Research reveals importance of having the right pillow:
Sleep positions, body types can dictate pillow choices

By Hanny Diab
Merhcandising Manager, Bedding & Outlet

According to Consumer Reports, 68% of Americans struggle with sleep. That probably explains the next statistic: $43 billion was spent last year on sleep aids and sleep technology. If you have ever had a bad night’s sleep – or had multiple nights of restless or little sleep, it doesn’t take long to get desperate for help.

The interesting thing about getting a good night’s sleep is it can be far more complicated than just laying down and putting your head on the pillow. People’s daily schedules, personal choices in diet and exercise, as well as body types can influence their quality of sleep. For instance, take a look at your pillow. It is an important component of the sleep process, just as important as the mattress you choose.

Best Pillow For Me?

I’ve had a lot of our Darvin customers ask me: ‘What’s the best pillow for me?’ While there’s no one good answer, the right answer is all about evaluating several variables associated with sleeping, such as the size and shape of your body, what position you typically sleep in and do you suffer from any neck or back pain?

The pillow should adjust to fit one's unique shape, curves, and sleeping position and alleviate any pressure points. According to Spine-Health.com, having the right pillow is not only comforting, but it can play an important role in supporting the most sensitive structures of the head, neck, shoulders, hips, and spine. Pillows serve to keep the upper body in alignment during sleep, relieving pressure and counterbalancing the points in the body.

Your Body Will Tell You

If someone wants to find the right pillow, it is the same process they might approach at Darvin when choosing a new mattress. The reality, just like a mattress, is that your body’s going to tell you if you are comfortable or not.

The first thing we do is figure out if someone sleeps on their back, stomach, or their side (more than 75% of people sleep on their side). From there it’s a matter of adding softness or firmness to the pillow, as well as introducing cooler fabrics or even memory foam.

Don’t underestimate the impact of the thickness and firmness of your pillow. The best pillow will keep your head in a neutral alignment. Darvin Bedding Specialists are trained to help you identify the variables that will impact your sleep and to pair you up with the perfect pillow for your body type and sleep position.

Imagine if pillows were marketed like gym shoes. If you spend $75 on gym shoes for two to three hours a week at the gym, and you sleep seven hours a day, are you really going to spend just $10 or $20 on a pillow? Shouldn’t you buy a pillow that truly fits your sleep position and helps you sleep better every night? Better sleep is a better quality of life. One seven-hour good night’s sleep with the right pillow is more time than most people spend in the gym with those expensive shoes. A pillow will typically last more than two years. Experts tell us to replace gym shoes every six months.

Trends & Tech

There is a notable trend right now for all-position pillows. With these pillows, you can adjust them to change the levels of firmness by removing inserts. Imagine a pillow with four smaller pillows inside the case.

Our Rain pillow features a heat-dissipating cover that is cold to the touch. The fabric has little quilts in it that encourage air flow and constantly cool the fabric. Darvin carries Aireloom pillows which distinctively offer a proprietary construction similar to the Aireloom mattress.

Click here for a more complete look at pillows and mattresses at Darvin Furniture.