Experts Examine Whether the Scandinavian Sleep Method Really Works

Some couples may sleep better by replacing one large duvet with two separate ones. Known as the Scandinavian sleep method, the approach allows partners to remain in the same bed while keeping their own covers.

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It can satisfy the need for closeness, but also the need for your own sleeping space during the part of the night when we are actually asleep.

The method is common in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. It can give each person more control over sleeping temperature, more personal space and fewer arguments over the duvet. Wendy Troxel, a behavioral scientist at RAND and author of “Sharing the Covers: Every Couple’s Guide to Better Sleep,” said it can preserve closeness without eliminating the space people need while sleeping.

Temperature preferences differ widely. Deirdre Conroy, a sleep-medicine specialist and clinical professor at the University of Michigan, said the method may help people who feel too hot or too cold at night. Women experiencing hot flashes during menopause, for example, may prefer a lighter or cooler cover.

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The temperature that feels right for sleep is highly individual.

But separate duvets cannot solve every sleep problem. Troxel said the arrangement would offer little help if one partner snores heavily. In those cases, couples may consider separate beds or rooms. Choosing to sleep apart does not necessarily say anything about the strength of a relationship.

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If your partner snores like a truck, the Scandinavian method will not help much.