What is a Bed Skirt?

Bed skirts are one of those pieces of bedding you don’t notice until they’re gone. Most people think of a bed skirt as just a decoration, but it actually does have a function. Bed skirts can help keep all the unsightly stuff under your bed out of sight. They can also help prevent dust from accumulating under there, as vacuuming under the bed isn’t exactly a breeze.

Bed skirts can also add an element of style to your bed. They cover up your ugly box springs and drape down to the floor, giving your bed a luxury look. Below, we’ll talk about exactly what that function is and whether you need a bed skirt.

Purpose of a Bed Skirt

Bed skirts have two main functions. Primarily, they exist to keep dust out from under your bed. When you look under your bed, you’ll probably find piles of dust and gross hairballs and dust bunnies. Those are what your bed skirt is meant to prevent. This is why it’s also often called a dust ruffle.

Another answer to the question “what is a bed skirt for” is hiding under-bed storage. Bed skirts go over your box spring or foundation and fall to the floor. So they cover bins, boxes, and other items stored under your bed.

For some sleepers, they may just want a bed skirt to give their bed a more aesthetically pleasing look. Almost any bed frame, from a simple wooden one to an upholstered bed frame, can have a more classical look with a bed skirt.

Bed Skirt vs. Dust Ruffle

You might think a bed skirt and a dust ruffle are different, but they’re actually two words for the same thing. “Dust ruffle” refers more to the piece’s function. And “bed skirt” refers more to the way it looks. What you call it really just depends on what region you’re from and what word you prefer.

Bed Skirt Types

Bed skirts all look pretty much the same when they’re actually on the bed. So many people may not know there are several different kinds of bed skirts you can choose from.

Traditional

Traditional bed skirts fit between your mattress and your box spring. You’ll need to lift the mattress up and place the flat part of the bed skirt on top of the box spring. The ruffled portions of the bed skirt then hang down over the box spring, covering the bed frame and the gap between the rails and the floor.

Traditional bed skirts don’t have slits at the corners. So they can look bunched up or crinkled around the corners of certain bed frames. Since many modern mattresses don’t need a box spring, you may want to consider another type of bedskirt.

Split Corner

Split corner bed skirts are like traditional bed skirts, except they have slits at each of the corners. That allows them to fall evenly at both the foot and the sides of the bed, avoiding the bunched look that traditional bed skirts can have.

Wrap Around

While regular bed skirts go under the mattress and on top of the box spring, wrap-around bed skirts do exactly what their name says. They wrap around the outside of the bed. They typically come with a stretchy elastic band that you can secure either at the bottom of the mattress or the top of the box spring. That lets you secure the bed skirt without moving the mattress.

Detachable

Detachable bed skirts wrap around the bed too, but they’re held up with hook and loop systems or even velcro that attaches to the box spring. This might be a better setup for you if you’re putting the bed skirt on alone. Wrap-around and traditional bed skirts can be tough to get onto the bed without a second pair of hands.

Bed Skirt Fabrics

Bed skirts are typically made of simple, durable fabrics. You don’t have to worry about the way a fabric feels because you won’t be sleeping on the bed skirt. However, you will need to think about how easily the fabric soils and tears.

How easy the material is to wash may also be a consideration if you plan to clean the bedskirt every few months or so. Bedskirts don’t need much cleaning, but it would be easy to toss it in the washing machine while cleaning your mattress.

Cotton

Cotton is one of the most popular fabrics for bed skirts because it’s durable and low maintenance. Cotton fibers and strong and don’t tear or fray easily. And cotton can also just be tossed in the washing machine (as long as you make sure you’re following the instructions and laundry care symbols).

So if you’re looking for a tough bed skirt that can stand up to a little abuse, cotton is likely the best fabric for you.  See our guide on organic cotton vs. regular cotton to make your shopping easier.

Linen

Linen is a heavier fabric that drapes well. It’s often used to create paneled bed skirts that fall straight to the floor rather than ruffling like cotton. As a heavier fabric, linen will also be less mobile. With cotton, even the draft from your feet as you walk by could move the fabric.

Linen can stand up to a little more airflow. So it might be a better option if you want dust protection above everything else.

Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fabric that can make a great low-cost bed skirt. Polyester isn’t as heavy as linen or as durable as cotton. But it is a more affordable fabric for those who don’t want to blow a lot of money on a potentially optional piece of bedding.

Taffeta

Taffeta is a popular fabric for luxury bed skirts. If you’re going for a luxe look with silk sheets and a fancy duvet, taffeta might be the best fabric to complement the style of your bedding. Just keep in mind that taffeta is an expensive fabric. So if you’ve got little kids running around or other factors that might damage your bed skirt, you might want to rethink luxury fabrics.

How to Put on a Bed Skirt

How you use a bed skirt depends on whether it goes between the mattress and box springs or wraps around. If it goes between the mattress and box springs, you’ll have to lift your mattress to put it on. Reviewing how much your mattress weighs can help you decide how much of a task this will be.

With one person standing on each side of the bed, lift your mattress at the foot of the bed and slide the flat portion of the bed skirt up to the head of the bed. Allow the ruffled part to drape down and cover the rails. Lay the mattress back down once the flat portion covers your entire box spring. You can move the mattress by yourself, but it is a much harder task to do this alone.

Wrap-around bed skirts don’t require any lifting. You and your partner, family member, or friend can just stand on either side of the bed and stretch the elastic band around the mattress until the side panels of the bed skirt cover the bed frame rails and fall to the floor.

Detachable bed skirts are even easier. Just follow the instructions to attach the loops or velcro to your box spring or foundation. This may be the easiest option for anyone living alone.

Deatachable and wraparound bed skirts are both excellent options for anyone who wants to use a bed skirt with an adjustable bed.

Saving on a Bed Skirt

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FAQs

Do I need a bed skirt?

Whether or not you need a bed skirt depends more on your preferences than anything else. Some people prefer to use a bed skirt to cover the things under their beds or to prevent dust under the bed. Others like bed skirts because they make fun complements to existing bedding.

However, if you don’t care about dust under the bed and want to show off a fun or stylish bed frame, bed skirts aren’t a necessity. They’re more decorative than they are functional. So if you want to forgo the bed skirt, you can. If you have an adjustable bed or plain platform bed, though, a bed skirt can really dress it up.

Will my duvet perform the same function as a bed skirt?

Duvets or comforters and other decorative bedding can perform some of the functions of a bed skirt, but not all of them. A duvet can sometimes drape almost to the floor. So it can give a similar luxury look to your bed. It can also cover the bed frame and maybe even the things underneath the bed.

However, a duvet should not drape all the way to the floor. So it won’t keep dust from accumulating underneath your bed.

Can a bed skirt help with my allergies?

If you have allergies to dust and dust mites, a bed skirt can definitely help with your symptoms. Bed skirts don’t just conceal your under-bed storage. They fight dust accumulation underneath your bed.

You might not think dust under your bed is a big deal since you’re not sleeping under the bed. But dust trapped under your bed can get blown back into the room when you turn on the ceiling fan or open a window.

What’s the difference between a dust ruffle and a bed skirt?

There is no difference between a dust ruffle and a bed skirt. They’re the same piece of bedding. They just have different names depending on what part of the country you grew up in and what your personal preference is. You might also call a bed skirt a pettiskirt, a bed ruffle, a valance, or even a valance sheet. There are tons of names for this piece of bedding!

Should I wash my bed skirt?

Washing your bed skirt is not as much of a priority as washing your bedsheets. You should wash your sheets once a week and wash your comforter once every couple of months. But you don’t have to worry as much about your bed skirt. Generally speaking, you can wash your bed skirt every time it gets stained or discolored by dust.

The only time that might not be the case is if you have allergies. Allergy sufferers should wash the dust out of their bed skirts every few months regardless of what they look like. This helps tamp down on dust and other allergens in the bedroom.

However often you decide to wash your bed skirt, just keep the fabric and washing instructions in mind. Instructions for care should be on the tag. Be sure to follow them carefully to avoid ruining your bed skirt’s fabric.

Bottom Line

Bed skirts are an affordable and functional piece of bedding. They add an element of style to your bedroom while covering the unsightly underside of your bed. They can also help you out with dust and dirt-related allergy symptoms. So there’s really no reason not to get one!