What Bed Skirt Hardware Do You Need to Install Bedskirts?

When you don’t like your bed frame design and cannot afford to change it, then all you need is a bed skirt that hangs over your bed and drapes towards the floor to conceal the frame. To put on a bed skirt, you usually have to move the mattress off the bed. But if you are using an elastic bed skirt, then you can easily install the bed skirt without lifting the mattress. You can also change your sheets or flip your mattress without rearranging the skirt. This article discusses bed skirt hardware that is needed to install a bed skirt.

Different types of bed skirt hardware needed to install bed skirts include bed skirt pins, duct tape, and flat thumbtacks or upholstery pins. Use proper installation techniques to prevent a bed skirt from slipping off the bed and causing a tripping hazard.

Some fabric bed skirts run the risk of sliding or slipping around as you toss and turn on the mattress during the night. An easy fix to this problem is to hold the bed skirt securely in place by using special bed skirt hardware. Using hardware like upholstery tacks and T-pins you can quickly secure the bed skirt to the mattress, and adjust the length of the skirt if it is too long for a shorter bed. Read our article on bed skirt height and length where we offer in-depth instructions for the proper way to accurately measure your bed for a bed skirt.

Bed skirt hardware such as holding pins secure a bed skirt to the mattress and box spring.

What Is a Bed Skirt?

The purpose of a bed skirt is to create a cohesive and more appealing bedroom decor and design by covering the exposed sides of a box spring or any space under the bed that may be used for storage.

A bed skirt is a decorative piece of fabric that is designed to go over the top of a box spring. It hides the box spring, bed frame and floor space under a bed. A bed skirt also improves the aesthetic appeal of a bed by hiding the storage space under the bed and preventing dust from accumulating underneath the bed.

In the past, a bed skirt was used to reduce the accumulation of dust underneath the bed. Nowadays, most mattresses do not require a box spring but rather rest on top of a platform bed or bed frame. A bed skirt can be any fabric, quilt, or comforter that is larger than the bed and hangs over its sides to conceal the bed foundation to give it a clean and modern look. To learn more about the different types of bed foundations available, read our article on mattress foundations. Additionally, if you’re interested in learning about the different types of bed skirt materials and their benefits, make sure to check out our related article.

What Is Bed Skirt Hardware and Why Do You Need It?

A bed skirt is made of fabric that can shift with everyday use, so in order to keep the fabric in place and reduce a tripping hazard the bed skirt should be secured in position with the correct type of hardware like pins and thumbtacks. These thumbtacks from Amazon have a round black head that will easily blend into darker bed skirt fabric.

Bed skirt hardware includes specialized upholstery products that help keep a bed skirt in place to achieve a perfect fit. The bed skirt must be properly secured in place with bed skirt hardware like t-pins, upholstery screws or even ruffle pins, which have a flat broad head, so that the bed skirt doesn’t pose a tripping hazard.

An ill-fitting bed skirt that keeps slipping off the bed frame poses a serious safety hazard in the bedroom. This article from Taylor Francis Online details the many accidents and injuries that occur in homes due to tripping and falling, and how to prevent them.

Bed skirt pins have a unique corkscrew design which anchors the bed skirt to the box spring near each corner for extra fastening and non-slip protection. Not only do they hold a bed skirt in place but they also ensure that it drapes down towards the floor in an elegant style. Read our article on 10 bed skirt styles if you are looking for ideas on how to use a bed skirt to hide stored items under your bed.

Traditional bed skirts tend to shift because not all mattresses are precisely the same size. Therefore, bed skirt pins are used to keep your bed skirt neatly in place so it won’t budge and move everytime you change the sheets or flip the mattress. The pins can be made from a variety of materials such as plastic, stainless steel, and nickel-plated steel.

Proper and careful use will not damage your bed. Simply insert a bed skirt pin into the fabric and through the box spring near each corner. You can add a few more pins evenly spaced along the sides too. Make sure you screw them clockwise like a screw so that they burrow deep into the fabric and box spring. When you need to remove the bed skirt or replace it, simply unscrew the pins counterclockwise.

Different Types of Bed Skirt Hardware

There are different types of bed skirt hardware, all of which help hold a bed skirt in place and ensure an even drape. However, not all bed skirt pins are created equal. There are a variety of factors that you should consider before committing to a specific style of bed skirt hardware.

Think about the durability of the pins, their appearance, the materials they’re made of, and the way they are removed. It all depends on your personal bed skirt pin needs and preferences. So make sure you do some research to ensure you get the right type of bed skirt pin to suit your needs. Read our article on bed skirt uses and tips to learn more about the various types of bed skirts and how to secure them.

1. Twist Bed Skirt Pins

Twist pins for securing a bed skirt in place.

Twin bed skirt pins work by using spiral blades that are twisted through the bed skirt and the bed clockwise like a screw. To remove them, unscrew them counterclockwise.

They are strong enough to hold any light to medium weight fabric. They come in a plastic storage container, and are affordable. However, they can tear the fabric.

These upholstery twist pins for slipcovers and bedskirts can be purchased from Amazon for $7.

2. Holding Bed Skirt Pins

Another variety of holding pins for bed skirts to hold a bed skirt to a mattress and box spring.

