The Best Pillow Form for a Couch

Foam Pillow Forms

• Lower- to mid-range upholstery manufacturers typically feature foam cushion inserts as the standard, or default, option. Many offer other options on special orders, usually for an additional charge. The cushion inserts are usually made from high-density foam that returns to the original shape when you're not sitting on the couch. Higher densities mean increased foam "memory."

  For all but ultra-contemporary couches with sharp-edged cushions, the base foam is wrapped in synthetic batting to add loft and softness. The amount of batting varies by couch model and manufacturer. Foam pillow forms are the most budget-friendly option. The feel is medium soft, but you don't sink all the way into the cushion.

Spring Pillow Forms

• If you like a firm seat, choose a spring cushion. In a spring cushion, a grid of coiled springs is covered by a high-density foam casing. The casing is wrapped in batting. Cushions made to look overstuffed have more batting and loft than sleeker-looking styles. Some high-end manufacturers offer spring cushions as standard, but it's nearly always an option when they don't.

  Spring cushions aren't the lowest priced option, but they retain their shapes and last longer than foam pillow inserts. Shoppers who require extra support due to back problems frequently select spring cushions. They're also a good choice for the elderly or for others who have trouble rising from a seated position.

Down / Down-Blend Pillow Forms

• If you prefer to sit in your couch rather than on it, you'll enjoy the feel of down or down-blend cushion inserts. They're the softest cushion inserts available. When you sit on down or down-blend cushions, you sink right into the cushion. Neither option is maintenance free; you have to fluff the cushions regularly or they'll go flat.

  Some high-end manufacturers offer down or down-blend pillow forms as the standard on selected couch models, but rarely on all. They're usually an upgrade option on suitable sofa styles. Pure down inserts cost more than blends, but they're softer. Down blends, which are a mix of down, less expensive feathers and synthetic fibers, cost less and don't require as much fluffing. The mix percentages vary by manufacturer. Some manufacturers refer to down-blend options as "blend down" or "down and feather."

Spring-Down Pillow Forms

• Spring-down pillow forms combine the softness of pure down with the support and long life of spring cushions. The spring assembly is encased in foam just like regular spring cushions, and then the foam is encased in a sectioned down casing. The sections, which are similar to the channels or grids of a down duvet insert, keep the down from shifting. The feel is extremely soft, but you don't sink as far into the cushions as you do with down or down blends.

  Spring-down inserts are usually the priciest of all the cushion options. Some high-end upholstery manufacturers offer them as the standard option. When they don't, you can usually select them for special orders. Some mid-range brands also offer spring-down inserts as an upgrade option. Spring down cushions will compress more than regular spring cushions, but many shoppers consider the extra softness worth the slightly shortened cushion life.