How To Keep a Bed Skirt in Place – 6 Strategies with Step by Step Instructions

The neat and tidy finishing touch that a bed skirt can give a bed is one of the main reasons to use one. So if it’s saggy, uneven, or shifts and slides too much, that really defeats the whole purpose. The best way to keep a bed skirt in place is to make sure that the bed skirt is well-pinned or secured to the box spring.

The best ways to keep a bed skirt in place is to use bed skirt pins, upholstery twist pins, non-slip grip pads, velcro strips, or even thumb tacks, on all corners and sides of the box spring. Do not secure the bed skirt only in the corners. Bed skirt pins can be placed around the box spring at regular 2-4 inch intervals.

For a bed skirt to be an attractive addition to a bed, it needs to touch the floor, be even on all sides, and stay in place without shifting, moving, or falling off. 

This Ashton detachable bed skirt uses velcro and is very easy to install. Velcro is a great alternative to bed pins. Using bed pins and velcro together gives you the most secure attachments. Image from bobvila.com.  

What Is a Bed Skirt?

A bed skirt can be coordinated with the bedroom decor so that it is the finishing touch that a bedroom needs to pull it all together. Bed skirts are also really useful for keeping a bedroom looking neat and tidy because they cover the clutter and storage underneath the bed. Read our article on common bed skirt designs to learn more about their various uses and benefits. 

A bed skirt is a decorative skirt of fabric that covers the sides of the bed frame, the box spring, and the space under the bed. A traditional bed skirt has a fabric sheet that is laid over the box spring under the mattress. Wrap around or detachable styles of bed skirts wrap around the bed frame or box spring instead of being sandwiched between the mattress and the box spring.

All styles of bed skirts can be subject to shifting and moving. Wrap around bed skirts may pull down or the elastic waistband may loosen over time. Traditional bed skirts and detachable bed skirts might need some adjustment to fit just right. Fortunately, there are several ways to help make a bed skirt stay in place more securely. 

Examples of Products for Each Method of Keeping a Bed Skirt in Place 

Methods to Keep a Bed Skirt in Place	Example from Amazon	Price Range
Bed Skirt Pins	Jetec Plastic Double-Head Bed Skirt Pins	~$10
Upholstery Twist Pins	Jffx Upholstery Twist Pins	~$5 – $10
Non-slip Mattress Grip Pads	Gorilla Grip Mattress Gripper Pad	~$25 – $35
Velcro Strips	Velcro Self-adhesive Velcro Strips	~$5 – $10
Tagging Gun	Tagging Gun Kit	~$15
Thumb Tacks	Yalis Thumb Tacks	~$5
Comforter Corner Clips	Fresh Ideas Comforter Clips	~$5 – $10

Make sure to also take a look at all of the different bed skirt materials and their benefits as well to find exactly what you’re looking for. Additionally, depending on what kind of bed you have, you might also find interest in our sleigh bed comforter ideas – tips and tricks on how to further dress up your bedroom.

How to Use Bed Skirt Pins to Hold the Bed Skirt in Position

A popular way to keep a bed skirt in place is to pin it to the box spring using bed skirt pins. Read our article on 6 ways to keep a bed skirt in place for more in-depth instructions on securing a bed skirt. 

Bed skirt pins are double-pronged pins with flat oblong plastic heads that are specifically designed for securing bed skirts to the box spring. To use a bed skirt pin, push the long straight prongs through the fabric of the bed skirt and into the edges of the box spring at regular 2-4 inch intervals. 

Bed skirt pins secure your bed skirt perfectly, but remember to carefully remove them all when it comes time to launder the bed skirt, so that the fabric doesn’t tear. 

Step 1. Remove the Mattress, if Necessary

If the bed skirt is a traditional type with a sheet of fabric that is designed to go over the box spring, you will need to remove the mattress completely. Once the top of the box spring is completely visible and accessible, you can easily put the bed skirt onto the bed.

The mattress won’t need to be removed to put on the other styles of bed skirts. Simply shift the mattress to expose the area of the box spring you need to reach. 

