Sharing a bed with your significant other offers warmth and intimacy, but it can also lead to frustrating nights of poor sleep and cover-stealing battles. A simple bedding technique popular across Scandinavia is gaining global attention as a potential solution for incompatible sleep partners.
The Scandinavian Two-Duvet System Explained
Instead of struggling over one large comforter, many couples in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and other parts of Europe use a system of two separate, smaller duvets. Swedish clinical psychologist and sleep expert Li Åslund from Sleep Cycle confirms this is standard practice, noting it's often harder to find covers for double duvets in that region. The method recently went viral after Swedish photographer Cecilia Blomdahl, now living on Svalbard, showcased it in a TikTok video that garnered over 1.1 million views.
Key Benefits: Temperature Control and Undisturbed Rest
The primary advantage is personalized temperature regulation. Partners who sleep at different temperatures can choose duvets with appropriate warmth—lightweight for hot sleepers, heavier for cold ones. This customization eliminates one common source of nighttime discomfort.
Another significant benefit is reduced sleep disturbance. Jade Wu, a behavioral sleep medicine specialist at Duke University, explains that separate covers minimize disruptive movements, leading to fewer awakenings, even the brief ones people don't remember that degrade sleep quality. Martin Seeley, CEO of MattressNextDay, recommends the method for anyone sharing a bed in a cooler climate to prevent sleep interruptions from lost covers.
Potential Drawbacks and Relationship Dynamics
The approach isn't without its critics. Some couples find two duvets less aesthetically pleasing than a single, unified bedspread. Solutions include using a top bedspread or throw blanket to create a cohesive look, as Blomdahl does, or adding a long bolster pillow.
More importantly, the practice can feel less romantic or connected for some. Åslund notes that the Scandinavian method reflects pragmatic values of individuality, which might clash with cultural expectations of physical closeness elsewhere. Discussing separate bedding could even become a source of conflict in a relationship.
Ultimately, better sleep from this method can improve overall health—boosting immune function, mood, and cognitive performance—and benefit the relationship itself. Wu points out that well-rested partners have better emotional regulation and more resources to devote to each other, reducing irritability and miscommunication. As Åslund concludes, while the practice offers individual sleep benefits, it remains a matter of personal preference for each couple to decide.
