What Pillow is Best for Me? The Ultimate Guide

Having the right pillow is just as important for your sleep as having the right mattress. Quality sleep depends on having your head, shoulders, and back properly aligned, and getting this right means you need a mattress and a pillow that supports you in the right position.

However, there is no one-size-fits-all pillow that suits everyone, as different people need different things from their pillow. In this guide, we explain how to choose a pillow that’s right for you, so you can get that perfect night’s sleep.

In this guide:

·      What should I look for in a pillow?

·      What pillow is best for side sleepers?

·      What pillow is best for back sleepers?

·      What pillow is best for front sleepers?

·      How many pillows should I sleep with?

What should I look for in a pillow?

Peoples’ pillow preferences differ depending on the type of sleeper they are. Here are a few things you should consider when you’re shopping for pillows.

Height

“Think of your pillow as a shelf for your head,” says our UK Sleep Expert Emma Sharp. “It needs to be not too high and not too low to aid with your spine’s alignment.” If your pillow is the correct height for you, it can help keep your body aligned and reduce the likelihood of discomfort in your shoulders and neck.

Filling

There are a broad range of different pillow fillings available, each with its own unique properties. Common pillow fillings include memory foam, synthetic fibres, latex and feathers.

At TEMPUR®, all of our pillows are filled with our unique TEMPUR® Material, which relieves pressure and adapts to your body’s shape, weight and warmth, providing you with comforting support.

Shape

You’ve got more than just the typical rectangular-shaped pillows now. At TEMPUR®, we offer a range of shaped pillows designed to meet a variety of different needs. There’s also ergonomic pillows, which are specifically designed with sleep ergonomics in mind, to help you find the optimal sleeping position.

Quality

A pillow made with high-quality materials will often retain its shape for longer, providing more nights of restful sleep and meaning you’ll need to replace it less often.

All of our pillows come with a 3-year guarantee, so you can expect years of comfort.

What pillow is best for side sleepers?

According to our Sleep Expert Emma Sharp, pillow height is especially important for side sleepers to make sure the head and neck is supported. Many ergonomic pillows are shaped specifically to cater to side sleepers by providing the height they need.

Our TEMPUR Original SmartCool™ Pillows are designed with both back and side sleepers in mind. Their signature shape is designed to cradle the neck and keep your head aligned with your shoulders and back. Traditionally shaped pillows like the TEMPUR® Cloud SmartCool™ pillow can work well for side sleepers too, you’ll just need to make sure you choose a firmness for the right amount of support.

Whatever your choice, all our pillows come with a 30-night trial, so you can see for yourself if this shape works for you.

Browse our collection of pillows for side sleepers to see what works best for you.

What Pillow Is Best For Back Sleepers?

Back sleepers generally need a pillow that is going to cradle their head to minimise neck craning. To achieve this, you’ll need to make sure your pillow is the right firmness for you – whether you’ll need a softer or firmer pillow depends on your needs, but the important bit is preventing craning or cramping your neck.

All current TEMPUR® pillows are suitable for back sleepers, and you can even try them for yourself at one of our stores. If getting to a store isn’t easy for you, don’t forget, you can use our 30-night trial to find your perfect pillow match.

Take a look at our full range of pillows for back sleepers to find your perfect pillow.

What pillow is best for front sleepers?

Getting the right pillow is important for front sleepers, as it can be harder to keep the body properly aligned. For this reason, it’s generally advised to use a low-profile pillow to avoid craning your neck.

Our TEMPUR Ombracio SmartCool™ pillow is designed with front sleepers in mind, with a unique four-leaf clover-style shape, perfect for pillow huggers. For those who prefer a more classic shaped pillow, the TEMPUR Prima SmartCool™  is also a good option for front sleepers thanks to its low profile.

Explore our full range of pillows for front sleepers to find the right one for you.

How many pillows should you sleep with?

The Sleep Foundation advise that, generally, one pillow should be enough for most people – as long as it’s the right pillow.[1] If you find yourself struggling to sleep without two or more pillows, it could be that the pillow(s) you have aren’t supporting you properly.

There may be exceptions, however, if you feel the need to sleep with multiple pillows, but not necessarily behind your head. For example, many people find themselves more comfortable with a pillow positioned between their knees to help reduce pressure.

How do I know which pillow is best for me?

The right pillow for you will depend on many things including your body shape, what position you sleep in and the mattress you sleep on.

The best thing you can do to make sure you get the right one is visit a store and try the products out in person. Having someone there with you who can check that your body is aligned will also help you pick out a product which support you properly.

Our brand specialists at our stores are specially trained to help you find the pillow which best fits your needs, taking into account all the above – so why not consider visiting a store to find what’s right for you?

 Ready to find your perfect pillow? Take a look at our pillow ranges to find a pillow to fit your needs.

Sources

[1] https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-pillows/how-many-pillows-should-you-sleep-with