Pillow Talk: Down Alternatives
Continuing with my series about cruelty-free alternatives to conventional home décor, I set out to find the best down alternative pillows available – for both bed pillows and throw pillows. Ones that have all the wonderful qualities of down (soft, easy to fluff and reshape, with that nice little bit of weight to them), without containing any animal products. Most down alternatives available are far too stiff and lumpy, they are difficult to fluff and this often leaves them ending up looking misshapen and uneven, and just plain sad. I was determined to find some better options. And I did! See below for my top picks:
Image via Remodelista
Why down alternative? Besides the obvious animal cruelty involved (no, it is not just like getting a haircut) some other reasons to opt for down alternatives are:
Allergies: Not to the down itself, but to the dust mites that thrive in the down fill. This can be truly problematic for someone who suffers from dust allergies. I speak from experience, unfortunately.
Potential mold: When washing down pillows, it is also important to make sure to dry them properly and thoroughly so as to avoid any mold growth. If you’ve ever smelled an even slightly damp down pillow, then you get the idea.
Comfort: If you’ve ever had the unpleasant experience of being poked by the sharp end of a down feather through a pillowcase, or when sitting on down-fill seating, and then being unable to locate the offending feather to try and either push it back in, or pull it out and remove it, then you know how maddening it can be. Down alternatives eliminate this issue completely. Down alternatives also tend to feel “cooler” than down, which is ideal for anyone in warm weather climates, or if you happen to just prefer a cooler sleeping environment, like me.
While it was a fairly exhaustive search, it is by all means not all-inclusive, so if you have found any options that you love, please share in the comments! It is also worth noting that I do not earn any commission from any sales resulting from the links provided. I am providing them for reference only, so you can see where to purchase the selections. This is my own, unpaid, unbiased opinion. I just happen to really, really like these products.
So, my top pick for down-alternative bed pillows is Wamsutta Dream Zone Synthetic Down Back/Stomach Sleeper pillow. While slightly pricier than what I would normally pay for a bed pillow, there are also far more expensive options on the market. And, in my opinion, these are worth every penny. Also available in a side sleeper option, this bed pillow has a silky-soft protective cover, and it washes up beautifully. It is beyond comfortable, and has a very lux feel to it, like you’re sleeping in a high-end hotel. I am in love.
Photo by Sylvie Tittel on Unsplash
My top pick for throw pillow inserts are CB2 Down Alternative inserts. Super affordable, and available in a variety of sizes, I want to replace ALL my accent pillow inserts with these. They are THAT. GOOD. I think that these also feel far more expensive than they are. They have held up to daily use for well over a year now, and all it takes is grabbing a pillow by the corners and giving it a little shake to reshape it and fluff it back to its original fullness. Note: I happen to like the fact that these inserts are not overstuffed and overly puffy, I feel the end result looks very effortless. If you prefer a slightly fuller look, you might want to consider double-stuffing your pillow covers, and using two inserts per each pillow cover.
Image via CB2
So there you have it! Down alternative pillows that rival the look and feel of traditional down fill. A perfect example of options for interiors that are cruelty-free, luxurious, and affordable. What material or product alternative should I feature next?