Stop Your Pillows From Falling Between The Mattress And Wall

pillows against headboard

Are your pillows missing at midnight? Stop them from escaping between the bed and wall with these great tips!

Pillows that slip between the bed and wall simply have too much space! You can block them with a headboard, a large cushion or by closing the gap.


Top 3 Ways To Prevent Pillows From Disappearing Between The Wall And Mattress

Know the feeling? You wake up in the middle of the night and your neck feels oddly pillow-less. Drat. You immediately realize that your pillow – or pillows – have escaped down the back of the bed and down the wall. Again. Not only is it annoying to fish for one’s pillows in the dark behind a mattress but they also get dirty with dust and possibly bugs. 

The good news is that it is relatively easy to stop this annoying problem from playing on repeat. Keep your neck comfy by trying one of the top 3 ways to keep pillows where they belong!

  1. Block them with larger cushions.
  2. Add a headboard.
  3. Close the gap.

Another way to prevent losing a pillow is to angle the bed slightly in an upward position. Here are the best mattresses for adjustable beds.


How To Block Smaller Pillows With Large Cushions

large pillows support small pillows

Before you do anything else, see if you cannot push the bed closer to the wall and if that solves the problem. But, if for some reason, this is not possible, then no worries. There are plenty of ways to cut off your pillows’ nightly escape route. 

One of the most fashionable ways is to use other pillows. The only requirement is that the pillows are large enough to block the gap. They must also be comfortable considering that they will stay on the bed when you sleep at night. If you can, choose something beautiful and stylish. Not only will the offending pillows stay put but your bed will also look more inviting!

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What Type Of Cushions Are Suitable For This?

Two types of cushions are great for this job. The first is continental cushions. Not only are they large enough to stop other pillows from falling between the bed and wall but they are also very comfortable to sleep with. The second is tube pillows. These cushions are literally stuffed tubes and come in every size and length imaginable. They are perfect to block the entire length of the gap while also adding more support to your other cushions. 

Add A Headboard To Block The Gap

head board supports pillows

This suggestion might not be for everyone. True, some people are not a fan of headboards but if you always fancied one, now might be the time to kill two birds with one stone. A headboard that stands close enough to the bed will definitely block pillows from falling to the floor. A headboard also adds a lovely touch to the bedroom. 

Want to try something new tonight? Learn how to make a comfortable bed without a mattress.

How Do I Know That This Will Work?

This is a fair question. A headboard can be a pricey piece of furniture. What if you purchase one and it does not solve the problem? Money down the drain, that’s for sure. There is a surefire way to avoid this disaster. A good manufacturer will allow you to take the headboard home and run a home trial to see if you are satisfied before making the final decision to buy. This way you can test a headboard without the financial commitment. 

If you want to test the top beds instead, here are the best mattresses with a free trial. Some of the beds on our list come with a year-long free trial!

More Tips On How To Close The Gap  

Another way to solve the problem is to place something over or inside the gap, enough so to prevent the cushions from falling to the floor. 

Add Some More Foam To The Mattress

One of the most popular solutions is to add a foam extension to the mattress. This can be a separate piece or even a new mattress that is slightly longer than the base. Either way, make sure that you get a professional opinion on this so as to not damage the mattress with a new extension or overhang. 

These are the best memory foam mattresses on the market today.

Add A Board (With Or Without Compartments)

head board storage shelves

Another visually appealing way to stop pillows in their tracks is to add a plank structure. It can be as simple as a horizontal board with two boards as supports. If you paint this support or varnish it, the appearance will add a touch of class to the bedroom as well. Some people prefer to add several box compartments to add books and other bedtime goodies.

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Consider Using Stiffer Pillows

The pillows that tend to slip in between the bed and the wall are the ones that have the suppleness of noodles. A pillow that is stiff will have a harder time escaping over the edge of your bed and down a narrow gap. 

The best stiff pillow is one that is made of memory foam. If you are new to the idea of memory foam and the whole thing seems a bit odd, here is the good news. Yes, the first attempts to make memory foam pillows were infamously bad. But these days, the pillows that are made by the best brands are remarkably supportive, comfortable, and never lose their shape. They even come with warranties like a mattress! The bottom line is that these pillows are not too flexible. While they can and do move around at night, it is near impossible for them to dive down the gap.

If you are interested, one of the top brands that sell memory foam pillows is Nectar Sleep. If you like what you see and you want to check out their beds, here are the best Nectar mattress reviews.


A Quick Summary On How To Stop Pillows From Falling Between The Bed And Wall

  • Some sleepers battle with this annoying problem on a nightly basis.
  • There are several ways to prevent pillows from falling in behind the bed.
  • The main focus is to stop the gap between the mattress and the wall.
  • Furniture like a headboard or a compartment board can also help if they are placed between the bed and the wall. 
  • A large cushion like a continental or long tube pillow can also be very effective.
  • Sometimes, the solution can be as quick and easy as moving the bed closer to the wall. 
  • Using a mattress that is longer than the base is also one way to close the gap but one should be careful not to spoil the integrity of the mattress.
  • A stiffer pillow, like those made only from memory foam, is also less likely to slide over the edge of the bed and down the narrow gap.

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About the Author Tom

My journey into the world of sleep came about through living in several properties over my lifetime and always seeming to have the worst luck with neighbors. All but one have been extremely noisy and very inconsiderate. What this made me realize early on, was that the little sleep my neighbors allowed me to get needed to be of great quality. So I started to learn all about sleep, and what helps people get the best quality sleep possible.