skirt with Split Corner
The split corners on the Sleepwell Split Corner Bed Skirt will fit bed frames with footboards without bunching. On the corners where the side and end panels meet, the fabric splits from the hem to the top edge. This traditional-style bed skirt fits between the box spring and the mattress.
Made from 100 percent polyester microfiber, the skirt is soft to the touch and suitable for machine washing in cold water and tumbling dry on low. The gathering at the top of the skirt gives it a slightly flared and ruffled effect, suitable for complementing traditional décor. The bed skirt comes in a variety of colors and features a modest 10-inch drop.
Best Box Pleat
Utopia Bedding Bed Skirt Quadruple Pleated
The four box pleats on the Utopia Bedding Quadruple Pleated Dust Ruffle add texture and geometric interest to an otherwise-tailored bed skirt. Two pleats are located at the bottom corners where the side panels meet the end panel, while the other two are positioned in the middle of each side panel, lending the skirt geometric appeal. The Utopia Bedding bed skirt features 100 percent brushed polyester microfiber for softness, durability, and wrinkle-free appeal, and it comes in a host of colors. Launder in the washer on cold and tumble dry on low. The skirt features a 16-inch drop and tightly-woven, microfiber threads to help repel stains.
The Advantages of Owning a Bed Skirt
Seeing boxes or other items under the bed distracts from the bedroom’s look and can give the room a messy feel. Adding a bed skirt will make not only the bed but also the whole room look better.
- A bed skirt will hide items stored under the bed.
- Bed skirts offer a finished touch to the bed and keep the box spring from showing.
- Bed skirts come in range of colors and designs to suit any bedroom décor.
FAQs About Your New Bed Skirt
When shopping for a bed skirt, you may have some questions.
Q. How do you choose a bed skirt?
Choose a bed skirt that matches the dimensions of your bed and complements the décor in the bedroom. Choosing a bed skirt that matches the color of your bedding will create a uniform look.
Q. How do you put on a bed skirt?
Most bed skirts slip between the mattress and the box spring, but some wrap around the sides of the box spring or are detachable.
Q. How do you keep a bed skirt in place?
Once the bed skirt is positioned over the box spring, carefully place the mattress on top to keep the skirt from shifting.
Q. How do you fold a bed skirt?
Don’t fold a bed skirt if you can help it. Instead, promptly remove it from the dryer after laundering and put it back on the bed to keep it from getting wrinkled.
