Bed pillows: they’re one of the most important purchases for your home.
Buy the right bed pillows, and you’ll have a great night of sleep and more energy. Buy the wrong pillows, and you could end up in pain and in a bad mood the next day.
Buying the right pillows for your bed requires knowing your options and spending some time reflecting on your sleep style. Curious to learn more?
Below we’ve put together the following guide explaining what you need to know about buying bed pillows.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before you go on the hunt for a new pillow, you should consider your preferences and sleeping habits. Below are some questions to ask yourself.
What Position Do You Sleep In?
The position you sleep in depends on the support you need for your neck and head. You want a pillow that won’t tilt your head too much up or down.
If you sleep on your back, you’ll need a flatter pillow. A side sleeper will need something more full, and stomach sleepers need a thin pillow. Using the right pillow firmness will prevent pain.
You want your spine and neck to stay neutral when you’re sleeping, so this will minimize the stress that each muscle group feels.
Do You Sleep Hot or Cool?
If you tend to get warm while you sleep, you’ll do best with a pillow that has some room for breathing. It should dissipate heat so that it doesn’t get too hot at night.
Pillows made from shredded foam and polyester tend to do better than ones with solid foam. And pillows with a “cool” gel layer should be tested – you don’t know until you lay down with a pillow if it’s going to be the right temperature for you.
How Are You Using the Pillow?
Depending on how you use the pillow, you’ll want to have different pillow types and sizes. On a twin or full-sized bed, you’ll probably want a standard or queen-sized pillow.
As you move up to a queen and king bed, you’ll want queen and king-sized pillows. Your bed will also look good with a mix of different sizes and pillowcases.
Neck pillows come in handy to help prevent neck pain, and body pillows are a great choice for sleepers who like to hold onto something or want a larger pillow to rest on.
Types of Pillows & Fillings
What should go in your pillow? Below are a few of the types and fillings you can choose.
Latex
Natural latex comes from tree sap, but it also can be made synthetically. Latex responds to the body for a more comfortable feel. It is springy to the touch and returns to its shape quickly after being compressed.
Down or Feathers
Down pillows are usually made from goose or duck feathers. Some down pillows can be denser than others, depending on their “fill power.” The higher the fill power the more space an ounce of down takes up.
Pillows with higher fill power will stay firm for longer but all down pillows typically become softer and flatten easily. Feather pillows don’t trap as much heat, but the feathers may poke through.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat is a less common material but is sought after by those who do not want to use animal materials in their pillows. Buckwheat is a plant-based material made from small, dry seeds.
Due to the nature of the buckwheat seeds, the pillow will conform to the head and neck. However, buckwheat pillows are a bit noisier than their feather alternatives.
Polyester
Polyester pillows are often described as polyester fiber or fill. They’re the most common type of pillow on the market and typically are sold for the lowest cost. The filling in polyester pillows looks like cotton, and usually, they lose their shape after a while.
Memory Foam
Memory foam pillows usually have the same material as many mattresses. They can be one solid layer of foam or can be cut up or shredded.
Pillows with memory foam are usually denser and conform to your head shape. Because they’re denser, they keep your head hotter at night. Some memory foam pillows come with a gel layer or are gel-infused to keep you cooler at night. On the whole, memory foam pillows offer more support than many other types of pillows.
Pillow Shopping Tips
Once you begin the pillow shopping process, you’ll want to verify that the pillows you buy are the right choice for your lifestyle. Consider these pillow shopping tips.
Do the Squeeze Test
Pillows may say “soft” or “firm” on the label, but the best indication of the material is to squeeze it yourself. Give it your own firmness test. If you’re in a store, put the pillow on a flat surface and push it down.
The harder you have to push down to get the pillow to compress, the firmer it is. Once you get home, try out the same test on your bed.
Fluff It
Pillows with filling can lose their shape easily, whereas a pillow made from the foam will hold its shape longer. After you test a pillow’s firmness, fluff it to see if it goes back to its original shape. Is the fill even throughout the pillow?
Check the Cover
Pillows with a high-quality cover will last longer. Some pillows will have zippers so that the cover can be washed.
Compare, Compare, Compare
With online shopping, you should be comparing pillow prices online to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.
A great way to check out the quality of your pillow is to look at online customer reviews. 93% of customers read online reviews before shopping, and they can help you get an honest idea of what to expect.
Buying Bed Pillows Properly
No matter how small a job you think buying bed pillows is, your bed pillows will have a huge impact on your daily life. The right bed pillows will give you a better night of sleep and help you feel more rested the next day.
Dr Snooze is here to give you expert help on buying bed pillows. We welcome you to reach out to us with any questions!