Pillows

Hospitality Pillows: Down vs Down Alternative

It is always a refreshing and welcoming feeling when your face meets the pillow on your bed after a long, tiring day. Pillows are an item that people can quickly become attached to because they become so accustomed to the feel and style of their own personal pillows. As a host, it can be difficult finding the proper pillows to put on the beds for your guests since they all have different preferences for firmness and softness. To go along with that, there are different types of pillows including down and down alternative pillows. There are many factors that are involved when deciding which pillows to purchase for your property. This blog will explain the differences between down alternative and down pillows.

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What Is a Standard Pillow Size?

Every night, you sleep on the same type of pillow. You know exactly how it should feel and exactly how to position it to get a good night’s rest.

But then you go out of town and find yourself sleeping on a different type of pillow. Maybe it’s filled with a different material – feathers instead of foam or vice versa – or maybe it’s smaller or bigger than the standard pillow size you’re used to.

Whatever the case, you soon realize that different people need different types of pillows. Pillows and pillowcases come in a range of different sizes. In this blog post, we’ll help you decide which one is the right size for you.

Standard

Standard pillows are perhaps the most common type of pillow, measuring 20 inches by 26 inches. They’re the pillows you’ll usually find on a twin or double bed.

When picking pillowcases for these pillows, don’t worry if you can’t find any labeled simply “standard.” Most are designed to fit both standard and queen-sized pillows without having to worry about sacrificing comfort.

Queen

Slightly longer than standard pillows, queen pillows usually measure 20 inches by 30 inches. Two of them will fit perfectly side by side on a queen-sized bed. But like we said earlier, everyone has their own preference when it comes to pillows. Many sleepers might sleep on a double bed but enjoy the extra length that comes from the queen’s standard pillow size. Not everyone that has queen size beds will use queen size pillows. It’s not uncommon for some properties to use standard size pillows on their queen size beds.

King

As you’d expect, king-sized pillows are designed to fit king-sized beds, with the standard pillow size for kings measuring 20 inches by 36 inches. Some sleepers might find a pillow this large too heavy and unwieldy for normal sleep, which is why you might want to consider using king pillows for decorative purposes paired with queen-sized pillows for sleeping. Some innkeepers even use 3 to 6 standard size pillows, depending on whether the bed is made with 3 or 6 sleeping pillows.

Pillowcase tips

How you deploy your pillowcases can play a role in how well your guests sleep. For example:

Larger pillowcases allow guests to fluff and conform the pillow to their desired shape, especially if they’re sleeping on pillows with gussets. (A gusseted pillow is one that has rectangular panels along its sides for added thickness.)
Use smaller pillowcases when you want a pillow to retain its height and volume, or in cases where you want to extend the life of an older pillow.
Tuck the ends of the pillowcase tightly to add extra volume and height.
Stuffing a big pillow into a smaller pillowcase will distort the pillow shape and make sleeping more difficult.

Different pillows for different sleepers

The position in which people sleep is also an important consideration when choosing pillow sizes:

Side sleepers – This category accounts for most of the population. People who sleep on their sides will do well with a firm or extra-firm pillow with an extra wide gusset to cover the distance between the ear and shoulder.
Back sleepers – People who sleep on their backs tend to do well with thinner pillows, which can cradle the head without lifting it too much.
Stomach sleepers – Sleeping on your stomach can strain your lower back. People who tend to sleep in this position should opt for a thin, soft pillow…or no pillow at all.

There may be such a thing as the standard pillow size, but there’s no such thing as the standard pillow. The right pillow size, shape and fill can make a world of difference to guests seeking a good night’s sleep. Let InnStyle help you find pillows that are right for your establishment.

No matter the pillow size, shape or material, we’re confident we have the pillows and pillow protectors you need to make sure your guests wake up feeling refreshed.

How Often Do Hotels Replace Pillows?

How long have you had the pillow you sleep on every night?

Two years? Four years? Six?

When you check into a hotel, the pillows you sleep on will likely be much newer, as hotels replace pillows fairly frequently.

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How Your Pillow Helps You Sleep – An Innkeeper’s Guide

Woman sleepingo n pillow

A pillow has a simple, yet critical, job: to keep your neck and head aligned when you sleep.