Step 2. Put the Bed Skirt onto the Box Spring

A traditional bed skirt is made up of two parts: a sheet of fabric which is placed over the top of the box spring and a skirt that drops over the edges of the box spring and attractively covers the box spring. The platform sheeting needs to be laid on top of the box spring so that the drop length will touch the floor or be up to two inches above the floor. 

If the bed skirt is a wrap around or detachable style, simply put on the bed skirt around the bed, as directed, making sure that it’s even all around and straight.

Step 3. Pin the Bed Skirt at 2-4 inch Intervals

Once you have the bed skirt just the way you want it, it’s time to pin it. Sometimes it’s a good idea to pin the bed skirt as you position it on the box frame so that it doesn’t shift around as you progress around the bed. These double-head pins from Amazon will ensure a secure bond when positioned at 2-4 inch intervals around the bed base. 

Use the bed skirt pins at the corners first. Position a bed skirt pin on the corner and push both ends of the oblong pinhead all the way into the box spring, evenly. Once the corners are secured, make sure the skirt is evenly distributed around the sides and foot of the bed. Working on one edge at a time, evenly space pins into the top edge of the box spring to hold the bed skirt in position. 

Use as many pins as required to hold the bed skirt securely in place with no sagging sections. This may require more than one package, particularly if you are using a bed skirt that has a storage element like a shoe organizer. Read our article on how to choose the right bed skirt shoe organizer to find out more about these multifunctional bedding items. 

Step 4. Finish Putting the Bed Together

Put the mattress back on or into position carefully so as not to disturb the bedskirt and pins you just put in. Style the bed skirt, making sure to properly line-up the corner slits, if there are any, and you’ll have the finished look you want.

Bed skirt pins include two straight prongs connected by a plastic bridge. Image Source: Amazon.

Using Upholstery Twist Pins to Secure a Bed Skirt

Some people prefer upholstery twist pins because they are less likely to fall out, shift, or be displaced. Upholstery twist pins are also less obtrusive, having a small head, so they are a more attractive choice if pins are required on the sides of the box spring or elsewhere that they may be seen.

To use upholstery twist pins to secure a bed skirt, first place the bed skirt over the box spring and then twist the upholstery pins through the bed skirt into the edges of the box spring. Use a clockwise motion while pushing in the twist pin and a counter clockwise twist if pulling out the pin. Twist pins should be placed at regular 1-3 inch intervals around the box spring edges.

To use upholstery twist pins, follow similar steps to using bed skirt pins but with a few differences. The twist pins can come with clear heads or decorative shapes like these heart twist pins from Amazon. 

Step 1. Remove the Mattress, if Necessary

This method also depends on using pins in the box spring so you need to remove the mattress if you are using a traditional type of bed skirt with a fabric base. As an alternative, you may shift the mattress as necessary to expose any area of the box spring that you need to reach.

Step 2. Place the Bed Skirt onto the Bed

For a traditional bed skirt, lay out the fabric sheet over the box spring, matching the corners to those of the box spring. Adjust the fabric at the corners, and make sure the drop length is fixed just where you want it.

For other types of bed skirts, simply wrap the bed skirt around the bed as directed, making sure to position it evenly so that it just brushes the floor. Read our article on bed skirt alternatives if you want unique ideas for bed skirts. 

Step 3. Twist the Upholstery Pins into Place

Position the upholstery twist pin on the corner of the bed, and twist it into the box spring. To use an upholstery twist pin, carefully twist clockwise and push the pin in until its head is flush with the surface. Repeat this step on the other corners. Distribute pins around each side as needed to keep the bed skirt evenly and attractively in place – approximately at 1-3 inch intervals.

Use Non-Slip Grip Pads to Keep a Bed Skirt in Place

Non-slip grip pads are affordable sheets of thin foam that are designed to stick (without adhesive) between two surfaces to reduce slipping. Used throughout the house for many applications, there are also non-slip grip pads available that are sized for use with beds.

