7 Bed Skirt Alternatives to Escape the Annoyance & Look Nicer

Bed skirt alternatives are what you should reach for when you're sick of yours getting torn, tangled, bunched up and moved under your mattress. They're like magnets to kids and pets when they're bored.

A bed skirt, also known as a valance, is a great piece of decorative fabric that is often used to display your sense of style in the sleeping area. Put it together with some pillows, shams, comforters and the bedspread and voila!

You have a great looking space and want to hide the storage space under the bed. But the trend of bed skirts is one that has been around a while and is slowly beginning to fade.

While moving on is the name of the game, if you're not sure and want to get started with some window shopping, here’s what you are looking for with these creative bed skirt options.

There are a few things you can do without spending too much money. The thing about replacing long-term trends is to understand the nuance. There's a reason some trends have stood the time: they work.

7 Bed Skirt Alternatives

If you can figure out what's so attractive (or functional) about the item, finding a substitute becomes quite easy. And we're here to show you how to cover a box spring without a bed skirt.

Fitted Sheets

When you're trying to identify the things that work for a product, it's easy to miss things that are right in front of you. Here’s one. A nicely fitted sheet might not give you the presentation that a bed skirt does but it is certainly a great substitute for it.

First things first. Since it's not perfect, you'll realize that it won't cover the frame and the area under the bed. But it has its advantages even over alternative ideas for bed skirts.

You don’t need to buy anything extra. There's no looking for tools and worrying about fixing it if something goes wrong. You can get this done while sitting at home. There's nothing you need to purchase. And it gives the bed an elegant, modern, minimalist look.

The space looks more buttoned-up if your box spring is not a very attractive one. All you need to do is find a sheet that fits the box spring well to avoid sagging. This happens if you have an oversized bedsheet and is the only bane of making this look great.

You can also try to match the sheet with the comforter and whatever types of drapes you have, etc. It also covers the box spring’s print when it's the right size. You can match it with any color scheme that your house has. It can be washed easily in the machine and can be changed frequently.

A couple of things to watch out for. You have to find the right size. You must be okay with the fact that your bed frame will be exposed. And it is not always the most elegant look depending on the rest of your furniture. But when you have modern designed furniture, it's incredible.

Bed Skirt Wrap Around

The second easy substitute for a bed skirt is to find a wrap around. It's quick and easy to find. You can make your own with a fitted sheet. You can order one online from the comfort of your home.

You can hide the space under your bed along with the frame of the bed and the box frame using wrap arounds in many colors and patterns. They're quite cheap which makes them an affordable bed skirt alternatives.

You can change them along with the bedsheet in a quick swap as part of your normal routine if you like.  And you don’t have to lift the mattress to fit it on either. It's an easy item to add to the decor of your bedroom feng shui. These are readily available and easy and cheap to replace as well. What’s the catch?

They can slide and shift with you and the elastic may stretch out over time. They're also not split at the corners which can cause tears eventually. You'll have to take care of the elastic and you have to be mindful of the size of your box spring.

These aren't meant to wrap around the outside frame of the bed, but are used for box springs (or box spring alternatives) and mattresses on metal frames that don't extend beyond the sides of these items.

Velcro Bed Skirts

Now, this is a brilliant idea that work even for bed alternatives. If you're tired of your bed skirts, find one that is similar but without the disadvantages. You don’t have to lift a heavy mattress to put it into place, either.

If that’s not enough, you can buy anti-shift fabric and make one for yourself if you're handy. That way you get to save a few bucks and make something that matches your needs, style preference, and bed size. You can make them out of the same fabric as your types of bed sheets, too.

Muslin is pretty cheap and can be paired with a trim of your choice.  Lace, ruffles, and tassels are all good choices too. If you're not too sure, there are a ton of tutorials to help you get where you need to be.

You can also just add velcro to an existing bed skirt and fix the problem of them moving around on you. That works just as well. It doesn't sag or shift and keeps the bed frame and box spring hidden. Just the way you intended for it to be.

Now, velcro easy to get and affix to the material and can be used with any skirt. The velcro can be replaced whenever you need fairly painlessly. It can be interchanged with other bed skirts, too.

