How to Choose the Perfect Pillow
Tossing and turning? Can’t sleep? You might need a different pillow! Check out the Domestic CEO’s 5 tips on how to pick the perfect pillow for your bed.
Sleep. It’s a beautiful thing…usually. However, if you don’t have the right equipment it can be downright uncomfortable.
Since most of us spend a third of our day getting some shut-eye, having a comfortable bed, great bedding, and the perfect pillow is ultra-important. In fact, it’s the most important piece of the slumber puzzle. How much thought do you put into your pillow? I’m guessing not much – but that’s a mistake.
Today, I’m going to give you 5 great tips on how to choose the perfect pillow for a wonderful night’s sleep.
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Choose the Right FillingÂ
There are a lot of aspects to choosing a pillow that are just plain personal. Choosing the filling is generally one of those. The three major types of filling options are feather/down, memory foam, and polyester. Here’s how they differ:
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Feather/down. This pillow makes you feel cradled and is very malleable. In other words, if you like to squish your pillow into just the right shape, this is the pillow for you. Down or feather filled pillows help keep you toasty on a cold night, too! One advantage to choosing down over feathers is that down lacks the sharp ends of feathers which can poke through the pillowcase and annoy you like crazy. When choosing either filling, look for an indicator called fill power. This refers to how full the pillow is filled. The more filling, the longer lasting and plumper the pillow will be. If you happen to be an allergy sufferer, down or feathers may not be for you. Still want the feel of down or feathers? Look for hypoallergenic pillow covers to help alleviate allergic reactions. Down alternative pillows also give you the feel of down without the allergy issues.
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Memory foam. The springiness of memory foam molds itself to your head and returns to its original shape once you’re done sleeping on it. This pillow is a good choice for restless sleepers since it conforms to your movement throughout the night. If you’ve got spinal or neck issues, this pillow is often recommended by chiropractors and doctors. The downside to a memory foam pillow? It can be pretty pricey. However, paying a little extra for a good night’s sleep and not waking up with a stiff neck is worth it in the long run!
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Polyester. This type of filling is the least expensive and tends to provide good support. The downside is that these pillows wear out quickly and can become lumpy and bumpy.
There are a few other less-known types of pillow filling, including buckwheat hulls (which shift along with your position) and natural or organic latex, which resists mold, mildew, and mites and is very breathable.
Choose the Right Size
When choosing the right size pillow, consider three important things: the size of your bed, how many pillows you like to have on your bed, and how you will use the pillows. Pillow sizes usually correspond to bed sizes – standard, queen, or king.
See also:Â Can’t Sleep? Blame the Tablet
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Does this mean if you have a king-sized bed you must choose king-sized pillows? Not necessarily. This is another personal choice. For some, a king sized pillow is a great option to prop up behind you if you enjoy reading or watching TV in bed. When it comes to the sleeping part, however, many like the choice of a standard size pillow especially if you like to bunch it up under or around your head. Sometimes that big king-size pillow is just…too big! If you like having lots and lots of pillows layered on the bed, using multiple standard size pillows might be a good choice for you.
Choose the Right Support
No matter which type of filling you choose, the way it’s packed makes a difference in how the pillow feels. Filling that’s stuffed tightly into the cover makes for a firmer pillow. Less filling means a softer, looser feel to the pillow. Again, this is a personal choice.
See also:Â How Sleep Makes You Fit
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If looking at pillows in the store makes it tough to choose the right one for you, many mattress showrooms allow you to try out different pillows before purchasing. This may be a worthwhile investment of time. I know I’ve purchased a few pillows that ended up being something I didn’t really like, only to return to the store in search a better option.
Consider Your Sleep Position
The way you sleep will affect the height of your pillow. Your main sleeping position very much plays into choosing the correct pillow height. If you sleep on your back or stomach, choose a flatter pillow. This will help keep your neck aligned properly. If you’re a side sleeper, opt for a loftier pillow, which fills the gap between your head and neck. Again, better support means a deeper sleep and no waking with a stiff neck or headache.
Consider Any Special Needs
There are pillows that cater to sleepers with special needs like allergies or snoring. If you’ve got allergies, you may want to purchase a pillow made with special fillings and covers to keep away dust and mites. If you snore (or your bedmate snores) there are pillows shaped to position the head and neck in a way that prevents the airway from becoming compressed which in turn, reduces snoring. You may want to give it a try. It may just save a marriage!!
See also:Â Symptoms and Dangers of Sleep Apnea
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I hope these tips help you choose the perfect pillow to get your 40 winks. There’s nothing like a great night’s sleep to make your day much better.
Are you wondering what to do with your old, reject pillows? How about a great random pillow fight? Just for fun, here’s a video of an awesome pillow fight prank that will get you laughing.
Until next time, I’m the Domestic CEO, helping you love your home. Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Pillow fight and other images courtesy of Shutterstock.