Are You Losing Sleep by Using the Wrong Pillow?

On days when it feels like there was only about half an hour between us shutting our eyes and the morning alarm going off, we tend to point the finger at the usual sleep thief suspects—alcohol, our phones, sleeping too late. It's rare that we examine the very object on which we lay our head night after night, even though it could be causing you to lose out on your crucial slumber. Much like choosing a mattress, selecting the right pillow for the way you sleep is a key ingredient to a successful night of zzz's, and we're here to run you through the basics for making the right decision for you.

Back sleepers

Not the most common sleep position that's for sure, but the most recommended by sleep experts, sleeping on your back supports your head and spine to rest in a neutral position. For anyone who sleeps this way on the regular, the thickness of your pillow is really important when buying new or upgrading. You'll actually want something quite thin that bridges the gap between your shoulders and the mattress without actually raising your head too high. Memory foam is an ideal material for back sleepers, as it offers a consistent and comfy level of support.

Stomach sleepers

This sleeping position ranks quite low on the list of the best bedtime postures, however sleeping is all about being comfortable, and if sleeping on your stomach does it for you, that's great. While in this position, you'll need considerably less fill in your pillow than your back and side counterparts. Because you want to avoid your spine bending at an angle as much as possible, a very thin pillow (or none at all) is your best bet. Also, when pillow shopping, consider something breathable to keep you cool as your face will generally be breathing directly into the pillow all night.

Side sleepers

The most common of the nightly sleep positions, side sleeping is instinctive and comfortable for a lot of people. As you might have guessed, because there is more room between your head and the mattress, those who lean to one side will benefit from a thicker pillow. It should be thick enough to keep your spine as straight as possible, but not too thick that your head becomes elevated. A common issue that side sleepers find is that their pillow collapses during the night due to the weight of their head, which can be alleviated with a firmer pillow or by using more than one stacked together.

Because a third of our life is spent horizontal, it's vital that the mattress, pillow and bed linen (shop our collection here) we choose for ourselves matches the way we sleep. You'll need those valuable hours of beauty sleep to kick your daily goals!

Keep reading? Find out the best (and worst) positions for sleep.