Sheridan
From overheating to nightly doona tug-of-war, new research suggests the real reason Australians aren’t sleeping well. And it’s hiding in plain sight: their bedding.
As temperatures drop and many Australians swap over to winter quilts, new data from Sheridan has revealed that 43 per cent of Australians say their bedding disrupts their sleep at least once a week.
For couples, the problem appears even worse, with 78 per cent of people sharing a bed admitting quilt stealing happens at least occasionally.
The findings paint a picture of modern sleep as less restful sanctuary and more nightly compromise. Especially for couples navigating completely different sleep preferences.
According to the research, 71 per cent of Australians who share a bed don’t sleep at the same temperature. And more than half have considered, tried or adopted separate bedding setups altogether.
Why traditional bedding may no longer work
For years, many Australians have approached bedding seasonally, swapping heavier quilts in winter for lighter options in summer. In fact, Sheridan’s research found 69 per cent of Australians change their quilt at least once a year. A quarter are doing it multiple times throughout the year.
But according to Sheridan designer Lyndon Cheney, constantly changing bedding still isn’t solving the bigger issue.
“Our research shows Australians are already changing their quilts throughout the year, but constant swapping isn’t solving the problem,” he said.
Instead, the brand believes Australians are increasingly looking for bedding that adapts not just season to season, but night to night.
The rise of customisable sleep
In response, Sheridan has relaunched its Bed Foundations range with a stronger focus on customisable comfort.
See all the best Sheridan discount codes and deals here.
Leading the collection is the new “Custom Comfort Quilt System”. It is a clip-together quilt design that allows sleepers to add or remove layers depending on warmth preferences, changing weather or individual sleep styles.
It taps into the ‘Scandinavian sleep method‘ that some have claimed saved their relationships.
The Scandinavian sleep method is one shared bed, but separate blankets so each partner has full control.
The Sheridan range introduces half quilts, designed specifically for couples who sleep at different temperatures. The concept allows each side of the bed to have a different warmth level. And, it potentially ends the age-old battle between overheating and freezing under the same doona.
Alongside quilts, the refreshed Bed Foundations collection includes pillows, protectors and blankets. They are all packaged in reusable cotton bags with simplified colour-coded weight systems.
‘Sleep divorce’ is becoming less taboo
The findings also bring up the conversation around “sleep divorce”, where couples may even choose to have separate rooms in pursuit of better rest.
While once considered unconventional, sleep experts increasingly acknowledge that personalised sleep and bedding setups can improve sleep quality and relationship satisfaction, particularly for couples with conflicting sleep habits.
Journalist and television presenter Edwina Bartholomew and her husband Neil Varcoe sleep separately. It was born from her early work schedule, and carried on when they started a family.
“Ten years into our relationship and five years into our marriage, it works a charm,” she wrote in a column for Courier Mail.
Podcast creator and media personality Zoe and NRL coach husband Benji Marshall have separate bedrooms AND bathrooms.
“I don’t want to share or smell bathroom odours,” she said. “So, ever since we moved in together, we’ve had separate bathrooms. The only time we share a bathroom is if we’re on a holiday!”
Other famous faces who have had teir own ‘sleep divorce’ include Gwyneth Paltrow and husband Brad Falchuk, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, and David and Victoria Beckham.
Even the late Queen Elizabeth I and Prince Philip slept apart throughout their marriage.
Separate bedding doesn’t mean your relationship is doomed
Dr Elisabeth Shaw, clinical psychologist and CEO of Relationships Australia NSW, told House & Garden that sleeping separately is actually more common than it is talked about.
“The bed provides a convenient opportunity for lots of things,” says Elisabeth. “It has a practical purpose, a romantic purpose and a sort of symbolism about it. The norm, which is living in the same house and sharing the same bed has always been what we’ve expected, it’s almost unquestioned. But the bed doesn’t have to mark the rise and fall of a successful relationship at all.”
With one in 10 Australians dealing with nightly quilt stealing, separate bedding suddenly sounds a lot less dramatic and a lot more practical.
But if a ‘sleep divorce’ sends shivers down your spine, start small with these practical blanket updates.
The new Bed Foundations range is available through Sheridan Australia, with selected items also stocked at Myer and David Jones.
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