How to Choose a Pillow

Although it can seem daunting, choosing a pillow comes down to deciding on three key components: Filling type, filling firmness and cover material. In order to choose your perfect pillow based on these three things, you’ll need to know your budget and understand the different options available. As such, this guide will take you through step-by-step to find your perfect pillow.

1. What type of Pillow Fillings are Available?

Down and Feather Pillows

What are down and feather pillows?

Natural-fill pillows are usually comprised of feather, down or a combination of both. These pillows conform to the shape of the sleeper’s head and neck, providing additional support and superior comfort. Natural pillows like our Lucy pillow also tend to last a long time, making them a fantastic investment.

What’s the difference between feather and down?

Feather pillows are made using the outer larger outer feather of a bird's plumage. These feathers are large and bouncy but feature quills which may prickle unsuspecting sleepers. By comparison, down is a bird’s softer inner insulation, and is made of beautifully forgiving fibres called plumules. Down has no prickly quills but may lack the structure and support of feathers. As such, many premium pillows combine feather and down for optimum comfort and support.

Which feather pillows are best?

The best feather pillows feature a high percentage of down for softness and a cotton cover for cool, comfortable skin contact. Some pillows like the Comfort Majestic combine natural fibres with fibre to give an excellent all-round pillow.

Are feather pillows machine washable?

Natural fill pillows can be difficult to machine wash. Down and feathers absorb water well and therefore take a long time to dry. If you don’t get natural pillows completely dry, there’s a risk of rotting or mould which can lead to unpleasant smells and even respiratory issues for sleepers. Rather than relying on frequent washes, either protect your pillow with a protector, or consider a synthetic fill pillow which withstands frequent cleaning more easily. Alternatively, Jemima pillows are treated with Messentex to reduce allergies and protect against odour, prolonging the life of your feather pillow.

TIP: Protect natural fibre pillows from moisture absorption with a waterproof pillow protector.

Microfibre Pillows

Microfibre pillows are filled with incredibly fine threads of polyester and are designed to offer the comfort of feather or down bedding along with the benefits of artificial fibres. As such, microfibre offers an economical way of providing premium, beautifully squashy pillows.

These pillows provide similar support and comfort to natural down, great for those who love the feel of a natural pillow but suffer with allergies. Imitating the shape of the sleeper’s head and neck, microfibre feels luxurious to sleep on, offers breathability and washes well.

How long do microfibre pillows last?

Microfibre pillows can last a long time thanks to their durable filling. The sturdy polyester strands are fully synthetic and only deteriorate very gradually from use. The elongated, ultra-thin shape of each strand means that microfibre pillows are much less likely to clump than hollowfibre pillows when washed. As such, microfibre offers an excellent combination of sumptuous comfort, durability and hygiene.

TIP: Our Healthy Living microfibre pillows are treated with AEM 5700 antimicrobial agents, reducing fungal levels by up to 99.9%. They’re designed for sleepers with allergies or respiratory vulnerabilities like asthma.

What are Hollowfibre Pillows?

Pillows filled with polyester hollowfibre are an affordable alternative to natural fibres or microfibre pillows. The, fluffy, squashy padding has more gaps than a microfibre equivalent, making hollowfibre pillows light, full-bodied but fractionally less durable. Hollowfibre pillows such as the Essentials Bounceback are therefore ideal for many businesses and residential settings that value soft, functional pillows at an appealing price.

What’s the difference between microfibre and hollowfibre?

Both microfibre and hollofibre pillows are made with thin fibres of polester, but the way they’re interwoven is different. Microfibre features tightly woven and incredibly thin polyester fibres with very little room between them. By comparison, hollowfibre gets its name from the spaces or ‘hollows’ between the fibres. This space makes hollowfibre pillows squashy, tall and light, but they can go flat over time.

Ball Fibre Pillows

What is ball fibre?

Ball hollowfibre pillows are also filled with poyester fibres. Unlike hollowfibre or microfibre pillows, however, the fibres are formed into small fluffy balls rather than long straight shapes. This allows them to move over each other smoothly, making ball fibre pillows easy to plump and giving a sleep experience similar to down and feather.

A ball hollowfibre pillow such as the Heritage Abbey pillow is an affordable alternative to natural fibre options and more suitable for sleepers with allergies. Siliconised ball fibre has even more loft and bounce, thanks to the additional silicate coating which adds durability and guards against dust and bacteria.

TIP: Combine your pillow with a matching siliconised ball fibre duvet such as the Luxury Himalayan duvet for a blissful, consistent sleeping experience.

Tencel Pillows

What is Tencel?

Tencel is made from wood pulp using recyclable solvents. The resulting fibre is lightweight, insulating and naturally breathable, making it an excellent option for comfortable sleeping. Mitre Linen combine tencel fibres with premium quality hollowfibre for the optimum blend of breathability, softness and support in our Tencel pillows.

Is tencel environmentally friendly?

Tencel fibres are made from natural wood pulp and are therefore more environmentally friendly than synthetic polyester fibres. That said, Mitre Eco's pillows and eco friendly duvets have a 100% recycled filling and are therefore the perfect environmentally friendly option.

TIP: Mitre Linen have tencel blend duvets in a range of thicknesses to complement tencel pillows.