Holding bed skirt pins are made of a plastic head and double iron pins, which pass through the bed skirt and into the box spring.

They are compact and practical, and not easily deformed or damaged. They hold the skirt in place even when you flip your mattress or change your sheets. However, their needles are short and may fall off.

As an example you can get 60 holding pins for $10 from Amazon.

3. DIY Your Own Bed Skirt Pins Using Flat Thumbtacks

Flat thumbtacks are made of steel round heads with sharp steel needles, which are inserted through the fabric and the box spring. They can be easily found in most stationery stores, are available in different colors and sizes, and are firm and durable.

Because ordinary thumbtacks have a much shorter needle shaft than upholstery pins, they should only be used on light-weight fabrics. If you use them to try and fasten heavier or thicker fabrics then they will keep pulling loose and falling out.

These thumbtacks from Amazon cost around $7 for 500 pins, and have a broad round head that is easy to insert into a box spring when securing a lace bed skirt like this one.

4. Safety Pins For Securing a Bed Skirt

Safety pins are common alternatives to bed skirt pins. They aren’t as strong or durable.

They include a simple spring mechanism and a clasp. The spring is threaded through the bed skirt and the box spring, and is then locked in a closed loop to fasten the pin and to cover the sharp tip of the pin for protection. Safety pins are practical to use and remove, and are safe when properly closed.

Safety pins can sometimes flip open and cause unwanted accidents, and should be avoided if there are small children and pets around. They are mainly suitable for securing light to medium-weight fabrics because of their tendency to open when placed under excessive strain from much heavier fabrics.

These safety pins from Amazon come in a variety of sizes to discreetly secure a bed skirt skirt, and the pack contains 300 pins for about $5.

How to Use Bed Skirt Pins

Deciding on the right type of pin for your bed skirt depends on the type of fabric that the bed skirt is made of and what aesthetics you are looking for in your bed room decor.

To use bed skirt pins, first determine the right type of pins, then gently insert the pins into your bed frame, and finally adjust the position of the pins to hold the bed skirt safely and firmly in place.

Stylized bed skirt hardware like these rose shaped pins can provide additional aesthetics.

Step 1. Choose Bed Skirt Pin Design Based On Aesthetics and Bed Skirt Material

Consider the design and color of your bed skirt before buying bed skirt pins. Translucent pinheads are preferred because they allow the pins to blend in with all bedding. You can choose bed skirt pins with heads that are the same color as your bedding so that they blend in, or choose a different color to your bedding if you want to make a contrasting statement by arranging the bed skirt pins in a specific sequence around the bed frame. This all comes down to personal preference.

Choose durable bed skirt pins and make sure the pins are easy to use before buying. If you have chosen a delicate fabric that easily snags or shows holes once pierced, then you should choose a bed skirt pin with a thinner needle shaft that doesn’t screw into the fabric. This minimizes the size of the hole that the pin creates in the bed skirt.

Make sure that the pins are removable, so that you can replace your bed skirt easily when necessary. These T-pins from Amazon, have a thin needle shaft made of nickel-plated steel so that they won’t snag the fabric.

Step 2. Insert the Bed Skirt Pins Into Your Bed Frame

First, adjust the length of the bed skirt according to the height of your bed frame. Once you have the bed skirt where you want it to be, and your mattress in place, twist a pin clockwise through the skirt into the box spring at each corner until you can only see the pinhead on the surface.

Bed skirt pins are designed to hold the fabric safely in place, but damage can occur if you use the pins incorrectly or have an old or worn bed skirt or box spring. Be careful not to puncture or rip the fabric when inserting the pins.

Always refer to the pin manufacturer’s label for directions and warnings. If you have small children around then consider using other methods to secure your bed skirt like Velcro. This article explains how safety pins are often ingested by children, and how to prevent this safety hazard.

Step 3. Space the Pins Evenly Along the Bed Skirt

In order to strengthen the grip between the bed skirt and the box spring, add a few more pins along the sides of the bed. Read our article on easy bed skirt hacks to find out more about ways to secure a bed skirt to your bed frame or box spring.

Not all the pins have to be positioned in one place. Try to place them evenly along the sides of the bed while ensuring that the bed skirt drapes down elegantly with the same length on all the sides. Bed skirt pins are generally sold in packages, so use as many as you need to hold the fabric in place securely. These double head pins have a wide plastic head that makes them easy to install and remove.

If you replace or wash your bed skirt regularly, then choose bed skirt pins with shorter needles to be able to remove them more easily, or just try to minimize the number of pins that you use.

Make sure to also take a look at our step-by-step guide on how to use bed skirt pins for more ideas. Additionally, be sure to find out what to do if a bed skirt is too long. Our related article will give you some good tips and tricks.

In a Nutshell

A properly secured bed skirt is not only essential to achieving an elegant looking bedroom, but is also important because it prevents the bed skirt from pulling loose and becoming a dangerous tripping hazard in the bedroom. If you want to learn about alternative methods, make sure to take a look at our related article, how to keep a bed skirt in place. And if you would like to cover your bed frame or box spring and want other interesting ideas then read our article on 10 bed skirt alternatives.

What Bed Skirt Hardware Do You Need To Install Bed skirts?