We spend roughly a third of our lives sleeping. When and where we sleep has an impact on our quality of life and believe it or not, so do our pillows.
History of the pillow
You may have seen Egyptian headrests that were used in ancient times, supporting the neck and preserving elaborate hairstyles but made of hard stone or ceramics. These were predated by stone headrests as far back as 7,000 B.C. in Mesopotamia, used to keep bugs and pests off people sleeping on the ground.
The pillow as we know it emerged as a soft, stuffed fabric in 500 B.C. from the Greeks and the Romans. By the Middle Ages, pillows were thought to be an indulgence and royalty forbade them. The Industrial Revolution with its wealth of textile production brought the pillow back in style, and it’s been with us ever since.
When money is no object
Are you looking for a high-end pillow to take you off to dreamland? Just for you, there is the Icelandic eiderdown pillow, king-sized and covered in silk, for a mere $14,388. Eiderdown pillows can be found for less ($10,000 to around $5,000) if you’re watching your budget. Do they earn their reputation? You be the judge.
For those who want quality without breaking the bank, there are plenty of options. So many choices! Are you a side sleeper? A back sleeper? Do you have any problems with your neck? Maybe you’re looking for a body pillow to take the pressure off your hip or back. Or maybe you’re just looking for a good night’s sleep and the chance to wake up without a stiff neck.
Latex, down, down alternative for the allergy-prone, memory foam and microfiber fill as well as buckwheat all are options for a high-end pillow. Experiment with what works for you. Soft, medium and firm are available depending on what you’re looking for. The only way you’ll know what works is to try them out (although the one that’s $14K might not be returnable).
We’d be remiss if we didn’t include decorative pillows that can range from reasonably priced to designer-level indulgence. Pillows can add significantly to a remodel or room makeover.
