Is Sleeping Alone Better For Your Relationship?

“Which side of the bed do you want?”

It’s one of the first questions that pops up when we start dating a new partner but is sharing a bed with your other half actually bad for your relationship?

It’s easy to assume that all those smug marrieds/long termers out there are spooning each other to sleep every night but it’s not quite that simple.

A recent study found that 1 in 6 UK couples sleep in separate beds, with half of them going as far as separate bedrooms.

The Queen and Prince Phillip reportedly sleep in different bedrooms while Tim Burton and Helena Bonham-Carter have entire his and hers houses, thanks to the director’s tendency to snore.

And for some of us, that decent night’s sleep is worth more than the intimacy that sleeping next to your significant other is supposed to bring.

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Lifestyle editor Natasha is a fan of separate sleeping quarters: “I just don't function without a good night's sleep. I need a solid eight hours or I'm cranky and I don't work to my full potential. And sometimes, with someone else's limbs in the way, or making you too hot, sharing a bed prevents that from happening.”

Chances are you won’t have heard many of your coupled up mates admit that they don’t spend every night falling asleep while gazing lovingly into each others eyes as this leads to the assumption that they’re not having sex, but it’s not always the case.

“I love sex with my boyfriend, so I'm definitely not advocating a lack of intimacy,” says Natasha. “But if I'm honest, after we do the deed and have a bit of a cuddle, I just want to roll away, find the cool side of the pillow and get as many winks as possible (a lot more than 40).”

Despite the human radiator effect of sharing a bed, there are a lot of reasons to put up with the farting and sharing of duvets.

Body language expert Judi James advises against separate beds, except in the case of extreme snoring.

“Humans crave touch and cuddling and hugs is a basic requirement for emotional well-being. Being touch-starved can lead to depression."

“A couple will read more about each other via the touching that goes on when they sleep side by side than they will via actual verbal conversations. This type of touch allows us to read stress, tension, anxiety or calm and happiness in a way words will never do.”

“There is no need to entwine, just have the kind of proximity that allows us to tune into breathing and body tension.”

It seems like there is a case for both sleeping arrangements but it’s worth trying to debunk the idea that separate beds means trouble for a couple.

“I reckon we need to stop judging people who have the means and choose to occupy separate beds,” argues Natasha.

“Let's be honest, the couple that's better rested, probably gets on better too.”

What do you think? Do you and your partner sleep in separate beds? Let us know on Twitter.