What’s something we punch, flip, fluff and can’t sleep without? Pillows! We’ve been sleeping with them since we grew out of our crib phase, but the fluffy, cozy pillow we know today is a fairly modern invention. For most of history, pillows were way less comfy – sometimes not even soft at all.

Let’s take a little trip across the world through time (and across cultures) to see just how far the pillow has come.

We know humans started making beds made of grass and ash about 227,000 years ago in Africa. But the comfy pillow we know and love (and can’t sleep without!) didn’t become a thing at the same time. And when they did, they sure weren’t as comfy as a grassy bed.

The earliest recorded use of a pillow dates back to around 7,000 BC in Mesopotamia, but they weren’t using soft materials for comfort like we do today. Instead, they rested their heads on stone carved into a cradle shape for practical reasons – like keeping insects from crawling into their ears, nose or mouth while they slept (a real concern when you remember they slept on the ground!). Because stone was an expensive commodity, only the wealthy could afford to have one, and they became a sort of status symbol where the more pillows a person owned, the more important they were.

Some time during the 11th dynasty, ancient Egyptians used something to elevate their heads at night, but with a much different purpose. In their afterlife-focused culture, the head was believed to be the seat of life and therefore treated with great respect and care. Their versions of pillows were more of a headrest supporting the neck and were made of marble, ceramics, ivory, stone or wood. They even placed pillows carved with images of their gods under the heads of their dead in order to keep any bad spirits away.

In ancient China, some early pillows were a little more comfortable and made of textiles, but the Chinese also believed these soft pillows were a luxury that could sap the body of its energy and make it weak. Their preferred pillow was made of porcelain or bamboo, but for those wealthy enough to afford it, they would have one made of bronze or jade. Since their pillows were more of an artform and less of a textile, they would often be decorated with scenes of animals, humans and plants or made into different shapes.

In Japan, pillows took a different form altogether. Instead of fabric cushions, people used small wooden or ceramic headrests, sometimes with a cloth tied on top for a bit of padding. These weren’t comfort items though, instead they were practical tools meant to support the neck and, just as importantly, to keep elaborate hairstyles intact overnight. For women with ornate coiffures and for men with samurai topknots, preserving the style mattered as much as getting rest. These structured headrests were in use for centuries before softer, fabric-stuffed pillows became common with the influence of Western bedding in the 19th century.

Ancient Greece and Rome had a different – more comfortable – idea for what to rest your head on.

Around 500 BCE in Ancient Greece, pillows started looking a little more like what we’d recognize today and were used by all regardless of social standing. The wealthy and upper-class stuffed cloth with materials like feathers, wool or straw to create softer supports. Hippocrates, who we know as the ‘the father of medicine,’ even prescribed sleep on soft pillows as a cure for sleep issues. 

Romans really loved their cushions. They used them not just for sleeping but also for reclining while eating, reading or socializing. There was still a difference in what you would sleep on depending on social class though. Rich, affluent Romans had pillows stuffed with feathers of the most precious, delicate birds. Meanwhile, the average citizen slept on sacks of less valuable fabric stuffed with herbs.

The disappearance of the comfortable pillow came with the fall of the Roman Empire. The soft stuffed version became rare since folks could no longer afford them. But if you could afford them, it was a status symbol.

In medieval Europe, pillows were still considered a luxury. Royals and the upper classes enjoyed feather-filled versions wrapped in fine fabrics, often decorated with embroidery to flaunt wealth and status. A soft, plump pillow was as much about showing off as it was about comfort.

At the same time, pillows weren’t universally embraced. In parts of England, many men dismissed them as a sign of weakness, and they were often reserved for pregnant women or those who were ill. For most households, simpler supports like straw-stuffed sacks were the norm

As trade and textiles (like cotton, linen and more) expanded during the Renaissance, pillows became more common. People across Europe started to embrace them in everyday life, not just as a noble’s luxury. By the 17th and 18th centuries, feather pillows had become fairly widespread, though not always in the fluffy, cloud-like form we picture. They were often heavy, lumpy and needed frequent adjustments to keep their shape.

In other parts of the world, traditional styles continued. Porcelain pillows remained popular in China well into later dynasties, decorated with elaborate artwork and sometimes used as burial items. Japan also kept its headrest tradition alive for centuries before soft cushions became more widespread.

By the 19th and 20th centuries, pillows had finally become an everyday household item. 

Down and feathers were still common, but industrialization also introduced cheaper synthetic fills like polyester and, eventually, memory foam. These opened the door to mass-produced pillows for nearly everyone – though not without trade-offs. Many synthetics relied on chemical additives, trapped heat or wore out quickly compared to natural alternatives.

That shift set the stage for today’s wide range of pillow designs, including plenty of organic options. There are ergonomic shapes for side and stomach sleepers, breathable options for hot sleepers and pillows made with certified organic materials for those who want comfort without added chemicals. The idea of the “perfect pillow” has expanded far beyond simply soft or firm – it’s now about choosing what feels good for your body and what aligns with your values. Especially if your values include living an organic or sustainable lifestyle.

The story of the pillow is a reminder that comfort has always been a moving target. What started as stone, wood or porcelain supports meant for protection, posture or even hairstyle preservation has turned into one of the most personal sleep accessories we own. Across cultures and centuries, pillows have symbolized everything from wealth and status to health and spirituality.

Today, most of us can’t imagine drifting off without one – but we also have more choices than ever before. Pillows have come a long way from their humble (and sometimes uncomfortable) beginnings.