The use of a pillow sham may transform a standard-sized sleeping pillow into a beautiful accent piece for your bedroom or living room decor. If the appearance of your bed isn't important to you, a simple pillowcase will serve you. Certain pillow shams, particularly those decorated with sequins, buttons, or lace may not be comfortable enough to rest your head on while sleeping. Sham-covered pillows are often removed from beds before sleep and replaced on the bed in the morning unless otherwise specified.