At Secret Linen Store, we talk a lot about sleep and the benefits of choosing wonderfully snug bedding and duvets. But have you ever wondered whether your pillow could be doing more for your sleep quality?
According to the NHS, adults need an average of 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. If you frequently wake up after a night of restless sleep with aches and pains and feel generally groggy, it could be a sign that you need to replace your pillows or mattress with something more supportive.
If you’re wondering how to choose the best pillow for your sleep style, our guide delves into what size pillow to choose, the available fillings, and the fabulous benefits that a perfect pillow can bring to your overall sleep quality.
How Do I Choose The Right Pillow for My Sleeping Position?
If you’re constantly fluffing and turning your pillow throughout the night, but just can’t get comfortable, it might be a sign that the pillow you have isn’t right for how you sleep. The right pillow should support your head and neck, helping you to wake up feeling refreshed.
We all need different pillows depending on our sleeping position to help maintain our spinal alignment. If you’re unsure which pillow is for you, read our handy guide on choosing the right pillow for your sleeping position, so you can pick a pillow that will provide you with the comfiest night’s sleep you deserve.
How Many Pillows Should I Sleep With?
While layers of pillows are great for bed styling, sleeping with more than one can increase neck and back pain. You only need one pillow under your head for a blissful night’s sleep, maintaining natural spinal alignment and keeping your neck, head, and spine in the right position throughout the night to help prevent unwanted aches or pains. Sleeping with more than one pillow could overextend your neck, causing excessive strain, and no one likes waking up in the morning feeling stiff or tender.
You can, however, use a second pillow between your legs, below your knees, or below your pelvis, which can often help to align your spine and relieve pressure on your hips and back, which is especially helpful for back and side sleepers.
What Size Pillow Do I Need?
Pillow size is much more important than you think, particularly if you tend to toss and turn at night. As well as supporting your spinal alignment, choosing the right pillow size creates a much more cohesive look for your bed, avoiding awkward gaps or a look that's a little too bare.
To find the right pillow size for you, read our helpful size guide.
Pillow Fillings, Explained
Choosing the right pillow isn’t just about firmness or softness; the filling plays an important role, too. Pillow fillings can significantly impact your sleep quality, with different materials offering various benefits. Understanding the characteristics of each can help you make the right choice for your sleep style.
We’ve outlined the difference between our wonderful range of natural and synthetic fillings, but if you’d like to learn more about each filling, why not read our fillings guide?
Natural Fillings
Natural fillings are popular for their luxurious feel and breathability. Our natural pillows hold temperature-regulating properties, meaning you won’t be constantly turning over your pillow to help cool you down in the summer months.
Our natural pillow fillings include 100% European Duck Down, which is a beautifully bouncy option for those who love to sink into their pillow at night, Hungarian Goose Feather and Down, which is a perfectly plush option that transforms your bed into a blissful retreat, and wool, which brings wonderful moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating properties, ideal for hot sleepers.
Synthetic Fillings
Our synthetic pillows offer fantastic alternatives to natural fillings. At Secret Linen Store, we offer Microfibre and Hollowfibre pillows that mimic the softness of down, offering a similar plush feel with the added benefit of being more affordable and easy to care for.
How To Care for Your Pillows
To maintain good sleep hygiene and a comfy pillow, it’s important to clean your pillow every 3 to 5 months, ideally, to remove dead skin cells, sweat, and dust mites. Giving it a fluff now and then in between is just as important, too.
Our pillow care guide explains how to clean and care for each type of pillow, whether it’s wool-filled, synthetic, or down.
How often should I replace my pillow?
A good pillow should last you about 2 years before it’s time to replace it. Replacing your pillow is just as important as caring for it.
Over time, pillows can become saggy or lumpy, losing their ability to support your head and neck, which can lead to a poor night’s sleep. If you’ve noticed an increase in neck pain, unexplained headaches, or you just can’t get comfy, it might be time to invest in a new pillow.
To keep your pillow feeling fabulous between washes, use a pillow protector to protect it from sweat and oils. Regular fluffing to redistribute the filling, airing, and placing your pillows outside in direct sunlight for a few hours are also great for maintaining shape, drying out moisture, and naturally deodorising your pillows.
For more information on when you should replace your bedding, visit our helpful guide.
Ready For A Good Night’s Sleep?
Now you know all there is to choosing the right pillow for you.
Ready to invest in the perfect pillow for your sleep style? Why not read our blog on the top 10 pillows for a good night's sleep for more inspiration?
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