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Pillows are the most important accessory of your bedroom – for relaxation as well as aesthetic purposes – so some extra thought needs to be put in while buying them.
On the one hand, pillows with beautiful and attractive designs lift up the whole look of your room, and on the other hand they provide comfort after a long and hectic day. A good pillow should give support to your head and neck and help you relax. Here’s our guide to the seven things to consider when you’re buying a new pillow.
1. Sleeping Position
Experts at Pillow Insider believe that the kind of pillow that you intend to choose for yourself depends on your sleeping position more than anything. If you sleep on your back you might need a specific sort of pillow, and if you sleep on your side then it requires a different pillow. Your neck and back problems are also an additional factor.
If you’re a back sleeper, you might need a soft pillow that’ll support your neck and back without putting any strain on your neck. Similarly if you’re a side sleeper, you’ll be needing a medium density pillow to avoid any sort of shoulder pains.
Lastly, stomach sleepers are recommended to use a low density pillow that is super soft so that your body is perfectly aligned with no pressure on the neck.
2. Pillow Size
The size of the pillow also affects your sleep quality. It should complement the size of your bed. The perfect sized pillow will look good and also support your neck no matter how many times you move during your sleep.
There are mainly three sizes in pillows – standard, queen and king. These sizes should be according to the size of your bed so make sure to take notice of that before purchasing one.
3. Pillow Material
The material of your pillow determines its durability, comfort, support to the neck, and a lot of other important factors. You can look at their qualities and decide which one is best for you. For instance, memory foam pillows are firm but mould according to your position. They’re excellent for side sleepers as they provide custom support and relieve pressure points.
Then there are down pillows that are pure luxury but extremely comfortable. They’re expensive and often found in five star suites. They’re made of soft duck or geese feathers and are very relaxing.
Polyester pillows are the most common of pillows and quite inexpensive too which makes them easily replaceable. They lose their shape quite quickly and need to be changed frequently. Lastly we have cotton pillows that are quite breathable and comfortable. But they flatten quite early so need frequent replacement.
4. Firmness
Usually there are four different firmness options: medium soft, soft, firm, and very firm. Soft pillows are perfect for back and stomach sleepers for perfect alignment. Medium soft pillows provide mild support and are preferred by back and sleepers.
Firm pillows are usually made of polyester or memory foam and are strictly for side sleepers only to avoid shoulder pains. Lastly very firm pillows are made of ultra-dense memory foam and are recommended for side sleepers to avoid neck pain.
5. Know Your Mattress
The thickness of your pillow should depend on the firmness of your mattress. If you have a soft mattress, then getting a thin pillow would be the ideal choice if you’re a side or a back sleeper.
Reason being when the mattress is soft, your body sinks in and therefore there’s less gap between the head and mattress. So a thin pillow should be used to align your back with your neck. A hard mattress will lift your body so you’ll be needing a thicker pillow to fill the space between the head and mattress.
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6. Consider your Budget
Considering your budget is extremely important before purchasing a pillow as the most comfortable ones are mostly the most expensive ones too. People usually want down pillows as they’re made of soft feathers but they’re expensive and luxurious, unlike polyester and cotton ones that are quite inexpensive but also demand frequent replacement. The price of the pillow is as important as comfort.
7. Speciality Pillows
These are custom pillows that are made to relieve pressure points in any medical condition or if you’re pregnant. They’re available in different shapes and sizes to provide support in uncomfortable conditions – you can go through them before purchasing one.
There are pregnancy pillows to support women who can’t sleep comfortably on their side; leg support pillows to relieve the knee and joint pain by keeping them under the legs while laying down; contour pillows to provide support to the neck and head, they’re mainly for those with spine and neck problems.
So, when you’re purchasing a new pillow, remember to take these issues into consideration, so that you can make the right choice and sleep comfortably at night while also avoiding some serious neck problem.
