Best Pillow Inserts

Stylish decorative pillows are more than just a finishing touch of your bedroom or living room interior decor. When chosen with care, they can tie the room together and make a statement piece to completely transform the appearance of your sofa or bed for the better. With decorative pillows, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to add a touch of elegance or modernity to your living space. However, it’s not just what’s on the outside that matters – the pillow insert is as important as a pillow sham itself.

Pillow inserts give the decorative pillow its shape, determine how puffy or flat they look, and of course, they dictate if the decorative pillows have a practical side to them, offering back support while you read or watch TV. We’ve done the research for you and put together a list of our top inserts that are most recommended on the market. Have a scroll through our buyer’s guide below to determine exactly what you should look for in a pillow insert, and you’ll have your living room or bedroom decked out in no time.

Best Pillow Inserts

What Are Pillow Inserts and How to Choose the Perfect One

A pillow insert is essentially another way to describe a plain pillow that you insert into a case or cover, whether this is a bed pillow or cushion. The term is most often paired with cushion covers for decorative purposes, as their main purpose is for aesthetic appeal.

It’s undeniable that you won’t have to put in much thought, research and resources into a pillow insert as you would for a pillow you sleep on every night. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things to consider to make sure you’re getting the right cushion inserts for your needs and budget. From ease of care to type of fill, these are the most important things you need to pay attention to when buying inserts for your pillow shams.

— Size

You might think that this one is pretty self-explanatory – you get the pillows that match your pillow shams, right? Well, not exactly. There’s a nifty little trick that will make your decorative pillow set up look like it came straight from pages of an interior decorating magazine, and that’s choosing inserts a size bigger than the pillow shams themselves. This will give them that fluffed up, overstuffed look that’s much tidier than looking flat with too much room in the sham.

Similarly, by getting a bigger pillow insert, you ensure that the decorative pillow will retain its shape for longer and not sag or sink after someone simply leans on it. As a rule of thumb, this would mean that the insert needs to be at least an inch or two bigger all around than the sham, or double the length if it’s an extra-large size. To sum it up, if you have a sham that measures 18 inches by 18 inches, stuff them with inserts that are 20 inches by 20 inches. For pillow shams with dimensions of 24 inches by 24 inches, go for an insert that’s 27 inches by 27 inches, and so on.

— Type of fill

The fill is the defining feature of any pillow, and the same goes for pillow inserts. Hypoallergenic, budget-friendly, durable, low-maintenance, comfy – there are options for anyone’s preferences, so it all boils down to what you want from a pillow insert and how much you’re willing to pay for it.

The most common type of fill for sham inserts is synthetic fiberfill or polyfill, as it is affordable, doesn’t trigger allergies (like feathers can for some people), and really easy to keep clean. Inserts with this type of filling are usually machine washable and won’t lose their shape after a spin in the drum.

For people that prefer natural materials but still don’t want to break the bank, cotton batting is a solid alternative. Not only is cotton batting natural and safe for kids and adults both, but it’s also considered eco-friendly, durable and low-maintenance. Some shrinkage can always occur with cotton, so be mindful of the care instructions and wash accordingly.

Finally, the third most popular kind of stuffing for cushion inserts is down or feather down, prized for its exceptional comfort that can’t be mimicked by any other material, durability, and overall luxurious feel.

However, despite the superior coziness and excellent shape that down inserts have, they can be a hassle for some people. They’re not hypoallergenic and can be difficult to clean as they require special care.

— Cover durability

Not many people consider the cover of the cushion insert to be of any importance – after all, it will be covered by the decorative pillowcase. While that may be true, that doesn’t mean the cover shouldn’t be durable and well-made. Go for those that are made from machine washable materials and can take the wear and tear without getting holes or tears in them.

If they’re made of cotton, try the ones with a higher thread count that signifies thicker materials. That way, you won’t have to worry about feathers poking out or filling coming out through the tears. When it comes to synthetic materials, they’re usually quite durable and won’t be prone to staining or tearing, so in that case, just make sure the stitching is done well and you can rest assured that the filling will stay in place no matter how much you wash and dry the insert.

— Ease of care

Sure, a pillow insert is protected from grime and damage by the sham, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wash it from time to time. Like it or not, any pillow – even a decorative one – is prone to getting dirty with time.

Whether it’s the accumulation of dust, your pet or kid that’s made a mess, or if you simply want to refresh the pillow to have it smelling nice, no one wants pillows that are hard to keep clean no matter how rarely you wash them. Make sure to pick sham inserts that are machine washable and preferably machine dryable for complete ease of care. Those that can only be spot cleaned or dry cleaned are bound to become a hassle – or worse, a breeding ground for bacteria and dust mites.

Conclusion

Pillow inserts are important both for functionality and appearance. A good pillow insert will make your decorative pillow look pretty and plump, help to hold its shape well, and make your pillows cozy and comfortable to lean on or take a nap on.

Available in a range of sizes and filled with various materials, different cushion inserts will fit your individual needs whether you want a fluffy pillow for your sofa or cozy pillows to adorn your bed. Our recommendation for the best pillow insert you can buy is without a doubt the Acanva Throw Pillow Insert. This product is made of hypoallergenic, durable polyester that will keep your cushion plump and comfortable as a great addition to any living room or bedroom space.

Recent Updates

June 16, 2021: A fifth product, the Edow Throw Pillow Inserts has been added to our list due to continued popularity of this brand, as well as being chosen as an Amazon’s Choice top-rated product. Additional content has been included to the buyer’s guide, specifically, “What Are Pillow Inserts and How to Choose the Perfect One” to address popular questions from consumers.