Types of Pillows



There are hundreds of different types of pillows available on the market today: from the decorative to the practical, the tiny to the huge, artificial fills to natural. People are increasingly realizing the impact a pillow has on a night's sleep. More people are investing in more expensive options. Many are making a point to take their own pillow with them on vacation or other trips. Most luxury hotels now even offer room service pillow menus. With all the different options to choose from, picking the perfect pillow to suit your needs is entirely possible. The perfect pillow creates a symbiosis between comfort and support. Which you prefer more depends greatly upon your sleeping style, physical limitations, and personal liking.



Classic bed pillows usually come in one of four sizes: standard, continental, queen, and king. Continental pillows, which are square, are less common in the US than their rectangular counterparts. Body pillows, the largest available, are very helpful for those who need extra side support while sleeping. Orthopedic pillows offer specialty support for any physical ailments. They help promote alignment and proper body position.

There is limitless potential for pillow filling. Foams, synthetic fills, feathers, or down are most common. Down and feather pillows tend to be the softest and most malleable. It is important to choose a hypoallergenic pillow if you suffer from allergies or other seasonal irritants. Dust, microbes, and air particles can easily become trapped on natural fills during the life of the pillow, resulting in uneasy rest. All pillows should be replaced or thoroughly dry cleaned periodically to ensure the removal of these micro particles. Foams and fills are man made materials which are always hypoallergenic. They tend to offer more support but less adaptability. Buckwheat, and plastic imitations of buckwheat, is becoming more popular as a pillow filling. These pillows offer the malleability of down with the support of firmer pillows. Their fill is intended to help regulate temperature as well: they stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Pillow technology is ever-changing, and there are constantly specialty fills which meet peculiar needs.