To use a non slip grip pad to keep a bed skirt in place, place a sheet of the grip pad in between the bed skirt platform and the mattress. 

Non-slip grip pads are a great way to reduce the movement of a slippery bed skirt. It may be all you need to hold a bed skirt in position on the box spring so that it is not easily pulled out of place. 

This bed skirt has a non-slip grip pad placed on top so that there’s friction between the bed skirt, the mattress, and the box spring. Both Amazon and Walmart carry the Tru pads.

Step 1. Measure the Box Spring

First, you need to measure the top of the box spring, length and width. Read our article on bed skirt measurements to help determine what size bed skirt would best fit your bed base. 

Step 2. Cut the Non-slip Grip Pad

Using scissors, trim the non-slip grip pad to fit onto the length and width of your box spring.

Step 3. Place the Non-slip Grip Pad on Top of the Box Spring

Non-slip grip pads are useful when installing traditional styles of bed skirts that have fabric sheets that tend to shift around.

You might not have to remove the whole mattress to lay the grip pad under the mattress onto the box spring. You may be able to lift one side of the mattress and lay out half of the pad, temporarily rolling or bunching the excess in the middle area. Then, lift the other side of the mattress and carefully pull the remaining section of the grip pad to lay it out on the other half of the box spring.

Once the grip pad is in place, lay the traditional bed skirt fabric over the grip pad and smooth it out and into position. This non-slip bed pad can be used to secure this pleated bed skirt, both from Amazon, with minimal fuss

Use Velcro Strips to Hold the Bed Skirt

Using velcro strips with a bed skirt makes it easy to install or remove the bed skirt. It is also a budget-friendly solution.

Velcro strips come in two sections, the hook section and the loop section. To use a velcro strip to hold a bed skirt in place, attach the hook strip to the boxspring with adhesive tape that is found on the back of the strip. Then, attach the loop strip to the bed skirt. Match the hook and loop strips on the two bedding items and the velcro will hold the bed skirt in place.

Make sure that you keep the hook strips of Velcro free of lint and threads so that it maintains its ability to stick securely. 

Step 1. Place the Velcro Strips on the Box Spring

This method doesn’t require removing the mattress at all. You need to stick the velcro strips on the edge of the outer side of the box spring, you can do that using a hot glue gun or buy adhesive velcro strips.

Note: You might not want to use glue or anything that can leave a residue on a box spring if it could void your bed’s warranty. Make sure to check this before using any sort of adhesive velcro. If this is the case, the Velcro can also be tacked on using a needle and thread. 

Step 2. Sew the Velcro to the Bed Skirt

Sew the mating velcro strips all the way around on the top edge of the bed skirt where it needs to meet the other part of the velcro on the box spring. You can also just glue the velcro strip onto the bed skirt but it might come off easily after washing it. Make sure that the velcro strip is above the drop length part of the bed skirt. Be careful that you sew the velcro in a nice straight line so the final look of the bed skirt will be even and tidy. You can check this blog on how to make a velcro bed skirt.

Step 3. Attach the Velcro Strips

Now carefully place the top of the bed skirt onto the edge of the box spring and you’ll find that the velcro strips stick immediately, and because the strips are fixed onto both the bed skirt and the box spring, it won’t shift around. 

Use A Tagging Gun to Position the Bed Skirt

A tagging gun uses barbs of tags to penetrate the bed skirt and box spring fabric. Our comprehensive bed skirt guide goes into greater detail on the types of bed skirts and how to install them to elevate the look of the bedroom. 

A tagging gun can be used to attach a bed skirt to the fabric of a box spring or a mattress. The barbs of the tags penetrate the fabric of the box spring, and attach the bed skirt directly to it. 

Note: This idea won’t work if your bed has a full metal or wood surround that the needles won’t go through.

Tag guns come with various needle attachments and tags included. Image Source: Amazon.

Step 1. Lay the Bed Skirt Onto the Bed

When using the tagger, the length of the tagger needs to be taken into account. Adjust the position of the bed skirt beforehand so that the bed skirt will end up falling to the desired length once it is attached.

