Could sleeping separately be the key to better relationships?

• The Scandinavian sleep method, where couples sleep with separate duvets to improve rest and reduce disruptions, is gaining popularity and sparking debate about its impact on relationships.
• Experts like Matthew Walker suggest that the method can boost intimacy and emotional stability by improving sleep quality, while others warn it may reduce feelings of closeness if not approached intentionally.
• Social media reactions are mixed, with some normalizing the practice and others questioning its long-term effects on relationships as the trend continues to divide opinions.

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They say sharing is caring, but not everyone agrees regarding sleep. The Scandinavian sleep method is going viral again, and it’s dividing more than just blankets.

Some couples believe this Nordic-inspired sleep style could lead to better rest and even healthier relationships. Others aren’t so sure.

What is the Scandinavian sleep method?

The Scandinavian sleep method, popular in countries like Sweden, Norway and Denmark, involves couples sleeping in the same bed — but with separate duvets. The idea is to eliminate blanket hogging, reduce overheating and minimize nighttime wakeups.

While the concept has long been a cultural norm in parts of Europe, Americans are giving it their own twist. Some couples have even taken the idea further by sleeping in separate rooms — what some call a “sleep divorce.”

The phrase has raised eyebrows on social media, but it’s not always a red flag. Experts say the Scandinavian sleep method can improve emotional and physical connection — if done with intention.

Expert insight on sleep and intimacy

Matthew Walker, author of “Why We Sleep,” addressed the stigma directly.

“There is, of course, a stigma that goes along with that, which is — if you’re not sleeping together, then perhaps you’re not sleeping together. Well, it turns out the opposite is true,” he said in a Penguin Books interview.

Walker explained that once couples start sleeping better, reproductive hormones increase, and intimacy often follows. He added that improved sleep can lead to better moods, more emotional stability and, ultimately, stronger relationships.

When sleeping apart makes sense

Relationship expert and licensed therapist Deborah Krevalin also weighed in on the trend. She said that the Scandinavian sleep method can be a smart move for couples where one person snores or has sleep apnea.

Still, she warned that sleeping separately could reduce feelings of closeness. She encourages couples to be intentional about creating moments of intimacy outside the bedroom.

Social media weighs in

Social media is buzzing with takes on the method. Actress Cameron Diaz once said sleeping apart should be normalized. Others, like a divorce paralegal who chimed in online, claimed she’s seen separations begin this way.

Despite the debate, experts agree there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The Scandinavian sleep method might not work for everyone — but for some couples, it could be the bedtime upgrade they didn’t know they needed.