But there are a couple of things to note. The downside is that the adhesive is vulnerable to wear and tear unless you sew them on. You'll have to place it evenly during installation which isn't hard but can be tedious.

It can feel stiff before they go through the wash but you'll never feel them as you sleep unless you dangle your legs completely off the side of the bed.

Window Valance

If you like re-using already available materials to meet your needs, this might be a solution for you. Window valances are a great way to make beautiful bed skirts. Especially if you want to get away from the usual thin skirting style.

The window valance is a great bed skirt option for those who want a wide range of styles. They're very cheap and all you need are just two valances of the same length. Use that for both sides. Get something shorter for the foot end, then use pins to bring the whole show together and you're done.

These can go with all kinds of decors and match whatever types of pillows you have. They're available at any store, online or locally. They can be sewn if you have the time to fancy it up with ripples and folds, etc.. What's especially nice is you can change these easily to redecorate often.

You can get them in different styles and fabrics, more so than typical bed skirt options. Just make sure the measurements match your box spring size.

Valances can get heavier so make sure you are mindful of the fabric. They may sag over time since they're kept together with pins, but that's easy to deal with. If you can manage this, go for a window valance.

DIY Bed Skirt

DIY projects are exciting if you like to do use your hands and get crafty. A little bit of sewing can take you a long way in making a bed skirt of your choice. Pick a fabric that works best for daily use and get started.

It could be from an old sheet or curtains or duvet covers. You get the deal, right? Linens work great, too. If you enjoy buying fabric by the yard, there’s that option too.

Find something that speaks to you and matches the decor of the room. You can also just go for a solid color. If you get variations in that, you can change it with the sheets on the bed.

Just make sure you are comfortable sewing that fabric. There are many tutorials on the internet that teach you how to make a bed skirt. Pick something that works with your fabrics, your bed frame size (yes, that’s important) and your decor.

Pick a design that works for your fabric and style it any way you want. It could be flat, ruffled, or scalloped. It could be sleek or fancy or both. Or abstract or classic elegant. You are limited only by your budget and sewing skills.

However, it might take time and you must be careful with measurements. But if you are a pro-DIY person, you already know that. If you are going to change the bedding, prepare for the same amount of work, if not more, again. But it's worth it to match your types of bed covers and sheets.

Wood Bed Skirts

You may be thinking "what is this guy talking about" but what this really is is making a false frame around your bed. Whether your box spring is on the ground or lifted up on metal brackets, you'll want to build the frame to the height that it reaches to the top of the box spring.

Many metal frames for beds have slots on the head (meant to attach to standard types of headboards) and foot, too. Taking advantage of these with bolts and washers will help keep your wood bed skirt in place. You can then paint the bolt heads if you like.

These are cheap alternatives to buying an expensive wooden frame for your bed or other complicated types of bed frames, and they look the exact same at the end of the day, especially if you add a nice headboard or headboard alternatives to the mix.

Box Spring Gift Wrap

This one is a fun idea, but only something to do during the holidays. The idea of your box spring looking like a wrapped gift is pretty cool. It’s like creating Christmas morning on your bed but for the whole year. It also means you can do this only on holidays to enhance that special feeling.

It might not sound as exciting because it feels like a lot of work. But think about how tidy the package will look. It's a permanent effect until the holiday season is over. You don’t have to make the bed skirt every day and it's neat and covers the box spring well.

It demands very little maintenance and is available to buy online too. It's not as cheap as velcro but it's still affordable. That's part of its appeal. You can even get it in a few different colors and designs. This low maintenance idea is sleek, too. I wish it could last year round.

But, remember that it's a bit tricky to install. There's no coverage under the bed either. The price goes up along with the size of the bed and there's very little customization available to you besides choosing the look.

Bed Skirt Alternatives Add Creativity to Your Decor

Decorating the bedroom is quite important to many homeowners. It's a space that's unique in terms of enjoying your privacy and comfort. From classic to modern, there are a lot of styles one can choose.

Whether you are looking for low-cost options or ready to shell out a bit, there is a lot one can do. And even though bed skirts seem archaic, they bring a certain flow to the whole arrangement. So, happy shopping for your bed skirt alternatives.

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