Everything You Need To Know About Supportive Firm Pillows and Bedding

By  //  April 10, 2021

Sleeping could be an effortless thing to do. You only have to prepare yourself for sleep, go to bed, find a comfortable position, then easily close your eyes and embrace the feeling of being decompressed.

Sounds simple, right?

However, there are still nights where you can’t seem to feel comfortable at all. You could be tossing and turning. You must have been distracted by your surroundings. This includes your phone or the single ray of light that snuck inside your room. When the morning comes, you’ll see dark circles under your eyes. Have you wondered why?

Importance Of A Comfortable Bed

There are plenty of possible reasons why you haven’t been able to sleep well. Most of the reasons include consuming too much caffeine before sleeping, noise disturbances around your sleeping quarter, or feeling gradual stress. However, aside from the usual reasons, you might have overlooked one factor that significantly affected your sleep. It could be because of an uncomfortable bed.

Your sleeping environment is of utmost importance, too. Whether you have an uncomfortable mattress or a not-so-well-ventilated room, you need to make your surrounding a sleep-inducing environment. If you’ve been experiencing difficulties in sleeping, you might be unaware about how your pillows or beddings affect your rest.

Here’s a list of reasons why comfort is of great importance.

Comfort seems to promote longer hours of sleep. Whether you’re sleeping with or without a buckwheat hulls pillow as a firm support, as long as you find it comfortable, then you’re in a sleep-supportive environment. Such an environment is believed to promise you a long hour of sleep.

Comfort could make your body feel more relaxed. Comfort is said to have a direct connection with the support available for you. Your body has to be relaxed by sleeping on beddings that work best for you.

As you know, being comfortable is a relevant factor to relax and fall asleep well. The pillows and beddings you use have to play a significant role in giving you the best sleep possible.

If you’re eager to discover more about pillows and beddings, here’s everything you need to know about them.

All About Pillows

Pillows are used to fill the gap between your head and your mattress. Its overall texture and given support are vital in getting the best assistance your body needs to sleep. Before buying one, you have to understand what you must look for and which one is the most suitable for you.

As you look for the right pillow, you might encounter two important terms. In case you didn’t know, the two terms you’re likely to meet are ‘plush’ and ‘firm.’

Here’s how to differentiate them:

Plush

A plush pillow is simply a soft pillow. It’s the type of pillow where your head sinks into. It won’t be a surprise if they’re made up of feather, low-density foam, cotton, wool, or polyester.

However, most soft pillows lose their thickness over time. When it’s under pressure, it flattens and becomes too thin. This may not be sufficient to elevate your head into a neutral position. As a result, you might feel uncomfortable and feel pain.

Firm Pillow

A firm pillow is a solid pillow. This type of pillow works best to support your head. It works to provide you consistent support throughout the night. It could also conform to the shape of your head or neck.

However, a firm pillow may not be comfortable unless it’s evenly distributing the weight of your head. If not, it could also cause the same uncomfortable pain on your neck.

Are you wondering which among the two is the best? The truth is, both plush and firm pillows can be your perfect options. Whether you buy the plush pillow or the firm pillow, it all comes down to your personal preferences and situation. Whichever you choose, it has to be comfortable enough to make you sleep through the night.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Pillow

Pillows vary widely, especially in shape. They could be soft, white, fluffy, or rectangular. When you buy your desired pillow, how can you tell if it’s right for you?

Grant yourself the time and opportunity to think about it by considering the essential factors listed below.

Firmness  

The firmness of a pillow is essential. It has a direct impact on the quality of your sleep or on the level of comfort you feel. As you decide which pillow firmness works best for you, try to consider the sleep position you prefer.

If you frequently sleep on your stomach, you may need a softer pillow that has a little loft. The purpose of this is thought to help your neck stay in a neutral position. Alternatively, if you frequently sleep on the sides, then a firm pillow may work best for you. Firm cushions seem to have enough amount of loft that could give you good neck and head alignment.

Support  

Finding the right supportive pillow is essential for those who usually endure pain in their backs or necks. The proper support could give you sufficient and therapeutic sleep. It could also give your body a chance to restore itself from any physical or postural challenges you experienced during the day.

A pillow’s filling varies depending on the level of support it gives. Some pillows provide smoother but firm support, like a millet pillow. These pillows are silky to the touch and perfect in molding themselves toward your neck and head.

Measurement Of The Pillow

The material used to make a pillow dictates its firmness level. Therefore, when you go pillow shopping, it’s vital to have an understanding of the materials used in creating a pillow.

Here’s a list of the most commonly used pillow materials and what makes them distinct from each other.

Buckwheat 

There are pillows filled with a buckwheat kernel’s husk-like outer shell. These pillows are sometimes hefty and could contribute above-average support. Buckwheat pillows are typically firm or extra-firm.

