This unusual pillow could be the cure for your neck pain – and it’s cooling too
A centre-stitch might seem like a simple feature, but it makes a massive difference to neck pain
If you struggle with neck pain, overheating, or finding the right pillow height, the Naturalmat Centre Stitched Wool Pillow offers a unique solution. Its centre-stitched design gently cradles your head while supporting your neck, helping you maintain a more comfortable sleeping position. Add in breathable organic wool and cotton, and this is one of the most thoughtful natural pillows I've tested.
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Stitched centre makes a comfortable cradle for any sleepers who struggle with neck pain
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Natural composition is brilliant for reducing harmful chemicals in the bedroom
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Materials are naturally cooling and moisture wicking
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Exceptional quality and attention to detail
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Comfortable and unique feel
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Cradle shape isn't for everyone
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Expensive (but it is good value for what you get)
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When it comes to eco-conscious, cooling luxury sleep, few brands do it better than Naturalmat. The Devon-based company has been crafting premium bedding in its solar-powered factory since 1999. While it's perhaps best known for its exceptional mattresses, I want to introduce you to its centre-stitched wool pillow.
The centre-stitched design might look unusual, but it's been created specifically for people who struggle with neck pain. The natural dip cradles your head, helping to keep your neck aligned while you sleep. It certainly feels different from a traditional pillow, but for anyone who needs that extra support, it's a dream come true.
The thoughtful design is matched by equally impressive materials. Filled with organic wool and wrapped in organic cotton, this pillow cushions your head without relying on synthetic foams or chemical-heavy fillings. Those naturally breathable fibres also make it an excellent choice for hot sleepers, earning it a place among the best cooling pillows you can buy.
Naturalmat The Centre Stitched Wool Pillow review
- RRP: £90
- Filling: Organic cotton, organic wool
- Firmness: Firm
- Size: 48 x 74 cm
- Guarantee: 5 year
Who would the Naturalmat The Centre Stitched Wool Pillow suit?
- Anyone with neck pain – the centre stitch creates a natural cradle that supports your head and encourages better neck alignment.
- Hot sleepers – organic wool and cotton are naturally breathable and moisture-wicking, helping you stay cooler through the night.
- Anyone looking for a more natural pillow – it's made from certified organic cotton and British organic wool, without synthetic foam fillings.
The Naturalmat Centre Stitched Pillow is one of the brand's best-sellers for good reason. If you regularly wake up with a stiff or aching neck, I'd strongly recommend giving it a try. The stitched centre creates a gentle cradle that supports your head while helping to keep your neck comfortably aligned. It's not a cure for chronic pain - we'd always recommend speaking to a physiotherapist if neck pain persists - but it's a thoughtful design that could make a noticeable difference to your sleep.
Its also impressive when you look below the surface. The pillow is filled with traceable British organic wool and wrapped in an organic cotton cover. This makes it a great choice for anyone trying to create a more natural sleep environment: wool is naturally breathable and excellent at regulating temperature, while cotton feels soft against the skin.
Coincidentally, using natural materials also makes the Centre Stitched Wool Pillow brilliant hot sleepers. The natural fibres help wick away moisture and allow air to circulate, so the pillow feels fresher throughout the night. It won't eliminate night sweats or hot flushes altogether, but it can help create a cooler, more comfortable sleeping environment.
What is the Naturalmat The Centre Stitched Wool Pillow like to sleep on?
I test every pillow that we recommend so I can write from first-hand experience. For the Naturalmat Centre Stitched Wool Pillow, I also asked my mum to test it alongside me. While I'm a hot sleeper, I don't suffer from neck pain, so I wanted someone who could properly assess whether the centre-stitched design delivered on its ergonomic promises. My mum struggles with both neck pain and night sweats, making her the perfect second tester.
The first thing I noticed was how different this pillow feels from a traditional design. Most pillows lift your head above your shoulders, whereas the stitched centre creates a gentle trough that lets your head sink into the middle of the pillow while the sides offer support. It took me a night or two to adjust, but once I did, I found it really comfortable. The cradled feeling encouraged me to stay on my back instead of rolling onto my front (a habit I've been trying to break) and after a couple of weeks, the position felt completely natural. In fact, when I went away, I missed the distinctive feel of the Centre Stitched Pillow and found it much harder to get comfortable on a standard hotel pillow.
As with most natural pillows I've tested, I wouldn't describe it as a miracle cure for overheating. If you experience intense night sweats, you'll still get hot. What I did notice, though, was that I woke up feeling noticeably less clammy. The breathable wool filling and cotton cover seemed to manage moisture well, so my skin felt fresher in the morning, even after warm nights.
My mum was able to put the pillow's ergonomic design through a much tougher test. "I'd got so used to waking up with a stiff neck and shoulders that I'd almost accepted it as normal," she told me. "I'd tried thin pillows, U-shaped pillows, buckwheat pillows and firm pillows, but none of them completely solved the problem."
She noticed a difference almost immediately. "After a few nights of getting used to the different sleeping position, I was waking up without the same stiffness in my neck and shoulders. I could move much more freely in the mornings, and I also noticed my skin felt fresher overnight. It hasn't completely stopped me getting hot, but I definitely feel more comfortable sleeping on it."
Between the two of us, we came away with the same conclusion. This isn't a pillow that tries to feel plush or cloud-like. Instead, it's been carefully engineered to support your head and neck, and once you've adjusted to its distinctive shape, it's remarkably comfortable to sleep on.
Should you buy the Naturalmat The Centre Stitched Wool Pillow?
If you've been struggling to find a pillow that supports your neck without feeling rigid or uncomfortable, the Naturalmat Centre Stitched Wool Pillow is absolutely worth considering. The unusual centre cradle takes a little getting used to, but once you've adjusted, it creates a supportive sleeping position that can help ease pressure on your neck and shoulders.
Combined with breathable organic wool and cotton, it's also a brilliant choice for hot sleepers who want a pillow that feels fresher throughout the night. It isn't the cheapest pillow you'll buy, but the thoughtful design, traceable natural materials and impressive comfort make it a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to improve their sleep.
How we test pillows
At woman&home, we like to test all the pillows that we recommend to you. Our hands-on experience means that you don't just get to read about the impressive, paper credentials that each pillow boasts, you can also read about how it copes with real life sleeping problems in our slumber scenarios. For a pillow like this one, I tested it for comparison against all the other pillows and so that I could see what it was like for hot sleepers, but we made sure to have someone with neck pain testing the pillow too, so we could see whether it really meets the credentials for an impressive pillow for neck pain.
You can find out more about how we test pillows on our dedicated page.
