Can One Bed and Two Blankets Save Your Night? Inside the Scandinavian Sleep Hack
Couples who dread the idea of a “sleep divorce” are finding middle ground with a simple Nordic habit: each partner keeps their own blanket. Already a staple in Sweden, Norway and Denmark—now TikTok famous after Cecilia Blomdahl’s video blew past 1.7 million views—the trick preserves intimacy without the nightly tug-of-war over covers.
What Exactly Is the Scandinavian Method?
Instead of wrestling with a single duvet, you both lay side-by-side, under separate covers. They can be duvets, quilts, waffle blankets—anything. You still share the mattress, the cuddles and that reassuring feeling of another heartbeat nearby. But the moment one of you needs to roll over or shed a layer, the other is no longer disturbed.
Who Swears By It?
- Sleep experts such as Ellen Wermter see big upside: fewer disruptions from cover-hoarding, temperature disagreements and restless limbs.
- Couples who hesitate to move to separate beds but still wake cranky and overheated are the method’s biggest fans.
- Tall partners and petite partners especially benefit: no more canyon-size sheet gap letting in Arctic air at 3 a.m.
How to Try It Tonight
- Ditch the shared comforter. Fold it at the end of the bed or stow it in the closet.
- Pick your own perfect blanket. Prefer a weighted duvet while your partner likes a light quilt? Done.
- Pre-sleep snuggle time is still allowed. Once the lights go out, simply slide under your individual covers and drift off.
A Tweaked Version for the Undecided
Wermter herself uses a hybrid approach: one large blanket for both partners plus her own “escape blanket” she can kick off when the furnace known as her husband turns the room into a sauna.
Know When to Level Up
If you’ve tried blanket independence, optimized the thermostat, and still wake in a fog, consider booking a chat with a sleep specialist. Consistent night wakings, morning fatigue and daytime brain-fog are signals that a deeper fix may be in order.
Sleep well—separately covered, together in spirit.