Step 2. Use the Tagging Gun

Poke the tag needle through the platform part of the bed skirt into the box spring (not into the wooden frame, just through the fabric) and press the trigger so that the tag holds the ruffle in place. When it’s time to wash the ruffle, you can just clip the tags to remove the ruffle, and retag it when you are done.

Use Thumb Tacks to Secure the Bed Skirt

Thumb tacks can be a fast and easy solution for holding a bed skirt in place, especially in an emergency such as the arrival of special guests. 

Use thumb tacks to hold a bed skirt in place in a similar way that bed skirt pins are used. They won’t offer the same level of durability or security as bed skirt pins which have longer prongs, but they can certainly be used on a short-term basis, especially with lighter weight bed skirts.

Only flat head thumb tacks should be used to secure a bed skirt. Because thumb tacks can fall out and pose a safety hazard, they should only be used on the top edge of the box spring where the weight of the mattress will help hold them in position.

Use Comforter Corner Clips to Hold a Bed Skirt in Place

Sometimes a little DIY hack of using something for a different purpose is all that is needed to solve a problem. Some types of comforter corner clips can be used to hold a bed skirt in place.

Comforter corner clips are originally designed to hold a comforter in position inside of a duvet cover. They can also be used to clip a bed skirt to a mattress, or box spring covers to mattress piping or other graspable area.

If you already have comforter corner clips around the house, you might want to try this. It won’t work with all bed skirts or on all beds, but it may be enough to hold some bed skirts in place.

Step 1. Lay out the Bed Skirt on the Bed

Lay out the bed skirt attractively on the bed according to the type of bed skirt. Position the corner creases or slits so that they align with the boxspring corners. 

Step 2. Clip the Bed Skirt onto the Bed

Find an area of the bed, whether it is a mattress or box spring cover, that the clip will grip onto. Clip the comforter clip onto that and onto the corresponding section of the bed skirt to hold it in place.

How to Put on a Bed Skirt Without Removing Your Mattress 

Using a wrap-around bed skirt eliminates the need to lift the mattress. Image from Walmart.com.

Of course, the easiest thing of all is to choose a type of bed skirt that doesn’t require removing the mattress, like a detachable velcro bed skirt or a wrap-around bed skirt. But it is sometimes possible to put on a traditional bed skirt without fully removing the mattress.

To put a traditional bed skirt with a fabric middle without removing your mattress, lift one side of the mattress at a time, while tucking the bed skirt over the first side of the box spring. Repeat on the other side, pulling the excess side of the bed skirt onto the other side. Then use safety pins or T-pins to hold the bed skirt in place. 

If the mattress is too heavy, it may be better to simply move the whole mattress off the box spring. However, if the idea of completely removing your mattress off the bed base sounds daunting then have a look at this video tutorial for installing a bed skirt without removing the mattress or damaging the bed skirt. 

Step 1. Lift One Side of the Mattress

Lift one side of the mattress off the box spring so that one side of the box spring is showing. This article from ScienceDirect suggests using a lifting tool to prevent back injuries when making beds. 

Step 2. Lay the Bed Skirt onto the Box Spring

While lifting the one side of the mattress, carefully lay out the first half of the bed skirt onto the exposed box spring. Tuck the excess section of the bed skirt into the middle of the bed.

Lift the other side of the mattress and pull the rest of the bed skirt into position.

Lifting the mattress, as necessary, go around the bed and adjust the position of the bed skirt until it is where you want it.

Step 3. Pin the Corners

Lifting the mattress, as needed, use your preferred type of pins and fix the corners of the bed skirt into position on the corners of the box spring. Repeat the process all around the bed until the bed skirt is secured into place attractively. We recommend using these T-pins from Amazon on the corners of bed skirts because they are easy to install and will lay flat on the boxspring when inserted at a 45-degree angle. 

Make sure to also take a look at our related article explaining what to do if a bed skirt is too long for more tips and tricks.