Have You Tried the Scandinavian Sleep Method? We Did!

You wake up shivering in the middle of the night only to find your partner snoozing away, snugly rolled up in your only comforter. It’s going to be hard to get comfy without the dreamy warmth of your duvet, but you’d have to disrupt your happy little burrito buddy if you want to get that back.

It’s a dilemma that most couples who sleep in the same bed have to navigate, but what if I told you there was a better way and that the solution was more simple than you’d think? It’s called the Scandinavian Sleep Method — and no, it has nothing to do with eating pickled herring or having a schvitz in a sauna before bed.

All it involves is removing your top sheet, tossing a second comforter on the bed, and bingo bango you’re in the money. So simple, so straightforward, but is it actually comfy and does it solve the problem? Read on to find out!

What Is the Scandinavian Sleep Method?

The Scandinavian Sleep Method is a sleep practice that originated in Nordic countries like Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. I’m not sure exactly how far back this tradition goes — in fact, many historians believed Vikings slept sitting up, if you could believe it — but it’s enjoying a surge in popularity today thanks to a few viral TikToks, YouTubers like Cecilia Blomdahl, and a boom in sleep wellness content.

Unlike assembling IKEA furniture, the practice is simple: All you have to do is toss your top sheet, add another comforter to the bed, and you’re ready to snooze Scandinavian style! 

One bed, two comforters, zero drama.

Before the Test: Bracing for Blanket Break-Up

First, I filled my wife in on my wacky plans to incorporate a totally new comforter into our sleep situation. She gave me a suspicious side eye at first, but thankfully zany ideas are a norm in my household and she was on board before long.

We have a king-sized bed — with kids and several dogs in the house, you never know who will join you for a midnight cuddle — so my options weren’t limited when it came to selecting one of the best comforters for our bed.

Then, we kicked off our two-week long trial with a fresh sheet setup: Our mattress protector, a must in our book for optimal sleep hygiene, a snug fitted sheet, and two duvets terminating at the middle of the bed to form a pseudo Prime Meridian.

Everything else remained the same: All of our personal items stayed where they “live” on our bedside tables, the thermostat was set to a moderate 70°F, and a small fan remained pointed at me for white noise and because I’m the resident hot sleeper of the family.

And just like that, we were good to go.

First Night: A Tale of Two Duvets

There we were: Two people accustomed to sleeping under a single blanket staring down a bed that slightly resembled a black-and-white cookie. It looked a little weird, but we didn’t squander much time before hopping in and getting comfy.

It didn’t take long for us to adjust to having our own blankets. I was able to roll up into my own personal sleep cocoon without having to consider my sleep partner, which helped me into the perfect sleep position quickly. It was absolutely divine and before long, I was fast asleep.

Not only did I fall asleep quickly, I stayed asleep for the whole night. I don’t know about you, but, as someone approaching 40 with kids and dogs in the home, a night free from sleep disruptions is a rarity. So, needless to say, this was an absolute treat for me.

Mid-Test Observations: Blanket Bliss or Duvet Dilemma?

I felt good about running this little “sleep experiment” for two weeks because it’s the perfect time frame: Long enough for the novelty to wear off, but not too long that I lose sight of how things used to be before we traded our single comforter for our own individual duvets.

I was feeling very positive overall about our improved sleep quality as we approached the end of the first week. My wife was pleased, too, happy to become a burrito on her own side of the bed.

We weren’t totally without sleep disruptions, mind you. I still had to get out of bed a few times that week for a midnight bathroom break, quick sip of water, or to console my kid when he had a bad dream. However, adopting that sleep style from Scandinavia worked to our favor because I didn’t disrupt my wife when I got out of bed and vice versa.

The Final Verdict

So, did the Scandinavian Sleep Method make us wish we could go back to our prior sleeping arrangement, or did it revolutionize how we settle down each evening?

I’m proud to say that we have officially converted and will continue to use this method moving forward. The benefits of the Scandinavian Sleep Method are undeniable:

• Better sleep quality: I felt like I got a good night’s sleep basically every night, meaning I could get through my day without hitting the coffee pot as often to compensate.
• Personalized comfort: Having your own duvet cover means you can manipulate it at your will. You can totally wrap up for maximum “cocoonage,” you can shed some covers off your upper body or stick your feet out to get a little ventilation, you can do whatever pleases you without worrying if you’re bothering your bed partner.
• Fewer nighttime disturbances: I didn’t have to carefully slip out of the bed like a thief in the night if I had to hit the bathroom or grab a quick sip of water. I could get up freely without disturbing my wife or her own personal blanket burrito and do what I needed to do without waking her from her deep sleep.
• Surprisingly good for your relationship: All of the above means you’re going to sleep better, enjoy improved mental health, and wake up feeling fresh and free of resentment towards your sleep partner. No more blanket tug-of-war, just quality sleep that lets you and your partner give the best to one another.

Sleeping like we’re living in a Scandinavian country worked wonders for us, but I did note a few things that may be perceived as negative and may mean the Scandinavian Sleep Method is not right for you:

• Messier bed: We have small children and dogs in our home, so it’s hard to keep things tidy 24/7. For this reason, we didn’t mind our bed looking a little more disheveled than it did before we started using separate blankets. If you’re a loud and proud neat freak, this may or may not be a dealbreaker for you.
• Not suited for smaller beds: Our king-sized mattress gives us ample space to adopt this special Swedish sleep hack, but those sleeping in a twin-size or full-size bed may struggle to incorporate separate blankets into their arrangement.
• Not good for constant cuddlers: We found that it was totally fine to cast aside one of the duvets if we wanted a little cuddle before bedtime, but we’re not the type to sleep while wrapped in one other’s warm embrace. Those who do like to cuddle while they sleep will likely not like the Scandinavian Sleep Method at all.

So, the Scandinavian Sleep Method is far from a panacea for every sleep problem, but it solved basically all of our issues, namely the blanket tug-of-war thing, and gave us more flexibility when it came time for some shuteye. All things considered, I would recommend this for most people.

Final Thoughts

Sharing a bed with a partner can be tricky. It often means adjusting to different sleep cycles, body temperatures, and movement patterns. You do get the added benefit of having a cuddle buddy, but that can quickly lead to disrupted sleep and simmering resentment when one person wakes up freezing or sweating under a misplaced blanket.

The Scandinavian Sleep Method solves many of these problems while aligning beautifully with core sleep hygiene principles: Consistency, comfort, and temperature regulation. Studies show¹ that keeping cool at night may support deeper, more restorative sleep. With separate duvets, each sleeper can control their microclimate without compromise. It’s a win-win for your REM cycle and your relationship.

Personally, this experiment taught me that prioritizing rest doesn’t have to mean sacrificing connection. In fact, when we slept better, we argued less, laughed more, and actually enjoyed bedtime again. The “romance” isn’t in sharing a blanket — it’s in choosing solutions that help both people feel cared for, rested, and ready to face the day together.

Sp, if you’re tired of tired nights, don’t get a sleep divorce or sleep in separate beds, try separate covers instead and sleep the Scandinavian way.