But finding the right pillow isn’t always as simple, especially when you’re not shopping for yourself, but for hundreds upon hundreds of potential guests.

Not every pillow type is right for your preferred sleep position, and different pillow fills and sizes have various benefits.

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How to Wash Pillows

Woman sleepingo n nice clean pillow

The pillow is the cornerstone of the most important thing you can offer guests: A good night’s sleep. According to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation, 91 percent of all participants listed a pillow as the most important part of getting a proper night’s rest.

And a comfortable pillow is a well-cared-for pillow. That’s why we’re going to devote this week’s blog post to proper pillow procedure: how to clean pillows, particularly how to wash down pillows. And can you wash memory foam pillows?

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How the Right Pillow Helps Us Sleep

Hotel bed, quilt bed white pillows on white bed in bedroom

Choosing the right pillow for your hotel, inn, vacation rental or B&B can present a challenge. You’re catering to all kinds of people, and that means catering to all kinds of sleepers.

What is the best pillow for back sleepers? What about side sleepers? What’s the best pillow for neck pain? There are a lot of questions.

Read on for our guide on how to choose a pillow.

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What’s On Your Pillow Menu?

A few years ago, I was at a conference for innkeepers, camped out at my booth showing some of InnStyle’s products.

A colleague of mine – a former innkeeper who had become an industry consultant – stopped by the booth to ask if I could give her some pillow samples to show during her seminar.

Of course I was happy to oblige, and to act as a sort of teacher to a few of her aspiring innkeeper “students” who wanted to learn about our pillows and other products.

It was a pleasure to meet these upcoming innkeepers, allow them to try out our products – by touching and even laying on the pillows – and to explain some of the choices they had when it came to buying new pillows.

And I learned something as well that day at the conference: My former innkeeper colleague suggested I create a pillow menu for our website.

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How and When to Purchase New Pillows

Here’s a simple test you can perform to see if you need a new pillow: fold your pillow in half.

Did it bounce back into place? No? Then it’s time to buy a new pillow.

You can also check the pillow’s density. Density refers to the degree of softness or firmness in the pillow, depending on the type and amount of fill. If the fill inside the pillow is lumpy or bumpy, it could be time for a change.

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How to Choose the Right Pillow

The type of pillow we use to sleep on at night doesn’t necessarily seem like the most important thing in the world, does it?

But consider this: The vast majority of us spend a full one-third of our lives in bed, with our heads placed firmly on a pillow. And if you’re using a pillow that’s too hard, too soft, too firm, or too weak, both your neck and your spine will suffer as a result.

In the short term, a low-quality pillow will also lead to a less-than-ideal night’s sleep. That’s why choosing the right pillow—the best pillow—has always been such a difficult and even agonizing decision for innkeepers.

Naturally, the comfort of an innkeeper’s guests is always a top-of-mind concern. But whether you’re running a luxury hotel or your own small household, there are a few other pillow-specific considerations to bear in mind.

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Purchasing Pillows For Your Inn

Since there are so many choices out in the marketplace on pillows, innkeepers are always concerned about purchasing the correct and best pillows for their Inn. We usually can solve these concerns by speaking to them about their options and budgets and sending them samples to try. The truth is that everyone has different likes and dislikes when it comes to pillows. So we will always advise to have a few different styles of pillows in each room and extra styles/sizes on hand.

Size of Pillows

The size of bed pillows you choose will depend on the size of the bed and the preferences of your guests and how they sleep. In general, for a twin size bed, a standard pillow would be the correct size. For a queen bed two queens is a preference and for a king bed two king pillows would fit best on the bed. We always suggest having 2 pillows in the room for each guest. It would be best to have a soft (down-like) pillow and a medium firm pillow. It is always good to have available a few down pillows and a few firm pillows (in standard, queen & king) on hand for those guests who prefer “real down” or very firm pillows. Also, guests sleeping on a king bed may prefer a smaller pillow then a king. Having these extra pillows on hand in different fills and sizes is a thoughtful accommodation for your guests who will appreciate your consideration of their sleeping needs. On our site we have a pillow menu that may help with making pillow choices for your particular property. Guests appreciate it when they can have the pillow of their choice to ensure a good night’s sleep.

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