The Odd But Ingenious Scandinavian Bedding Hack That Can Change Your Life

Anyone who has ever shared a bed before knows about the sheet-stealing struggle. Whether the theft is intentional or not, there are few things more frustrating or jarring than having your covers ripped off mid-sleep. While you may have tried to come to terms with your fate (whether as the sheet thief or the one who is robbed of their covers), there is another way. A quick trip to our Scandinavian cousins reveals an enlightening approach to bedding design that upholds the idea of sharing sleeping spaces: individual duvets.

In America, it is common for romantic partners to share a bed, and that also means sharing all of the bedding and linens. In Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, it is also common to share a sleeping surface; however, each partner possesses their own personal duvet, rather than one collective comforter (in the same way that you are used to having your own pillow, rather than sharing one). Having an individual duvet means that instead of a nightly tug-of-war over the comforter, each partner can rest easy and readjust when needed without disrupting anyone else.

In addition to eliminating the problem of sheet stealing, personal duvets offer an abundance of personalization for unique sleep needs. It's a common joke that couples often have opposite temperature preferences: one running too warm at night while the other is shivering. While small differences like these shouldn't become a big deal, it quickly can when it negatively impacts your sleep quality. A quick search online will yield countless duvet options, ranging from lightweight, cooling ones that do not trap heat, to extra warm products that are designed to keep you toasty. 

Using duvets instead of a shared comforter also eliminates the need for a top sheet, as duvets are traditionally paired with washable duvet covers, which you can wash every 2 to 4 weeks or as often as needed. Embracing the Scandinavian bedding convention means each person can select the warmth, weight, and material that is best suited to their personal sleep preferences.

If you sleep on a queen or king, you'll likely want to purchase your duvets and duvet covers in twin, twin xl, or full (depending on how much blanket you like to wrap yourself in). As mentioned, with this bedding approach. there's no need for a top sheet as you and your partner's personal duvet covers can be laundered when needed. Opt for breathable materials for your duvet covers like cotton; polyester, while it may look great, can trap heat and render even a cooling duvet insert suffocating.

If you've grown up in America, you might think you need a large comforter for aesthetics, but there are a number of ways to pull off dual-duvet bedding. Since duvets are generally paired with duvet covers, you can easily purchase two matching covers, thus providing visual continuity between the duvets (even though the inserts may be different weights and materials). When it's time to make the bed in the morning, simply pull each duvet up and spread out any wrinkles, then feel free to style your bed as usual with decorative pillows or chunky blankets. Other than having the obvious joining of the two covers in the middle, your dual-duvet bed will look the same as any "normal" American bed. If, however, the gap is driving you crazy, using a light throw over the duvets is a simple workaround that will camouflage your foreign bedding practices.