Seal on a bedsheet
The seal on a bedsheet is a type of flag design which consists of a central emblem, symbol, or motif—often a seal or a related graphic—superimposed on a single-color field. Seal on a bedsheet designs are often used in U.S. state flags, most commonly with a blue field, though they are also found elsewhere.
As of 2025, approximately half of all U.S. states use a flag of this type. Even when the central emblem is not the official state seal, as is the case with flags such as the flag of Pennsylvania, flag designs in this style are often still colloquially referred to as a "seal on a bedsheet," or the abbreviation "SOB".
The term was popularized by vexillologists as a critique of the perceived lack of distinctiveness and visual appeal in many U.S. state flags. Critics argue that these flags are difficult to recognize at a distance, especially when flown alongside other similar designs, due to their reliance on intricate seals and dark blue backgrounds.
Origin
United States
Regimental banners
The origin of this trend in the United States may be traced to 19th century military traditions. During the American Civil War and into the early 20th century, infantry regiments carried banners featuring blue fields emblazoned with the U.S. coat of arms or state insignia, along with scrolls identifying the unit. From 1890 to 1904, such banners were standard issue for all U.S. infantry regiments and served as a model for the later adoption of similar state flags, this including the flags of Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.Style imitation
Seal on a bedsheet designs not derived from a regimental flag may have been influenced by the style of other U.S. state flags. For example, the official description of the Nebraska state flag refers to the background color as "national blue." This may suggest an intended symbolic connection to the nation or an expression of loyalty to the Union that may carry over to other designs with this color field or the seal on a bedsheet style itself.As of 2025, more than 80% of counties in the state of Virginia included either their name or official seal on their flags. Aligning with this widespread practice, Phyllis Randall, Chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, formally proposed adding the county's official seal to its flag. The stated purpose of the proposal is to make the flag more easily identifiable for official uses outside the county.
Daughters of the American Revolution
Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution across the United States actively encouraged states to adopt official flags. In many cases they lobbied legislatures, sponsored public contests, and submitted their own designs. Examples include the state flags of Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Washington, and Wyoming, where DAR members either designed winning entries or played leading roles in the legislative process.Their advocacy often emphasized historical continuity, with a preference for symbols that evoked the Revolutionary War era or the Civil War period. Aligning with their mission to promote American history and patriotism. As a result, a number of state flags adopted during this era resemble military regimental banners.
These events span from 1895 to 1925, covering a 30-year period with especially frequent activity between 1913 and 1925. Excluding the 1895 event, the timespan narrows to 1913–1925, highlighting a concentrated 12-year burst of activity.
During this period, there was widespread pressure on states to adopt official flags; for example, in Nebraska, repeated requests from Washington, D.C., spurred local DAR members to push for a state flag.
Internationally
Convenience
Using an entity's seal as the central emblem on a flag offers a practical design shortcut, since the seal is already a legally established and widely recognized symbol.Legitimacy
A seal represents authority and identity. Incorporating it into a flag provides immediate official legitimacy for institutions, governments, or organizations.Criticism
United States
The design pattern has been widely criticized by vexillologists, lawmakers, and design advocates for its lack of distinctiveness, weak symbolism, and poor visual clarity. Critics argue that these flags are nearly indistinguishable from one another, blending into a "sea of similar designs" that fail to inspire civic pride or a sense of identity.The 1951 North Dakota State Flag Commission concluded that its flag was "insufficiently distinctive," further noting that a proper flag should communicate meaning symbolically rather than functioning as a literal picture, and that including the state's name was "in poor taste." Similar concerns have been raised in Minnesota, Oregon, and Michigan, where critics argued that their flags' complex seals render them unrecognizable from a distance and difficult to distinguish from those of other states.
Additional criticisms include excessive complexity, impracticality due to production cost or two-sided designs, and poor legibility, illustrated by instances where the Minnesota and Nebraska flags were flown upside down for days without anyone noticing. Contemporary reform efforts, such as those in South Dakota, Maine, and Washington, have cited similar concerns, emphasizing the need for flags that are simple, distinctive, and symbolically resonant, in accordance with the design principles promoted by the North American Vexillological Association.