If you don’t comprehend what a buckwheat pillow looks like, you can check it out here:

Memory Foam

This type of material seems to be made to adhere to the body. Memory foam could either be stuffed with shredded foam fibers or made up of solid sections of foam. Their firmness ranges from medium-soft to medium-firm.

Latex 

Latex is a substance made out of rubber tree sap. Its pillows could offer the same neck and head support level as memory foam. The only distinction is that latex could require minimal shaking or fluffing. Latex pillows can either be soft or firm.

Feather 

From the word itself, feather pillows are stuffed with duck or goose feathers. These types of pillows could range from soft to medium-firm.

Polyester 

These types of pillows are entirely packed with polyester fibers. Polyester could also be soft or firm.

Water Pillow 

Water pillows showcase a thin water base. It consists of a water pouch where you can add water. Some water pillows are also thought to consist of fiber or memory foam.

Height

If the pillow you have is a bit high, it could affect the neck in a bad way, regardless of your sleeping position. This situation could result to strained muscles on the back of your neck and shoulders. Another concern with high pillows is that they could cause some kind of blockage to the air pipe. This could result in snoring or having an obstructed breathing. This could hinder you from having a good quality sleep.

On the other hand, there could also be adverse effects when you have a low pillow. Pillows that are too low can cause a strain in your neck muscles. Therefore, considering your pillow’s height is essential when buying one.

Adjustability 

In case you weren’t aware, customizable and adjustable pillows are now available. These types of pillows could be an excellent option for those who think their pillows are too soft or too firm. You can control the kind of neck or head support you want.

A customizable pillow seems to be a smart purchase for those who frequently change their sleeping positions during the night. With this, you can make alterations to your pillow without having the necessity to buy another one to suit another sleeping position.

To conclude these factors in choosing a pillow, it is recommended to test the pillows out with a different range of firmness and loft measurements. This could help in deciding your favored feel.

All About Beddings

Beddings come in all different prints, sizes, textures, and colors. Whether it’s pillows, linens, or bed coverings, having the knowledge of these terms could be vital in designing your dream sleeping setup.

Here are the standard terms you’re likely to meet in finding the perfect beddings.

Comforter 

The comforter is a bed cover stuffed with fibers for a warm feeling. These fibers are then sewn on all four sides of the comforter. Most comforters are made up of either polyester or cotton. These products are available in an endless range of patterns, styles, or colors.

Duvet And Duvet Cover 

A duvet is similar to a comforter. Their only distinction is that the duvet needs a duvet cover while a comforter can do without it. Duvets are typically solid white and filled with a down alternative.

Duvets are encased and shielded by duvet covers. Duvet covers have an opening where the duvet is inserted. Once duvets or comforters are inside, the opening of the covers can be closed with either a zipper or buttons. Like most beddings, duvet covers are also decorative and can be purchased in a wide selection of styles and colors.

Blanket 

People use blankets to add warmth to their bodies. They are most commonly made out of polyester, cotton, microfiber plush, fibers, or wool. Some people prefer topping the blanket with a more engaging quilt, duvet, or comforter. Some blankets also come up as creative crafting through materials such as silk covering or crochets.

Top Sheet  

A top sheet is also known as a flat sheet. Its purpose is to separate you from your blanket, comforter, or quilt.

Bottom Sheet 

A bottom sheet is also known as a fitted sheet. From the name itself, it has an elastic edge that could fit over your mattress. It is laid right above the mattress. It is where the bed occupant lies.

Bedspread 

A bedspread is a thin covering that covers the whole bed and touches the floor. They can add an exquisite and sophisticated look to your bed. The standard materials used to create bedspreads are wool, cotton, polyester, or chenille.

Coverlet 

A coverlet is a beautifying fabric. Unlike the bedspread, it doesn’t cover the pillows nor touch the floor. These typically sit on top of the quilt and are considered bed accents. Other users seem to find a coverlet as an ideal choice for a versatile bedcover. Sometimes, a coverlet can also be located at the foot of the bed and appear as foot runners.

As you see, to have a sumptuous bed could also mean knowing the essential terms of beddings. At first, you might get confused when differentiating the terms mentioned above. But as long as you know their definitions and purposes, you’re good to go.

The Bottomline 

Everyone has their own place to feel relaxed and sleep. For most people, their beds seem to be a place where they feel comfortable and relaxed the most. Their beds are their most private part of the house.

But the thing is, your bed doesn’t have to be the grandest bed. As long as it enables you to rest, feel at peace, and sleep better, you can sleep tight at night. As you refer from the critical points mentioned above, you have to consider a few things for you to achieve your ideal comfort.

Whether you like it soft, firm, feathery, or high, it all comes down to your likes. It’s all up to you. After all, the best bridge between optimism and discouragement is a good night’s sleep.