🛏️ What Is the Scandinavian Sleep Method?
The Scandinavian Sleep Method is a sleeping arrangement popular in Nordic countries (like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark) where couples share the same bed but each use their own duvet or blanket rather than one shared cover. Instead of struggling over a single comforter — which often leads to one partner feeling too hot or too cold — each person gets their own bedding they can customize to their temperature and comfort needs.
🔍 Why People Have Tried It
Many couples experience disrupted nights because of:
Blanket tugging or “doona drama”
Different temperature preferences
Someone getting into bed at a different time
Movements that disturb a partner’s sleep
These everyday issues are a big reason why the Scandinavian method has gone viral on social media as a simple sleep hack for partners who want to stay together in the same bed but sleep better.
🧠 Is There Scientific Proof It Works?
According to the ScienceAlert article:
There’s no dedicated scientific research yet that proves “two blankets vs. one blanket” works better for sleep.
However, the concept aligns with known principles of good sleep hygiene — such as maintaining a comfortable sleep temperature and reducing disturbances.
Many aspects of the method theoretically reduce common sleep interruptions that come from sharing bedding.
A recent analysis noted that it should be viewed more as a practical sleep-environment tweak rather than a proven clinical method.
✨ Potential Benefits
Experts and lifestyle guides highlight several advantages:
✔️ Personalized temperature control
Each partner can choose a duvet with the right thickness and warmth for themselves, which helps support better sleep quality.
✔️ Fewer disturbances
Using separate duvets can reduce the number of wake-ups caused by blanket pulling or one partner’s movements.
✔️ Maintains intimacy
Unlike the so-called “sleep divorce” (sleeping in separate beds), this method lets couples stay in the same bed while reducing disruptions.
✔️ Affordable and simple
You don’t need special equipment — just two duvets and a willingness to try a new sleep setup.
⚠️ Possible Downsides
While it can help in many cases, there are a few limitations:
Not a cure-all for serious sleep issues (like snoring, sleep apnea, or restless leg syndrome).
Can make the bed harder to make neat and might feel less cozy for those who love nighttime cuddles.
On smaller beds, two duvets may not fit comfortably without sliding off.
🧩 Bottom Line
The Scandinavian Sleep Method doesn’t have strong clinical research behind it yet, but it does align with good sleep-hygiene principles and offers a practical solution for reducing common sleep disturbances between partners. For many couples, especially those with different temperature preferences or sleep schedules, it’s a low-effort way to improve comfort and sleep quality — and it may be worth trying before more drastic changes like separate beds.
Read more on Sciencealert.com
