How do you arrange your pillows? Do you have a perfect pile of accent pillows that you never actually sleep on? Or maybe you don’t bother to arrange your pillows at all.

We asked Lee Chambers, Environmental Psychologist and Wellbeing Consultant to explain what five popular pillow arrangements say about our personalities.

1. The Classic shows strong morals and practicality

A popular choice is the Classic arrangement, with a stack of perfectly placed accent cushions that you never actually sleep on. Ideal for giving your bedroom that extra oomph, the Classic arrangement will wow guests when we can invite our loved ones to stay again.

Lee says, ‘This pillow arrangement confers a strong sense of tradition and someone who is very moral, balancing a level of practicality with the ability to show a small part of their personality through their accent cushions. They are unlikely to be the first to try something new but are likely to be reliable and dependable even in a crisis.’

2. The Descend suggests you have a competitive streak

Like your pillows organised from large to small? Then you’re a fan of the Descend, which is common for creating a symmetrical look on double beds or bigger sizes.

Lee explains, ‘The sense of order in descending pillows is very reassuring to those who like conformity and balance and can almost give the image of falling into bed when night comes along. They will enjoy having clear boundaries and structure in life and aiming for the top step of the pillows with a competitive streak.’

3. On the Up suggests you only see things in black and white

After getting out of bed in the morning, do you prop up your pillows and then lie them flat again at night? Then you’re a fan of the On the Up arrangement.

Lee describes this as ‘a true lover of uniformity and ritual, this arrangement is great for those who love to transition their bed from day to night, and this eye for detail makes them skilled at analysis but more likely to think in black and white.’

4. The Mix Up shows you’re creative and enjoy chaos

Do you arrange your pillows half up and half down? Perhaps you even like to place your partner’s pillow one way and yours the other. If that’s the case, you like the Mix Up.

Lee says, ‘There is always one to break the status quo, and the mixer loves that variety in life. They are more likely to enjoy a bit of chaos and entertainment and be generous in nature. They are likely to find joy in creative pursuits but are probably the ones who are the least punctual members of the group.’

5. No pillow arrangement suggests a strong sense of self

If you don’t bother arranging your pillows and simply leave them flat, ready for when you return to bed at night, this still says something about your personality.
Lee explains no pillows arrangement is ‘a sign of practicality and efficiency; the mindset is one I only need what I will use to sleep. They are likely to be individualistic and have a strong sense of self, not being swayed by trends and fashions. They will likely be minimalistic elsewhere and have a particular area they like to indulge in, likely experience-based.’

The best pillow arrangement to improve your sleep

No matter which way you like to arrange your pillows during the day, what really counts is how you position them at night, so you can get a better sleep.

Firstly, the number of pillows you use is important. Choose one to two, depending on your sleeping position – back sleepers should only need one, whereas side sleepers might use two pillows to reduce any pressure placed on your body.

When you get into bed, make sure to keep your pillow flat with your head in the centre. Your head, neck and chin should all remain at a neutral level to prevent strain and discomfort. Try to avoid putting your shoulders on your pillow, as this can result in aches and pains.

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Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API