When I moved to Sweden more than 16 years ago, I assumed Per (as a bachelor) had to cobble together two single duvets in lieu of not having a double duvet for my stay. As time went on though, I realised it was intentional, and that in fact almost EVERY marital bed in Scandinavia uses two single duvets instead of a double! Look very closely at pictures of Nordic bedrooms and unless there's been some very clever styling at play, you'll more than likely spot it. Stay at a Nordic hotel, and you'll experience it first-hand. Of course, being ever the romantic, I insisted on a double duvet at first - and Per reluctantly obliged, but as time went on, I realised perhaps our Scandi friends have a point. Here are five reasons why!
1. Staying snug, your way! I love to have all the windows open, even if it's howling a gale or we're in deep mid-winter (the Brit in me, for sure!) whereas Per likes to keep them firmly shut even in the height of summer. The truth is all our bodies behave differently at night and feel good at different temperatures. The beauty of having your own duvet means that you can choose a duvet / bed cover thickness that works for you and be as cool or warm as you like!
"We all have different body temperatures, and some sweat more than others at night. Some prefer a warmer duvet, while others something cooler. It's therefore a good idea to have bedding that caters to your specific needs. The type of material can also play a roll - you may prefer a warmer flannel style material or linen for a more airy feel" - Helena Kubicek Boye, Swedish sleep expert and author of Sömnsagor (a children's story book designed to help children fall asleep more easily).
2. You can sleep like a starfish (if you like): Still on the topic of body temperature (yes, this is all highly practical stuff) - having your own duvet means you can cool your limbs at will - stick out your right leg, left leg, elbow from under the covers whoever. you like... whatever feels best to get that all important shut eye! Just as long as you're not encroaching onto your partners side too much, obvs.
3. No more fighting over the covers! There's always someone who steals the duvet, isn't there? You know, the one who's wrapped like a swaddled baby, deep in REM while the other freezes on the other side of the bed. Well guess what? If you have your own duvet, this won't happen. E.V.E.R!
4. You can take it with you! Snoring partner? Feeling unwell? Simply can't sleep? There are many reasons you may need to get up in the middle of the night and move somewhere else to get your slumber. The beauty of having your own duvet is you can take it with you - and when you get to your new destination (the sofa, spare bed, your children's bedroom floor, the dog basket!), it'll still feel cosy and warm!
5. The morning wrap! You may be entirely in synch or perhaps one of you is a night owl and the other an early bird. All is fair in love and war, but if you do like to sit up and read longer than your partner or enjoy breakfast in bed while the other sleeps on, the angle you'll create when you sit up and the other is lying down is bound to disturb. If you have your own duvet, however, they'll sleep on in their swaddle - and you'll enjoy blissful silence until the family awakes!
Sound unromantic? "Of course, you can always creep under your partner's cover and be cosy anyway, but it's great to be able to choose!" says Helena.
These days I'm definitely in the two single duvets camp (if you look closely at the last two pictures, both taken in my bedroom at various points in time you might just spot the overlap!). And guess what? I really do sleep a whole lot better!
Which camp are you in? I'd love to hear more about how you sleep!
Niki
PS I'm off to Norway today to meet my Mum (it's her birthday!) and younger sister for a long weekend. Feeling super excited as it's one of my favourite countries in the world! I'll be back here blogging again on Monday, have a great few days - sweet dreams!
Credits: 1. HM Home 2. Kvarteret Mäkleri 3 & 4. Entrance Mäkleri 5. Fantastic Frank 6. & 7. Historiska Hem 8. Jotex 9 & 10 My Scandinavian Home
I am in the US, and I insist my husband and I have separate blankets, never realizing this was a Scandi trend! I call it my marriage hack, and propose to add 2 more reasons to your list. The first being the dog that insists on sleeping in the middle and acts as a blanket weight right in the middle, so you can't adjust or get more blanket on your side. The second being that, when one of you has to use the restroom in the middle of the night, you don't send a gust of cold air all over your cozy sleeping partner while getting back into bed!
ReplyDeleteI love that you call it the 'marriage hack - brilliant! Great points on the dog and the going to the loo in the middle of the night, excellent additions to the pro single duvets list :)
DeleteFirst time to europe and we had these in our BNB's! I loved it!!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, I've heard since posting that twin duvets are popular in other countries in Europe to like Germany, I never knew! It is indeed a great concept!
DeleteWe were in prague and vienna!
DeleteIn the beginning I found it very strange. But I found out it is the best way!
ReplyDeleteJust like me! It definitely needs time to grow on you.
DeleteFor me it came naturally in our relationship, as my husband is always hot and I'm always cold, and we've been sleeping like this for 7 years when suddenly this year I started hearing this was a trend :) all the reasons you mentioned are true, but for us it's mainly that we like very different styles of blankets and also, well, I'm a blankets hoarder :P the only con to this solution is the price of buying two single sets of bedding.
ReplyDeleteI think in Sweden it's always been the case too - who knows, maybe it'll start catching on in other places too - you're certainly ahead of the game!
DeleteYou forgot to mention that it’s heaps easier to change the covers by yourself on wash day when using singles. They’re lighter and easier to handle 😃
ReplyDeleteThat is SO true! Another one to add to the list! :)
DeleteWe go double:-) Works fine for us. I need that extra heat, as I am always cold. Should have lived somewhere else, perhaps:-) Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteBest regards from Northern Norway.
Oh wow, are you one of a few up there with a double duvet Hilde? I'm in Norway right now (Lofthus) - it's one of my favourite countries in the world, I'm bowled over every time I visit.
DeleteIt looks like you don't fold them in half like is common in Europe? Or do you? I became enamored over there too but can't find a way to make the bed look decent when it's made.
ReplyDeleteIt can be so tricky to make two singles look good - I'm with you on that! In hotels they usually fold them but when it comes to styling for interiors I think it looks better as a whole piece (in bedroom styling shoots in Scandinavian I've noticed they often style the beds with a double duvet or a double throw over the singles as they just look better!
DeleteIt's hard to see from the pics, but is it two twin size duvets? I know I have a couple of extra queen size, wondering if smaller is better...
ReplyDeleteYes, usually two twin size duvets, but I'm starting to wonder if two queen size combined would be better (if there's room for them) - sounds way more luxurious!
DeleteCome winter I get out my double feather duvet and sleep under it on my own.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy the luxury of this big, soft, warm nest for myself! :-)
Love the sound of your nest, perfect for winter!
DeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteLinea
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