2. What Pillow Firmness Should I Choose?

Many Mitre pillows are available with soft or firm fills and it's important to choose the best one to suit you or your guests. Alternatively, many businesses offer soft and firm options so that guests can choose. Spare pillows can be stored in a storage bag in a wardrobe. Pillows are also a vital part of how people find their correct sleeping posture. Providing two pillows per sleeper helps people to be comfortable, but not if the pillows are too firm. As such, consider the range of options you may want.

How to tell how firm a pillow is

There is no universal measure that shows how firm or soft a pillow is, as tog does for duvet thickness. This can make it tricky to find the right firmness, but the weight is a good indicator. If everything else about two pillows is identical, the heavier one will feel fuller and more firm when slept on. The type of pillow filling will also change how firm or soft each pillow feels.

Which pillow filling is firmest?

Different types of hollowfibre and microfibre will have slightly varying softnesses. Thankfully, with a range of samples available and free delivery, you can trial a range of Mitre pillows to find the perfect one for your needs. For the softest possible pillows, try either a natural fill or ball hollowfibre pillow.

3. What Pillow Coverings Are Available?

Mitre pillows are available with a range of polyester, cotton, and other covers. Most pillows have a cotton outer because it gives a crisp, cool surface to sleep against which won't become uncomfortable due to perspiration or other contaminants. Other surfaces are designed to fulfil other, specific purposes:

Proban® cotton

Proban® Cotton is designed to withstand highly combustable environments without catching fire and is therefore produces very safe pillows for residential and institutional usage. The Phoenix pillow is fire resistant to Source 5 thanks to its Proban® cotton cover.

Polycotton pillow covers

Polycotton is a quick drying, durable and affordable alternative to cotton pillow covers and is frequently used alongside hollowfibre filling. Polycotton creases less easily but is slightly less breathable than pure cotton.

Polypropylene

Regatta pillows use polypropylene covers which are fire retardant to Source 5 level. Polypropylene is also wipe clean and therefore perfect for environments where pillows would usually become stained or spoiled easily.

Microfibre

Microfibre pillow covers are made from polyester and have a velvety, peached soft microfibre finish. This additional softness makes the pillow even more inviting!

TIP: While pillow covers are important, you can still get the perfect sleeping surface and look with a wide choice of pillowcases. you can also protect pillows with a protector to prolong each item's lifespan.

Hotel Quality Pillows At A Glance...

If you know the type of pillow you're looking for, use the table below to select your perfect pillow from the full Mitre range.

	HERITAGE	FR SOURCE 2	HOLLOFIBRE	100% COTTON	BOIL WASH
	RANGE	FR SOURCE	FILLING	COVER	SPECIALIST CARE
ABBEY FIRM 790G
ABBEY SOFT 690G
LUCY 700G
MICROFIBRE SOFT 800G
MICROFIBRE FIRM 950G
COUNTESS 730G
TENCEL SOFT 600G
TENCEL FIRM 700G
JEMMA 900G
MAJESTIC 800G
PALACE 670G
SNOW 775G
SIMPLY SOFT 800G
ULTRALOFT 850G
HEALTHY LIVING 510G
SUPER BOUNCE 600G
BOUNCEBACK 500G
ROSINA 650G
PHOENIX 600G
REGATTA 650G
FUEGO 450G

FAQ

What is the Best Pillow for Side Sleepers?

Sleeping on your side leaves a large distance between the side of your head and your mattress, meaning that your neck may have to bend drastically to rest your head. Taller, more firm pillows support this weight and fill this space, relieving pressure points. As a result, firm and tall pillows that maintain their shape are best for side sleepers.

What is the Best Pillow for Back Sleepers?

Sleeping on your back keeps your back relatively straight versus sleeping on your side. As a result, the sleeper's spine is under less lateral pressure and a softer, more forgiving pillow is more suitable. by comparison, continued use of an overly firm pillow when sleeping on your back can force the head too far forwards and unduly strain the neck.

What is The Best Pillow for Neck Pain?

Anyone experiencing persistent neck pain should consult a relevant healthcare professional about treating the condition. However, optimising sleeping conditions can be an important part of a holistic solution. Ask yourself how old your pillow is, how old your mattress is and whether they're optimised for your sleeping position. Sleep monitoring software can be a useful part of understanding whether sleeping conditions are contributing to longterm discomfort.

Can Pillows Cause Allergies?

Sleepers spend roughly eight hours a day with their face in close contact with their pillow, breathing directly from the surface. As such, it's vital your pillow, is clean, dry and in good repair to prevent a build-up of potentially harmful bacteria or spores. Down and feather pillows can also gradually break down over prolonged periods of time, making it important that yours are protected. As such, alsways consider the correct pillow protector when buying your pillows. The good news is that we recommend a suitable protector when you purchase any one of our pillows!

How often should I replace my pillow?

Domestic pillows should be replaced roughly every year, but using a suitable protector can double this lifespan. Replacing your pillow is important for cleanliness, hygiene and ensuring that you're getting sufficient support. In a commercial setting, pillows should be replaced in accordance with the number of different guests using them. Pillowcases are always washed and replaced between guests, with protectors being washed on a rotational basis.