I like the English name 'valance' much better than 'dust ruffle'-sounds so 80's. The tailored ones look nice and it can be a great way to finish off the look in your room. It all depends on your bed frame and style.

I like tailored bed skirts if the bed needs one. I really like them on baby beds, too.

Like the very tailored ones to give the bed a finished look.

THERE ARE SOME VERY ELEGANT BED SKIRTS AND SOME VERY UGLY BOX SPRINGS THAT NEED TO BE COVERED. MY ROBOT VACUMUE CLEANER CLEANS UNDER THE BED SO I AM ON A FENCE AT THIS TIME WITH BED SKIRTS.

Voted "other" since "It depends..." wasn't an option!

In some rooms they look best, in others they look terrible. It is very much case-by-case I think. Certainly a good choice when I've stored things under the bed (like a twin mattress for guests, which hides under my son's bed now). Or when the area rug has to extend partway under the bed and looks awkward.

As to dust, in my cat-filled and rather dusty house with wooden floors, those ruffles actually reduced the amount of dust bunnies that reproduced under the bed (they couldn't drift under there and hide).

That being said, I tend to prefer styles that aren't really suited for the look of dust ruffles. So, back to "It depends..."

don't like "ruffle" appellation. bedskirt is good. depends on the room and the bed frame. in master - no but in guest room - yes.

I, too like bedskirt - I have one on my bed - it is high off the floor and I needed the coverage, but it is more tailored rather than ruffley. I am also a more traditional person than contemporary and it works for me.

Yes, with a comforter set, I always use a bed skirt. It covers up an unsightly bed frame. And my dining room table leaves, when not in use.

I can never find the strength to lift the mattress! Haha and I'm no liger a fan of the look BUT, I still think a straight style looks OK.

Do not like them at all. My tastes are much more contemporary. Besides, "dust" is the operative word--that's what they attract!

They are a lot of work, cleaning and pressing, but on some beds they make it look classy. I guess it all depends on what look you are going for. Some beds call for a skirt, and some don't. I have cats and I can relate to the fur problem also, so it comes down to the way you are decorating and what the style dictates.

If you have adjustable beds (head and foot electrically raise) the dust ruffles are out. You can use them but they look just awful when the bed is adjusted to fit your sleeping pattern.

Tailored pleats yes, ruffles, no (except for little girls room).

Tailored or without-both work depending on taste (good taste).

I have seen some amazing bedding which included a skirt. When I go to the discount store and purchase a skirt with minimal fabric but a great price, I am seldom happy with the look. Wonder why.

I do NOT like them no matter what style or make. I even rather look at those ugly metal-frames than have a dust-collector hanging down to the floor! In my opinion a dust-ruffle is to hide bodies under your bed, so just have them if you indent to murder someone someday. :-))

I don't care for dust ruffles. I think they are a pain in the neck, especially when they hang onto the floor . Dust collectors.

I'm not into "ruffles " but I do believe in covering the box spring and I like hiding what could potentially be under the bed. I have a more sofisticated, even on the edge of masculine taste so my dust ruffle is anything but ruffled.

Freaks me out to have things under my bed. I don't think I would get a wink of sleep.

I love dust ruffles, shirred or tailored, but not on certain style beds like British Colonial four posters.

I make my own tailored bed skirts. Double up or line the fabric to make three panels (sides and end). Pin panels in place. They stay in place, are easy to remove to wash and replace.

They are okay when needed to complete the look of a bedroom, but I prefer the box pleats to ruffles for adult rooms.

Tailored dust skirt.

I like a more tailored look.. I pin it on with large safety pins... Then it doesn't slip and slide

They look good for other people but not for me. Like kendralh, I also bought king size quilts for my queen size beds and they work just fine.

Regarding keeping them straight - the woman I use for making draperies etc velcos them to the bed and that works pretty well with some styles.

It depends on the decor of the room. I prefer the more tailored bedskirts to the ruffled ones.

...........oh and by the way , it is really bad feng shui to have stuff under the bed including dust-ruffles or what-ever they might be called.

my "dust ruffle" is the flat sheet over the foundation with mattress on top with fitted sheet and a duvet

A "dust ruffle" could also be a tailored bedskirt, or fabric attached behind the bed rails, to show off the wood. It's situational.

I do t currently have one on my bed. I have several stored away!

I can't find a bedspread to fit our king size bed (reach the floor), so may be reduced to a dust ruffle. I'd really rather have a 126 x 128 inch bed spread (not a quilt or duvet). Help!

