PAIRING THE RIGHT PILLOW WITH FIRM MATTRESS

We know the firmest of mattresses is not for everyone—but if you’ve already hopped on board (literally) to adopting the firmest, flattest and healthiest way to sleep, you really need to think about how you should accessorize your new Plank mattress. The first thing your mind should jump to is your pillow (not your cute new nightstand, though we know that’s important).

Sleep experts often say that “the pillow makes the bed”—which is just an insider’s way of saying that, when it comes to quality sleep, your pillow is ultra-important. You can find the perfect mattress for your sleep style that provides just the right balance of comfort and support but, if you’re sleeping on the wrong pillow, you might continue to experience pain and stiffness in the morning.

Since pillows play an important role in maintaining proper spinal alignment and support, it’s important to understand how your sleep position affects which pillow is best for you—and since you’re all already doing that firm mattress thing, we assume you’re either sleeping on your stomach or back. Here, then, are some of the most common pillows that function great with the Plank:

• LOW LOFT LATEX FOAM PILLOWS: If you want the contouring support of memory foam but need extra help sleeping cool, a latex foam pillow might be a perfect choice. Latex pillows have similar contouring properties to memory foam but are naturally more breathable and have quicker reactivity to movement. Given a choice, always opt for the lower loft option.
• MEDIUM MEMORY FOAM PILLOWS: These pillows gently contour to the curves of your neck and head while providing ample support and proper spinal alignment. Memory foam pillows tend to sleep hotter, though—if you love the conformability of memory foam but have trouble with night sweats or sleep hot in general, choose one with a cooling gel infusion to maintain a more ideal temperature, or a pillow with pin-core ventilation for greater airflow.
• SHREDDED FOAM PILLOWS (with plenty of stuffing removed): Shredded foam pillows can make a great choice for stomach sleepers as long as a large portion of the stuffing is removed. Most quality shredded foam pillows will come overstuffed, so removing half or more of the foam is easy. As a rule, stomach sleepers should aim for the head to be no more than an inch or so off the mattress, unless your body type is such that more space is needed.
• MEDIUM-FIRM LATEX FOAM PILLOWS: If you want the contouring support of memory foam but need extra help sleeping cool, a latex foam pillow might be a perfect choice. Latex pillows have similar contouring properties to memory foam but are naturally more breathable and have quicker reactivity to movement.

Once you’ve decided a firm mattress is your perfect match, be sure to check out Brooklyn Bedding to get the right pillow to seal the ultimate sleep deal.