Donut pillows are firm pillows shaped like a torus, with a space in the middle to alleviate pressure on the tailbone area while sitting. These pillows are used primarily by individuals who have suffered an injury to the tailbone area or who suffer pain from hemorrhoids or another ailment of the colon
These pillows are generally covered with a removable pillow case, which facilitate laundering, keeping the bedding fresh. When considered as a subset of Bed Pillow, Euro pillows finish 26×26 and older style Travel Pillows commonly finished 12×16. The ‘Oxford Size’ used in many English speaking countries is 50cm x 75cm , while the ‘Continental Size’ used in many parts of Continental Europe is 66cm x 66cm . German pillow sizes are 80cm x 80cm or 40cm x 80cm . Bed pillows are usually rectangular in shape. They are common in these three sizes ; Standard , Queen , King
Internally, a pillow comprises a filler made from foam, synthetic fills, feathers, or down. Traditionally straw was a filler, but this is uncomfortable and rarely used today. Such pillows tend to be smaller than a standard pillow. In Asia, buckwheat is a common filler, as are plastic imitations. There are currently hypoallergenic varieties of down pillows to allow people sensitive to down to enjoy the comfort of feather or down pillows. Feathers and down were the choice of the rich; these offered the advantage of softness and their ability to conform to shapes desired by the user, more so than foam or fibre pillows
However, U-shaped pillows often force the head forwards creating neck stiffness. Travel pillows provide support for the neck and head in a sitting position. Their “U” shape fits around the back of the neck and keeps the head from slipping into an uncomfortable and possibly harmful position during sleep
Traditional Chinese pillows are often hard boxes made from stone, wood, metal, or porcelain instead of stuffed fabric. Pillows were originally used mainly by the wealthy, and have been found in Ancient Egyptian tombs. The difficulty of sophisticated dyes and sewing techniques lead to the development of pillows as an art form, with highly decorated pillows becoming prized commodities first in China and Persia and later in Medieval Europe. The Industrial Revolution saw the mass production of decorated textiles and decorated pillows
Neck pillows support the neck by providing a deep area for the head to rest and a supportive area to keep the neck in alignment with the spine while sleeping. These can also be known as cervical pillows
Likewise, for the occasional nap, decorative pillows are handy for supporting the head or neck, even though they are not covered with a pillow case, as are bed pillows. Decorative pillows are also found on furnishings in more public parts of the home, such as sofas, chairs and window seats. For example, unless a person has some particular medical condition, they will likely use a handy decorative pillow for lumbar support, as needed, while seated on a sofa. Here, their common use may overlap both orthopedic and bed pillows
Lumbar pillows are designed to support the inward curve of the lower back, filling the space created between the lower back and the back of the chair when in a sitting position. These pillows are generally used to support the lower back while driving or sitting, such as in an office chair
Since Decorative Textiles are commonly 54 inches in width, many decorative pillows finish about 17×17 inches. They likely have fancy cover material which serves to decorate the room where they are found. Decorative Pillows serve a dual purpose. When used to decorate a fully made up bed, decorative pillows are likely thrown aside at bedtime, since they are not covered with a laundrable pillow case, thus, while found on the bed, they are primarily there for decoration, hence they fall under this category
Some pillows often have a fancier cover called a sham which is closed on all sides and usually has a slit in the back through which the pillow is placed. Rectangular bed pillows usually do not have zippers, but instead have one side open all the time. But even with regular washing, pillows tend to accumulate large amounts of dust and vast numbers of microbes among the fill and it is recommended that they be replaced every few years, especially for those with allergies. The fill is surrounded with a cover or shell made of cloth or silk, known as the pillow case or pillow slip. It is recommended that all types of pillow covers be laundered periodically since they are the part that is in contact with a person’s body
There are also throw pillows , which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort. Outside the USA these are generally considered a type of cushion, with the term pillow reserved for the pillows on a bed. A pillow is a large cushion support for the head, usually used while sleeping in a bed, or for the body as used on a couch or chair
When a pillow is placed on a flat surface the “poof point” is the crest of the pillow roundness. Each corner of a pillow is referred to as a nib. The classic bed pillow shape is a square or golden rectangle with four corners reminiscent of the shape of the ears of a cat
This type of pillow can be especially useful in providing support for those who sleep on their sides and for pregnant women. Size is 40cm x 140cm. Body pillows are as long as a full adult body, providing support to the head and neck at the top and to the knees and legs lower down
A pillow is designed to provide support and comfort to the person going night night. There are three main types of pillows; Bed pillows, Orthopedic pillows and Decorative pillows, with some overlapping of use between these