When someone asks my advice on which pillow they should choose- I always say- “don’t worry there is a pillow out there for you”. If you are suffering, cannot sleep, or just moved out of your parents house, there are lots of choices for you. It can be a little overwhelming, but don’t worry – the Pillow Queen is here to help ! There are a few different types of pillows all for very different purposes– orthopedic (aka supportive pillows) or decorative pillows.

Orthopedic pillows have a purpose in mind- they are there is too support your neck, or in some cases your knees or your lower back. These pillows will allow for a comfortable night of sleep. Often times a support neck pillow has an indentation in the middle. I have seen indentations in the form of a triangle, square, circle, or even a “D” Shape. Often times there are two sides to the pillow. You can pick the side that is most comfortable for you. There is even a pillow specially designed for someone who has a pinched nerve. The Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow will allow you to have the proper curve in your neck for better sleep and pain relief.

Not just for your neck, some pillows are really body pillows that can be used in many different ways. You can get these long (often the length of an adult) cylinder pillows for comfort during sleep and extra support. Have you heard of the “husband pillow” or “boyfriend pillow”? Apparently these pillows allow one to sit in bed and read comfortably. Often with armrests, these are supposed to be very cozy pillows- great for lounging around- all day!

You can also buy just regular rectangular pillows- the flat pillows that often come in standard, queen and king sizes. Specifically, the standard or medium size pillow is 20×26. The Queen pillow, aka oxford size in some countries is 20×30 and the king size is 20×36. You can get down, foam, fiber, buckwheat, feather, or even flaxseeds. Same with orthopedic pillows- they also come in different materials- always serving some sort of unique purpose.

You can even buy neck pillows designed specifically for travel. Often times these pillows are “u” shaped. No matter where you are- you can literally sit and sleep. I know even celebrities like Leonardo Di Caprio won’t leave home without their travel neck pillow.

Decorative pillows serve to decorate your home: your bed or sofa. They are also of different shapes and sizes. These decorative pillows are also known as accent pillows, cushions, couch pillows, throw pillows, floor pillows or sofa pillows. Even the shapes vary: Squares, rectangles, circles, even in the shapes of dogs and sunflowers (aka novelty pillows)! You can have fun with decorative pillows because you can often have exotic fabrics and accessories covering these pillows. Raw silk, bamboo, and tiny mirrors, chenile and corduroy- you name it, I am sure there is a decorative pillow out there just for your taste and likes.

So if you thought that pillows were just for sleeping- not so! Not only can you get a pillow that is just like a “husband”- you can get a pillow for a bulging disc, for a long airplane ride – even one that matches your dining room furniture. Shopping for pillows is a lot more complex in today’s society.

More Reading:

• How to Choose the Right Neck Pillow
• The Traction Neck Pillow for Neck Pain Relief
• Travel Neck Pillows

Author: lucca