Could a Sleep Divorce Actually Save Your Relationship?
Posted: 21 May 2025
You're tossing. You're turning. One leg’s sweating while the other’s freezing. Meanwhile, your partner is out cold. Snoring. Again.
If you’ve ever fantasised about kicking your partner out of bed (lovingly, of course), you’re not alone, and you might be ready for a sleep divorce.
Before you panic, don’t worry, it’s not as dramatic as it sounds. In fact, it might actually be the secret to saving your relationship.
What is a sleep divorce?
A sleep divorce is when couples choose to sleep in separate bedrooms, for the sake of better rest. Although it sounds scary, it doesn’t mean your relationship is on the rocks.
Maybe one of you snores.
Maybe one of you has to get up at 5am.
Maybe one of you loves to steal the linen bed sheets.
Maybe you both love each other… but REM sleep is not on the cards as long as you’re in the same bed together.
A sleep divorce lets you prioritise your sleep and your relationship.
Should I be getting a sleep divorce?
If you’re waking up more tired than when you went to bed (and your partner’s sleep habits are partly to blame), then maybe.
It’s not about giving up on closeness or intimacy. It’s about not losing your mind when they start talking in their sleep, kicking you in the shins, or if their CPAP machine is extra loud that night.
Sleep is vital. And being constantly exhausted can lead to crankiness, resentment, and more arguments.
Is it okay for married couples to sleep apart?
Absolutely. There’s no rule that says love has to equal sleeping next to each other forever.
More and more couples are opting for separate beds or rooms to protect their sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine even reports that over a third of Americans opt for a sleep divorce.
No one’s relationship ever improved after a month of broken sleep. If sleeping apart helps you show up as your best, kindest, most patient self… that sounds like a win.
Also, two beds means you can each pick your own linen bedding colour. Just saying.
How to survive a sleep divorce (and still feel close)
Just because you’re sleeping separately doesn’t mean you lose any intimacy. Here’s how to stay connected...
- Cuddle for a bit, brush your teeth together, watch an episode of your current binge before heading to separate rooms.
- Keep up the morning coffee chats or the Sunday sleep-ins.
- If you’re a cuddler, try a body pillow (or some new bed linen).
- Plan a sleepover. Pick a night, make it special, and crash in the same bed like old times.
So, is sleep divorce the key to a happy marriage?
Maybe. For some couples, sleeping apart is the thing that brings them back together. It takes the pressure off sleeping in the same bed being the thing that your relationship is built on and lets it be a place for rest.
At I Love Linen, we believe when you sleep well, you live well. Whether that’s side by side in your linen sheet sets, or solo.
