You could be the most placid person in the world, but when it comes to your sleep environment, few people sit on the fence.
With pillows specifically, we’re all somewhere on the spectrum between preferring soft and hard - but the trouble comes when you’re trying to decide the best fillings. If you’re a hot sleeper who prefers a softer setting for your noggin, a squashy and plump feather or down-filled pillow can be your golden ticket to a dreamy sleep.
What are the benefits of a feather pillow?
Aside from trapping less heat between its fibres than other types of fillings, feather pillows are widely known to be naturally anti-allergenic. They’ll also last longer than designs with synthetic fillings; you can expect around five years’ use from one. If you travel a lot, they’re lightweight and easier to cart around than their man-made peers. And they’re easy to care for too; simply sling them into a washing machine and they’ll emerge looking and feeling as good as new.
Do feather pillows offer good support?
While feather and down pillows are known for their sumptuously soft feel, there are plenty that combine said luxury with ample support for your neck and head.
That said, if you’re someone who moves around a lot and therefore needs a pillow to help keep their head steady throughout the night, you may find better luck with a memory foam pillow instead. See our guide to decide.
Meanwhile for all things feather pillows, scroll on.
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DUSK Pair of Duck Feather & Down Soft Support Pillows - Standard
Whether you sleep alone or you’re refreshing your pillows for both you and your partner, DUSK’s pair of duck feather and down pillows offer fantastic value while keeping quality at a premium.
The filling is in fact a mix made up of 90 per cent duck feather with the rest luxury duck down. Everything comes wrapped in a 100 per cent cotton percale cover which feels cool against the skin. They are offered in soft, medium and firm support and you can buy them in super king size too.
Buy now £37.60, DUSK
Cuddledown Hungarian Goose Down Pillow
Settle down for bed on cloud-like comfort courtesy of Cuddledown. Filled with down from Hungarian geese and encased in a breathable cotton cover, it’s available in standard, king, square and large square sizes. Available in soft and medium densities.
Buy now £70.40, Cuddledown
John Lewis & Partners Natural Duck Feather Standard Pillow, Medium/Firm
A great budget buy from the trusted department store. If you’re testing the waters of feather pillow territory, John Lewis’s option won’t break the bank, coming in at a mere £15. In fact, it’s designed for those who like to sleep on two pillows, offering a supportive base for your pillow stack.
It’s naturally hygienic but to add to this, the cover is finished with a Life Natural peppermint treatment to help it stay fresher and cleaner for longer. The treatment is totally odour-free, so no need to worry about having mint-scented dreams.
Buy now £15.00, John Lewis
The White Company Duck Feather & Down Pillow
Luxuriously large pillows filled with 85 per cent European duck feather and 15 per cent duck down, these pillows plump up beautifully - you’ll feel like you’re bedding down in a five-star hotel every night.
Choose between firmness - there’s medium/soft and medium/firm support. Whichever option you pick, it will come in a 233-thread count cotton cover adding to quality levels and preventing feathers from coming through.
Buy now £35.00, The White Company
Fogarty Duck Feather and Down Medium-Support Pillow Pair
Ideal for back sleepers with a medium level of support, this purchase is for a pair of pillows. The machine-washable cushions measure 48 x 74cm and are finished with a cotton cover casing to allow air to flow through them, keeping you cool as well as comfortable through the night.
Buy now £35.00, Dunelm
Hotel Collection Luxury Goose Feather & Down Pillow Pair
Sleep is so important to our mental and physical health, so it pays to invest in trimmings that will help you get high-quality shut-eye. Wake up feeling refreshed every morning with the help of this pair of goose feather and down pillows, wrapped in a cotton percale cover with a 233 thread count. Keeping them clean is simple too; simply sling in your washing machine to revive them.
Buy now £30.00, Very
Silentnight Duck Feather Plush Support Pillow
Under a microfibre cover, Silentnight’s pillow is filled with duck feathers to cradle your head with gentle support. The temperature-regulating filling comes with a gel-infused layer for added comfort and a smooth and silky feel.
Buy now £28.99, Wayfair
M&S Goose Down Medium Surround Pillow
This bona fide bedtime essential from M&S is a fabulous choice for anyone seeking a feather pillow, offering ample medium support as you snooze. The super soft pillow can be machine washed at 40 degrees, plumps up beautifully and helps regulate temperature year round so you’re snug in winter and cool in the summer.
Buy now £35.00, M&S
