There is a huge taboo against couples sleeping in separate bedrooms. People mistakenly assume that if you’re not sharing a bed every night then there is something wrong in the relationship. However, many happy couples find that sleeping apart is actually the best thing for their relationship.
Is it Normal for Couples to Sleep in Separate Bedrooms?
Have you ever considered sleeping in separate bedrooms? Many couples don’t even think about this option. They assume that “it’s not normal.”
There is no “normal” in relationships. The right thing in any relationship is the thing that works for both people in that relationship.
With that in mind, the question really isn’t “are separate bedrooms normal?” The question is, “would sleeping apart help our relationship?”
However, if you need some examples of thriving couples who sleep in separate bedrooms, they are definitely out there. Many couples do best when they have some distance from one another, even if it’s just at night. If you start to ask the people in your life, you may be surprised to discover they sleep apart.
Why Couples May Sleep in Separate Bedrooms
The reasons that a couple may choose to sleep in separate bedrooms are many and varied. They are as unique as the relationship itself.
Ultimately, if it works for you, the reason doesn’t matter. That said, some common reasons happy couples sleep in separate bedrooms include:
- A medical condition, including insomnia, prevents comfortably sharing a bed
- Couples in non-traditional or non-monogamous relationships may share beds with multiple people
- Not all couples live together throughout the entire year
- Parents are caring for children in another room
- One is a light sleeper and can’t get quality rest sharing a room
- One partner likes to use technology at night while the other finds it disruptive
- Only one of you wants to share a bed with your pets
- They have different work/sleep schedules
- They each simply want more space than sharing a bed every night allows
Options for Sleeping in Separate Bedrooms
There are many different approaches to sleeping apart from your partner. Some of those options include:
- Having two bedrooms, sometimes sleeping together and sometimes sleeping apart
- Keeping entirely separate bedrooms and never sleeping together
- Living in separate homes, including in long-distance relationships, sharing a bed only when together
- Sleeping in separate bedrooms during a portion of the year or for a period of time
Each couple should do what is right for them. Just because society projects an image that sleeping in a shared bed is the norm doesn’t mean it’s right for you.
Why Are Separated Bedrooms a Cultural Taboo?
Separated bedrooms are such a cultural taboo. If you even talk about it, people may give you a sideways glance. They automatically assume that there is a problem in the relationship.
Much of this mistaken idea comes from the media. Think about the television shows and movies that you have seen depicting couples. They are all sharing a bed.
In fact, historically, it was a huge cultural shift for television shows to depict couples in the same bed. If you look back at shows from the 1950s, you will see that the couples often had their own twin beds in the same room. There were regulations requiring that one or both couples have at least one foot on the floor in any scenes showing them in the same bed.
When television shows started showing couples sharing a bed, it was a huge celebration of society opening up somewhat about sexuality. The problem is, it created a taboo against any other sleeping option.
As a result of the media and our culture’s influence, people assume that separate bedrooms mean a couple isn’t having sex. Furthermore, they assume that this means the couple is unhappy.
What Are the Advantages of Bed-Splitting?
Despite this cultural taboo, there are many benefits to bed-splitting or keeping separate bedrooms. They include:
- Deeper appreciation for closeness that’s chosen instead of habitual
- Each of you may get better quality sleep, which is important self-care
- Honoring what is best for your own relationship
- Missing your partner a little bit at night allows you to enjoy them more
- Space apart gives you the chance to relax which reduces conflicts
- Reduces the pressure to have sex which makes sex more enjoyable when it does happen
- You can each choose the mattress most comfortable for you
How to Approach the Topic of Separate Bedrooms with Your Partner
Of course, just beacuse there are benefits doesn’t mean that it’s easy to broach this subject with your partner. That cultural taboo is strong. Your partner may automatically assume that something is wrong if you request separate bedrooms. Here are some tips for broaching the subject.
- Begin by reassuring your partner that nothing is wrong. Express that you still love them and are attracted to them.
- Ask if you can open up a conversation. It’s important to talk when both people are ready.
- Bring up the idea of separate bedrooms. State your reasons clearly.
- Ask your partner what they think. Let them know you haven’t made a decision on your own. Instead, you want to determine together if this would be good for your relationship.
- Listen to your partner’s concerns and ideas with an open mind. Don’t be reactive or defensive.
- Discuss the topic openly, perhaps ongoing over time, until you come to a solution that works for both of you.
The important thing is to find an approach to separate bedrooms that makes both partners happy.
