If you share a bed with a partner and one or both of you struggled to sleep last night, there’s one particular sleep trend you should definitely want on your radar, according to sleep experts.
The ‘German Doppelbet’ sleeping method is regularly used by our European neighbours, and is especially designed for couples who share a sleeping space and are looking to solve the problem. How to sleep better with their other half.
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(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)
What is the ‘German Doppelbet’ sleeping habit?
So what exactly is the ‘German Doppelbet’ sleep trend and why is it proving so popular with couples looking for a better night’s rest?
The ‘German Doppelbet’ sleep hack is one of my absolute favorite sleep setups for couples, says a sleep clinician. Natalie Pennicott-Collierresident sleep specialist at mattress the day before‘Especially those whose sleep is regularly disturbed by their partner.’
‘I’ve used this setup when helping professional athletes optimize their sleep, as it allows both partners to ‘sleep the most’ and get their best night’s sleep.’
‘The concept is very simple for someone who hasn’t encountered this before,’ says Natalie. ‘Instead of sharing a mattress and a duvet, the bed is made up of two single mattresses placed side by side on a single bed frame, with each person having their own duvet.’
The retailer’s co-founder and bed and mattress expert Adam Black confirms that ‘Doppelbet literally translates to double bed. Button and sprung‘But it’s a sleep hack with a twist because it puts two single mattresses on the same bed frame.’
(Image credit: Future plc/James French)
‘Each mattress also has its own duvet,’ explains Adam, ‘therefore providing complete isolation from potentially disturbing bedfellows.’
It equalizes this sleeping attitude Scandi sleep patterns of using individual duvets over shared mattresses, but the German approach goes a step further by using individual mattresses as well.
It may seem strange to us Brits used to sharing a mattress as well as a bed, but it can be good to think a little outside the box, especially if it means a more restful sleep. And this approach is perfect for couples who struggle to sleep well next to each other, but don’t want (or don’t have the space) to move to separate bedrooms in search of more peaceful shut-eye.
‘At first, it can look and feel unusual if you’re used to sharing a mattress and a cover,’ says Natalie, ‘but most couples who try it quickly realize how much more freeing and comfortable it feels.’
And that’s because the ‘German Doppelbet’ sleeping method solves many of the problems that couples often face when sharing a bed. Perhaps most importantly, comfort.
(Image credit: Future plc / Mary Wadsworth)
When it comes to finding out The best mattressFactors such as our preferred sleeping position (ie front, back, or side), our weight, and any pre-existing aches and pains can affect which mattress is best for us. Sleep is a very personal thing, and both parts of a couple rarely have the same needs.
Often, the result is that our mattress choice becomes a compromise. It either works better for one partner than the other, or it doesn’t suit either of us, so we try to meet in the middle and satisfy the other’s needs.
‘Sharing a bed with a partner isn’t always a dream,’ explains sleep expert and managing director of the mattress and bedding brand Chris Tattersall. Woolroom. ‘Different preferences on mattress tension alone can make one person sleep well while another person doesn’t.’
In contrast, the ‘German Doppelbet’ sleeping method solves this by allowing each partner to choose the mattress style and tension that feels most comfortable for their individual bodies.
That means you can choose a super-cushioning memory foam mattress that’s perfect for side sleepers, while your back-sleeping partner opts for a firmer pocket-spring affair.
(Image credit: Future plc / David Lovati)
And it’s not just stress choices that choosing a ‘doppelbate’ approach can solve. ‘At my sleep clinic, another common sleep problem for couples is temperature,’ says Natalie. ‘People regulate their body temperature differently when they sleep. One partner may be naturally warm, while the other feels cold.’
‘Temperature inconsistencies are the most common cause of sleep disturbances between partners,’ agrees Chris. ‘One person finds themselves tossing and turning from overheating, while their partner snoozes cocooned in their duvet, resulting in regular duvet kicking and pulling back fights throughout the night.’
Instead of sharing a mattress and duvet, the ‘doppelbet’ method means everyone has their own.
Not only does it eliminate duvet hogging, but it means one partner can choose a breathable mattress and duvet made from natural materials like wool, and the other can relax under a high feather-and-down duvet and choose a less breathable memory foam mattress without triggering their partner’s night sweats.
Button and sprung
Montadale single mattress
Hot sleepers can sleep better on mattresses filled with breathable and temperature-regulating natural materials. This option features wool, linen, hemp, and cotton, all of which are highly breathable.
While cold sleepers who prefer a cushioned sleep surface are more likely to enjoy a memory foam sleep surface without overheating.
Bensons for bedding
Sealy Newton Posturepedic Mattress
If you and your partner have very different builds, the heavier of the two may need a firmer mattress that provides more support.
Also, this approach works wonders if you have a restless bed partner or different sleep schedules.
‘One of the main mattress-related sleep problems is restlessness, which can be passed on to your partner through motion transfer,’ explains Chris. ‘When one of you shifts during the night, the movement travels through the mattress and can disturb the other person’s sleep.’
‘If one person moves, rolls or shifts their weight, the other often feels it and wakes up unexpectedly,’ agrees Natalie.
The ‘German Doppelbet’ method is an excellent solution to this as it minimizes the transfer of motion across the bed, meaning each partner is less likely to be disturbed, and a deeper, more restful sleep can be achieved.
(Image credit: David Lovati)
How to adopt the ‘German Doppelbet’ sleeping pattern
I’m sure the German sleep trend has many benefits, but how do we adopt it in the UK?
‘If you want to try it yourself, my top tip is to make sure the bed frame holds the mattress securely together so you don’t end up with an awkward gap in the middle,’ says Natalie. ‘When it’s set up well, you still feel like you’re sharing a bed, but there’s much less sleep disturbance.’
I did the math, and in practice, that means you’d need a super king-size bed frame to fit two single mattresses side by side. So while this approach may certainly work for some, it may not be the solution for us, like me. Small bedroom to struggle with. Perhaps Germany is blessed with larger bedrooms than the UK.
However, there are ways to adapt this trend to suit bedrooms with less space. ‘If a separate mattress and duvet is a bridge too far, couples can see that Split tension mattressThat allows them to stay on the same mattress surface but choose a very different firmness rating than their partner,’ says Adam.
(Image credit: Future plc/Katie Lee)
‘Even if you can’t do the doublebed sleep method, I would advise couples to buy the biggest mattress and room they can comfortably afford,’ says Adam.
‘If your room allows it, switching to a king-size mattress instead of a double can make a big difference by reducing the little bumps and nudges that keep people awake at night,’ agrees Natalie.
‘It can also help to think about how movement moves through the mattress,’ says Natalie. ‘Mattresses with pocket springs or memory foam absorb movement better, meaning that one partner turns is less noticeable to the other.’
And finally, ‘one of the most impactful changes couples can make to create a better sleep environment is to invest in sleep products that regulate the temperature of both sleepers,’ says Chris.
(Image credit: Future plc/Mary Wadsworth)
‘Choosing a naturally temperature-regulating bedding fiber, such as a wool duvet or wool mattress, will go a long way in solving temperature-related sleep problems, because with wool’s unique, natural properties, it is able to keep a cold sleeper warm and a warm sleeper cool, all under one duvet and on one mattress.’
So whether you choose ‘German Doppelbet’ or not, there are still ways to reduce bedtime arguments and sleep more peacefully next to your other half. Good news all around.
