We've come a long way since our cave-dwelling ancestors piled up moss or grass to create the first pillows, if indeed they did. Ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans all used bed pillows and decorative pillows to cushion themselves from hard stone and wood furniture. Today, you can buy a pillow for a few dollars at your local superstore or spend several hundred dollars at a high-end specialty bedding store. The same is true of decorative throw pillows for your living or family room. What you pay depends on what you want; if you are happy with cheap pillows, buy cheap pillows, use them until they wear out, then replace them. If, instead, you want you want something durable, hypoallergenic and soft as a cloud, buy what you want and don't worry about the price. Of course, at Overstock.com, you never really need to worry about price.
Here is some basic information to help you wade through all the options, so you'll know what kind of pillows will work best for you.
Bed pillows or sleeping pillows have one primary use (besides pillow fights at sleepovers): They support and cushion your head while sleeping, giving you a better night's rest. The pillow material most directly influences how well it does its job.
Down pillows are generally considered the ultimate in pillow luxury. ''Down'' is the small feathers that keep birds warm, geese and ducks in particular. Down pillows (all down bedding, in fact) are renowned for their softness and warmth. Down pillows may have silk or satin pillowcases to add even more comfort. Another natural pillow filling is buckwheat hulls. Traditional in Japan, they provide firmer support than down by conforming to your body shape, so the weight of your head and neck is evenly distributed. Buckwheat hull filling is resistant to breakage, deterioration and burning and is not treated with chemicals. Polyester fibers are the inexpensive alternative to natural materials and polyester probably fills more pillows than anything else these days.
Memory foam pillows are a by-product of the space age, developed by NASA to cushion astronauts during take-off. Memory foam is created by mixing chemicals that expand as they react, forming tiny air bubbles in the material--like a chemical Swiss-cheese. Stiff foams do not allow air to circulate between cells, and some are actually strong enough to use as building materials. Memory foam, by contrast, is very flexible, especially when it is warmed by a human body. Also known as contour pillows, they mold themselves to the shape of your head but spring back to their original shape when you get up. The memory pillow has a natural resilience, so it won't ever go flat. Many believe that contour pillows provide better support for your head and neck than other materials.
The amount of material determines pillow firmness. Down or polyester pillows are simple; for a firmer pillow, the manufacturer simply puts more material into the pillow covering. A memory foam pillow uses differing chemical formulas to create foam that is more or less dense.
There are also a few specialty pillow types: A backrest pillow can be a wedge that keeps the head raised above the body while sleeping (very helpful for asthma and acid reflux sufferers) or a small, saddle-shaped pillow supporting the lower back while sitting. Frequent travelers are especially fond of the neck pillow; it's U-shape wraps around the neck, cradling the head and keeping it upright while driving or flying. On long trips, it helps prevent the sore muscles common after falling asleep sitting up.
Decorative pillows come in an almost limitless variety of sizes, shapes and styles. A needlepoint pillow is ornamented with hand stitching. Toss pillows are small enough to fit a couch or chair and are usually displayed in groups of so many you can barely find a place to sit on the couch. Larger floor pillows are descendants of nomadic tribal furniture that had to be light enough to move every few days. These weren't too popular in America until the bean bag chair craze of the 1970s.
The most serious pillow care problem is also a health issue--dust mites! They thrive in warm, humid climates and feed on dead skin cells shed by people. That means your bed is dust mite heaven, and 10 percent of people are allergic to proteins found in these tiny creatures. However, a few simple steps can be taken to minimize their effect. First, get allergen covers between the mites and their habitat--your pillows and mattress. Second, regularly wash all bedding in very hot water (anti-dust mite laundry additives are available). Third, give a thorough, regular vacuuming of bed and bedroom. Finally, put a dehumidifier in the bedroom. You have now turned your dust mite heaven into dust mite hell.
Even if you aren't allergic to mites, these steps will be beneficial to your bedding; after all, what's better after a hard day than lying down on freshly laundered sheets?
Standard or twin pillow: 20 inches high x 26 inches long
Queen pillow: 20 inches high x 30 inches long
King pillow: 20 inches high x 36 inches long
Body pillow: Of particular interest to stomach sleepers, this pillow is long enough to reach from your head to your feet.
Density: A memory foam pillow is rated by density in pounds per cubit foot; 3 to 5 lbs. are the most common densities.
Hypoallergenic: Designed and constructed with materials that minimize the potential of allergic reactions.
Maternity pillow: Actually two pillows sewn together to provide support to the back and abdomen when lying on your side or back.
What is thread count?
Abbreviated TC or tc, it means the number of threads (in each direction) per inch of cloth; the higher the count, the softer and stronger the fabric--200 tc is considered the minimum for a good, soft texture, but in luxury bedding, tc can get above 2,000. Not a major factor in pillows, but very important when you consider pillowcases.
What is a bed in a bag?
A ''bed in a bag'' is a complete set of bedding, with matching materials and design, it always contains top sheets, fitted sheets and pillowcases, plus quilts or comforters. Queen or king sets contain two pillowcases. Sets may also include duvet covers, pillow shams or dust ruffles. The fanciest bags might add matching decorative throw pillows, window dressings, even bathroom rugs.
Is it really illegal to remove the tag?
If you're the seller, it is. As the buyer, you can pull it off as soon as you get home, but it's a good idea to leave the tag on--it contains the materials and care instructions for that pillow.
As you consider what you want, consider the maker. Decorative throw pillows are also available through our Worldstock partnership, from skilled artisans all over the world. Handmade by talented craftsmen and women, these pillows vary slightly in size and embroidery pattern, making your Worldstock throw pillows a unique piece of art. Worldstock prices these goods as inexpensively as possible in order to drive up volume and create as many employment opportunities for these talented artists as we can.
Spend once, save much. Your new pillows and pillowcases are clean and allergen free. Why not get something else to go with them? Overstock.com features a wide range of blankets, including throw blankets and electric blankets that will fit right in with your new pillowcases. People needlessly stress over the great decorator's question: "Will it match?" If you buy it all at the same time, the answer is, "Absolutely!" You can even complement your new bedding with some new bedroom furniture. You are going to buy it anyway; you might as well buy it all from Overstock.com's home store and save that much more money.