Plus, my Mother's Day gift picks.
͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­
Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more

A pillow primer, based on your recs

Plus, my Mother's Day gift picks.

Amanda Hesser
Apr 17
∙
Preview
 
READ IN APP
 
Fiver testing out the pillow stack.

As you know, I’m being very selective about what comes into the Ojai house. Everything is carefully researched—either by going down internet rabbit holes or, even better, seeing things in-person and vetting them first-hand. Like I did with pillows recently.

After complaining in a recent post about the bed pillows I’d ordered for Ojai, I sent out a call to Homewardians for their suggestions. You delivered bountifully, sharing a number of brands I’d never heard of and strong opinions about a pillow’s construction, sustainability, and comfort. I have found my people! People who are particular about density, fill, and sleep-style ergonomics.

Upgrade to paid

After collating your notes, I ordered seven of the pillows to test out. Below are my findings, complete with a video, so you can see the pillows in use and get my analysis. I’m also sharing my ideas for Mother’s Day gifts—things at reasonable price points that hit the thoughtful, practical, and delightful trifecta.

More on this perfect market tote in my Mother’s Day picks below. (I discovered the brand from a Homeward reader!)

I’m also excited to soon share a shopping resource I’ve been working on that will compile my many, many sourcing lists—from cookware to cookbooks, kitchen tools to pantry storage, travel guides to paper goods that support my list-making in style. I’ve always wanted to have everything in one easy-to-navigate spot (think: not a spreadsheet).

Yours in memory foam and buckwheat,

Amanda

And now, onto your recommendations. After going through your many great suggestions, these are the seven I ordered to test out. I included capsule info on each pillow, followed by a video review of my slumber series:

Subscribe to Homeward to unlock the rest.

Become a paying subscriber of Homeward to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.

Upgrade to paid

A subscription gets you:

Weekly posts, with access to commenting and the full archive
Deep dives on home design, recipes, shopping, travel, and more
Personal essays, Q&As with home design experts, and lively community conversations
 
Like
Comment
Restack
 

© 2026 Amanda Hesser
116 Willow Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Unsubscribe

Get the appStart writing