Pillow guide
How to choose a pillow in Australia.
Start with what you want to change about your current pillow. Too yielding, too hard to shape, awkward to clean or simply no longer comfortable: each points to a different buying decision.
What makes a useful shortlist?
Choose pillows whose feel, dimensions and care requirements suit you, then compare the delivered price and return terms. There is no single best pillow for every sleeper. A long specification list is only useful if it answers something you need to know.
This guide is written by NUVELL to help you compare pillow types and buying terms. We sell a down and feather pillow; we have not tested or ranked the other brands mentioned here.
Describe the feel you are looking for
Do you like to plump and reshape your pillow, or want it to stay in a defined shape? Do you prefer a softer feel or more structure? Keep those preferences separate from height. Loft describes a pillow's height or fullness, while firmness describes how it responds to pressure.
Judge fit on the bed you use. A pillow's height in a photograph does not tell you where your head will settle. The side-sleeper guide and back-sleeper guide offer practical checks to try on your own bed.
Compare the main fill types
Use these differences to narrow your shortlist, then check the exact model. Firmness, dimensions and care can vary within every category.
- Down and feather
- Shapeable natural fill. Down brings soft clusters; feather adds body and has a central shaft. Check the blend or chamber construction, and be prepared to plump the pillow regularly. Understand the fill label.
- Polyester fibre
- A synthetic option offered in different feels and heights. Some models allow whole-pillow washing, which may matter if easy washing is a priority. Tontine’s polyester range is one published example; follow the chosen model’s label.
- Memory foam
- Compare a moulded contour with a pillow containing loose foam pieces. They can have different shaping and care requirements. TEMPUR’s pillow FAQ explains examples of both constructions and distinguishes washing the cover from washing the foam.
- Latex
- Worth comparing if you prefer a resilient, springier response. Dunlopillo’s latex information describes its rebound qualities. Check the pillow’s height and contour, along with separate care instructions for its cover and core.
Read the filling and construction together
Look for named materials and clear proportions. If a pillow has multiple chambers, check which percentage applies to which chamber. A percentage in the product name may not describe the whole pillow.
Construction matters too. A loose-fill pillow that can be shaped is a different choice from a fixed contour or one with removable filling. The down vs feather guide explains NUVELL's materials; the hotel pillow guide explains how to investigate a pillow you liked during a stay.
Make sure you can live with the care instructions
Check whether instructions apply to the pillow itself, a removable cover or both. If you need to wash the whole pillow regularly, choose a product whose label permits that. “Natural fill” or “hotel pillow” does not establish that it can go in your washing machine.
Check dimensions in centimetres against the pillowcases and protectors you already own. A case that squeezes the pillow tightly can change its shape and feel. A familiar size name is less useful than the actual measurements.
Compare the cost of buying and trying
- Delivered price: compare the price in AUD with delivery to your postcode added.
- Timing: distinguish the time before dispatch from the estimated time in transit.
- Opened returns: check whether trying the pillow is permitted, for how long and under what conditions.
- Postage: check who pays return postage and whether original delivery charges are refunded.
- Multiple pillows: check any limit on how many opened pillows can be returned before buying a bundle.
Keep a copy of the product details and terms when you order. They give you something concrete to refer to if the supplied product differs or you need to discuss a return.
For a NUVELL order, check our delivery rates and dispatch timing alongside the pillow price so you can compare the full cost and when to expect it.
Is NUVELL the kind of pillow you want?
The NUVELL Pillow is a shapeable down-and-feather pillow in Soft and Firm. Both are 50 × 70 cm, with a 100% cotton, 230-thread-count down-proof cover and separate outer and inner fill chambers. Choose Soft for a softer feel, or Firm for more structure.
It needs spot cleaning, so choose another model if regular whole-pillow washing is essential for you. Our care guide explains the routine, and our 30-Night Guarantee gives eligible buyers time to try the feel at home. Check its trial period, condition requirements and two-opened-pillow limit before buying a set.
Make a shortlist you can explain.
Write down your preferred feel, pillowcase size, care requirements and delivered budget. Those four details make the final comparison easier.
Compare the NUVELL feels Ask us a product question