No thanks. Dust ruffles are a pain when making a bed. These ruffles move around, when one tries to tuck sheets under. (By the way, fitted sheets are now larger to fit pillow top mattresses, but the top sheets are still the old small sizes. Hard to make a bed properly.) Back to ruffles, what a difficult time cleaning under a bed with a vacuum cleaner or broom. The ruffles are just always in the way! However, if one has a maid, then ruffles would not be a problem...

Yes and No. It really depends on the bedroom and the bed. If a client intends to use the space under the bed, then a skirt of some type will need to be used. They are great for children's rooms or to dress up a guest room.

I prefer not to use them, I like that clean, clear space look. I would rather have my boxspring covered in a neutral linen fabric or just use my quilt/spread & cover down to the boxspring. If I did need that area for storage, I would put nice looking rolling storage containers under the bed- I saw Martha Stewart do a theme on this & it looked just fine without a dust ruffle/bedskirt. I always find it more difficult to make the bed & always keeping them in place. Living in a warm climate, as I do, I find I really like that look less & less.

I like dust ruffles...and not just for little girl's rooms. I just finished making one for the old brass and iron bed in our master bedroom and love it. Tried a tailored one and it didn't look right, so I guess it all depends on what style you like and personal tastes. I don't currently store anything under the bed, but I did put a rug under there for my cat. We have radiant heated floors and she loves it! I used material that picked up the jewel tones in the quilt and extended the ruffle around the corner at the head of the bed. I cut a sheet the size of the foundation and sewed the ruffle to that. It doesn't move around at all. I think if you buy a ready-made one, the material is much thinner and slicker, so it tends to move around when you make the bed. To each his own! Love mine! (And yes, I really do use 3 pillows at night!)

FAN: Do you like to use dust ruffles in your bedrooms or are you not a fan? I am a fan. I need something to hide the legs and tubs of off season bedding, etc. I bought bed skirts for all of our beds in ruffled and straight styles.
I couldn't tolerate their cheap flimsy appearances, so I made substantial ones with extremely generous ruffles from designer fabrics for my daughters. One had a large white pattern on a light blue, the other had a watercolor looking floral. I made canopies, comforters, drapes, etc., to match and wallpaper too.
When I finally found a gorgeous fabric for adults that we could agree upon, I had a huge comforter that came to the floor made with matching draperies. I soon discovered it was far too heavy, so I made it into a tailored bed skirt and bought a lighter weight bedspread to go over the top. Now, that one is too heavy and I have my eyes on seersucker. I have come full circle. Seersucker was the fabric of my childhood bedspread.
I simply do not like modern, contemporary or anything remotely minimalist. I love the look and comfort of Frenchcountry, Vintage, English country, American country, farm, north woods and mountain, eclectic, traditional and transitional styles, because of its comforting inviting softness in all rooms of the home..

I think they look lovely when properly utilized, but consider them to be a luxury best saved for when we stay at places like a bed and breakfast. In practice they are too cumbersome for my home for the same reasons described by other posters.

I think the dust ruffle hides an unattractive part of the bed, the box spring. It is a classic touch.

Platform bed for me! Clean lines, clear airflow, and a gathering of dust bunnies.

I really dislike spreads and comforters that end half-way between mattress and floor, like pants that are neither shorts or at least ankle length. I prefer them just covering the foundation, with space to vacuum underneath, or finished off with a bed skirt, either tailored or gathered depending on the style of bed and room.

rufles, skirts, etc, etc. dust bunnies collectors

not ruffles, but tailored.

No "dust" for me , a clean bed base, wood or upholstered !

I hate them... Just recently got one for my bed, though. It's not ruffled but more just a plain more "tailored-ish" look. I really don't love it and am constantly thinking of other possibilities to cover my bed frame.

If it were up to me I would keep my box frame and mattress right on the floor and hang the headboard on the wall. I think the raised bed with dust ruffle is too formal

I think they look lovely – both styles – the ruffled and the tailored look. I see many pictures on Houzz where the bedroom looks fabulous with them.

But, I wouldn’t use them myself. I like a really high bed and I like to see under my bed. My present bed is a lovely cherry wood colonial bed with a very high headboard and very fat turned pedestal legs which I do like to see. I let the duvet hang over to cover the mattress which is also very high and together with many pillows, it is just enough to give a dressed look without obscuring the view of the lovely wood. The bed is huge but like this it does not look massive in the room because of all the space beneath it.

I think its very difficult to keep clean.

*Anything* with ruffles is hideous!

No dust ruffles here. We do a fitted sheet over the boxspring that matches/coordinates with the quilt. All our beds have either upholstered or wood sides.

I need mine to hide the under bed plastic storage boxes. :/