Bolster Pillow: The Buyer's Guide
Bien choisir sa literie est primordial pour bénéficier d’un sommeil réparateur. Après avoir consulté le guide du matelas, il convient ensuite de s’interroger sur les autres éléments de la literie permettant d’améliorer son confort pendant la nuit.
In fact, while the mattress plays an important role in the quality of a sleeper’s sleep, the choice of pillows or even a comforter should not be left to chance. Another bedding item is often overlooked, even though it can provide real added comfort: the bolster.
To ensure optimal comfort and support, however, it’s important to know the key factors to consider before buying a bolster. Here’s a closer look at everything you need to know to choose the right bolster.
A bolster: what is it for?
A bolster is a long, cylindrical pillow. It is placed at the head of the bed, under the pillows. The original purpose of a bolster is to provide additional support and comfort when the pillows are too soft. However, a bolster serves many other purposes as well.
The bolster: a pillow to improve your health and well-being
Quelle est l’utilité d’un traversin en matière de confort ? Le traversin est un oreiller très utile pour soulager de nombreuses douleurs et améliorer considérablement la qualité du sommeil.
En rectifiant la position du dormeur et en apportant un maintien supplémentaire au niveau des cervicales, il améliore notamment la circulation du sang et permet de réduire :
- headaches;
- back pain;
- neck pain.
Il est même possible de bouger son traversin et de le placer sous ses chevilles durant la nuit pour soulager des douleurs aux jambes. Il est également à noter que les femmes enceintes bénéficient beaucoup des avantages du traversin pour soulager les jambes lourdes.
Enfin, le traversin est très apprécié en cas de rhume, pour pouvoir dormir la tête légèrement relevée tout en soulageant ses sinus.
The bolster: essential for relaxation
A bolster provides extra support, which is why it’s a must-have for anyone who enjoys relaxing in bed while sitting up. If you don’t have a comfortable headboard or firm pillows, a bolster is the perfect solution.
So, adding a bolster is the perfect way to read or watch TV from bed without slumping over completely.
Enhance Your Bedroom Decor with a Bolster Pillow
A bolster can also enhance the decor of your bedroom, since it helps keep pillows and cushions upright. So, if you want to create a beautiful headboard, a bolster is the perfect choice.
By placing a bolster behind your pillows and arranging smaller cushions of various sizes and shapes, you can create a bed with a luxurious look, just like in hotel rooms.
What type of bolster pillow should you choose?
To choose the right bolster, you first need to be familiar with the different shapes it comes in. It’s therefore important to consider which shape of bolster to choose before making a purchase, so you can select the model that best suits your needs.
Therefore, you can choose:
- a flat bolster, which helps relieve neck pain and provides support for the neck;
- a round bolster, which can be used as a pillow or to hold the cushions in place when the bed is made;
- a pillow shaped like a music stand, which has a triangular base and is very useful for preventing stiffness in the neck or legs.
What size bolster pillow should you choose?
Il convient ensuite de choisir sa taille de traversin pour que ce dernier soit adapté aux dimensions du lit.
Pour un lit double, il est possible d’opter pour un grand traversin ou deux traversins individuels, qui peuvent être plus pratiques puisque chaque dormeur est amené à bouger pendant la nuit. Partager un traversin peut en effet être dérangeant.
For a bolster used by a single person, the ideal length is between 80 and 120 cm. For couples, the ideal length is between 140 and 200 cm, depending on the width of the bed.
What kind of filling should you use for your bolster?
Outre la forme et les dimensions du traversin, il faut également être attentif à un autre critère : le garnissage. Quel garnissage choisir pour un traversin ?
Il existe différentes matières pouvant être utilisées pour garnir un traversin, mais toutes ne sont pas écoresponsables. Or, les sensibilités liées à l’écologie prennent de plus en plus d’importance dans le choix du consommateur.
The filling of the bolster also affects comfort and support. You can therefore choose from:
- memory foam padding;
- polyester fiber filling;
- a feather filling;
- a filling made from recycled materials;
- a natural latex filling;
- a down filling.
Polyester and memory foam fillings: interesting options, but not environmentally friendly
Un traversin à mémoire de forme permet de conserver une bonne posture toute la nuit. Toutefois, les traversins garnis avec ce type de mousse peuvent donner chaud et ne sont pas très appréciés en été.
Les traversins en fibres de polyester s’adaptent quant à eux aux préférences de chacun, en apportant un soutien souple, mi-ferme ou très ferme.
It should be noted that memory foam or polyester fiber bolsters are not recommended for people looking for a more eco-friendly option.
Choose an eco-friendly filling
Il est aujourd’hui nécessaire d’être particulièrement attentif à la composition des matelas, des oreillers et même des traversins et de privilégier autant que possible l’achat d’accessoires de literies écoresponsables.
Pour choisir un traversin qui respecte davantage l’environnement et la santé du dormeur, il est notamment préférable d’opter pour une matière de garnissage recyclé. Le coton bio et le latex naturel peuvent également être de bonnes alternatives.
Finally, in addition to being eco-friendly, feather bolsters are particularly beneficial for people who sweat a lot at night. The feather filling allows air to circulate while providing support that is both soft and firm.
What level of firmness should you choose for your bolster?
Should you choose a soft or firm bolster? It all comes down to personal preference. The firmness of a pillow or bolster plays an important role in your comfort throughout the night. This factor is therefore important and should be considered before making a purchase.
The firmness of a bolster also depends on the density of the filling. A low density results in a soft bolster, while a high density makes the bolster very firm.
Features of the soft bolster
The soft bolster is ideal for people looking for cozy comfort for a relaxing night's sleep. With this type of bolster, the sleeper's head sinks in slightly, creating a soft, cloud-like sensation.
A soft bolster provides less support than a firm one, but it allows you to be more comfortable, especially if you sleep on your stomach or back.
However, a soft bolster is not recommended for heavier individuals who need more support. In this case, it may be better to choose an ergonomic bolster to properly support the neck.
Features of the firm bolster
The firm body pillow is suitable for people who need a lot of support at night. Side sleepers, in particular, would be well advised to choose this type of body pillow.
For people suffering from neck or back pain, a firm body pillow offers effective solutions by helping them maintain good posture throughout the night. Finally, it’s important to remember that a firm body pillow isn’t necessarily uncomfortable.
Bolster or pillow: which one should you choose?
Il est tout à fait possible de combiner le traversin et l’oreiller. Ainsi, il n’est pas obligatoire de choisir entre les deux.
Toutefois, pour les personnes qui n’aiment pas dormir la tête trop relevée, il peut être nécessaire de faire un choix entre ces deux produits. Alors, traversin ou oreiller : comment choisir ?
The main difference between a bolster and a pillow is, of course, their shape. While a bolster is long and sometimes tube-shaped to span the entire width of the bed, a pillow is square or rectangular. A bolster can, however, be folded to provide additional support for a specific part of the body.
En termes de maintien, le traversin est généralement plus ferme, puisque son rôle premier est d’apporter un maintien supplémentaire. Ainsi, le traversin peut suffire pour relever la tête du dormeur. Les oreillers deviennent alors inutiles.
Il peut être bon de tester plusieurs configurations pour choisir celle qui convient le mieux : un traversin, plusieurs oreillers, ou encore les deux.
We recommend these other pages:
- Everything You Need to Know About Mattresses
- How do you choose a mattress?
-
The mattress and its box spring
- The mattress protector
- How do you care for your mattress?
- Bedding
- How to Choose a Duvet?
- Which pillow should I choose?
- Which bed should you choose, along with a mattress and box spring?
- Which comforter should I choose?