Why the 'German bed method' could be the secret to better sleep
An expert has said the secret to better sleep could lie with an unconventional technique loved by German couples.
With around 80% of couples reporting that their partner affects their sleep routine, the ‘German bed method’, also known as Doppelbett, offers a solution to disruptive duvet-snatching and differing comfort preferences.
Instead of one double mattress, the German bed method involves couples opting for two single ones within the same bed frame, paired with separate duvets for ultimate comfort and uninterrupted rest.
Expert James Wilson – also known as the Sleep Geek – says: "Beyond solving the issue of stolen blankets, this setup has sparked interest as it allows each partner to choose a mattress that fits their individual comfort preferences – catering to their body weight and sleeping style.
"One partner can choose a softer mattress, whilst the other can opt for a firm one with no need for compromise. A bed that doesn't support the natural alignment of your spine can eventually lead to discomfort, soreness, and even chronic pain so this method can dramatically improve your health."
James says it also means fewer disturbances due to movement during the night, thanks to there being a separate mattress for both parties.
He explains: "Another benefit includes the minimal movement disturbances from your partner as the separate bottom sheets and mattresses reduce the motion transfer, ensuring that one person's tossing and turning doesn't disrupt the other's sleep.”
What’s more, it works if your sleep routines differ – with one person going to bed earlier or getting up in the morning before the other.
He told MattressOnline: “This sleep method hugely reduces the disturbance when entering the bed at different times and saves unnecessary arguments related to sleep deprivation and interference."
Another German sleep hack taking social media by storm is 'Lüften’ – which translates as ‘air out’. As the name suggests, it involves letting out old, stale, and humid air from a property, while letting in fresh air – even during the winter months – to help improve sleep and air quality.
The Eve Original Mattress
BUY NOW Eve
Price: £349
Eve's mattress is composed of five comfortable layers designed to both support and mould to the sleeper’s body. The Original Mattress claims to relieve areas of pressure and provide you with the ideal ‘head to toe support’. Starfish, crawled up in a ball or on your back, this mattress claims to be perfect for all.
WHAT THE GHI THOUGHT: Our testers found the mattress comfortable and luxurious to sleep on. The evecomfort layer is designed to give the mattress its bounce, stopping the sleeper from feeling like they are sinking in. Our testers loved the support, commenting that it achieved the perfect balance of contouring the body while still providing a firm foundation.
Eve claims the mattress will put a spring in your step the next day and, while we can’t confirm our testers were hopping out of bed, one did comment that they were sleeping a lot better. The simple set-up of this mattress and ease of delivery was praised and overall our testers loved the "wonderful" mattress.
Simba Hybrid Mattress
BUY NOW Simba
Price: £379
The Simba Hybrid Mattress has a combination of 2,500 conical pocket springs and responsive memory foam. It claims to help you sleep better, whatever your sleeping pattern. The mattress has five layers designed to fit you and help your quality of sleep. Simba designed the mattress using data from 10 million sleepers, so it claims to have you covered, whether you're a front, back or side sleeper.
WHAT THE GHI THOUGHT: The Simba Hybrid mattress would be ideal during a heatwave, as all of our testers loved how it regulated their body temperature. The hypoallergenic ‘air flow sleep surface’ provides the perfect foundation for a great night’s sleep.
The flexible zoned base, coupled with the unique springs, responds to each sleeper and our testers found that they were not disturbed when their partner rolled over. The five layers provide support and all of our testers would recommend the mattress to a friend.
The mattress completely transformed one of our testers' sleep experience. "I look forward to getting into bed at night and didn't realise how much a good mattress would transform my sleep. I am now sleeping a lot better; the Simba Hybrid is a brilliant mattress!" they said, while testers generally found the mattress a complete "dream to sleep on".
Herdysleep Luxury Natural Handmade Wool Mattress
BUY NOW Herdysleep
Price: from £649
Herdysleep have developed a deluxe mattress with layers of Herdwick Wool and 6,000 pocket springs. They claim their mattresses are carefully crafted to deliver comfort and support.
WHAT THE GHI THOUGHT: Our testers loved the Herdysleep mattress. They found it to be extremely comfortable and luxurious to sleep on, while still providing adequate support with their shoulders and hips feeling well supported.
Those testers who shared the mattress with a partner did not roll into the centre nor were they disturbed when a partner turned over in the night. Perfect for couples to sleep on but, if you’re lucky enough to have the whole mattress to yourself, you can snuggle up with the Herdysleep’s cuddly sheep toy!
Overall, our testers found that the mattress enabled a very good night’s sleep, commenting that it was "the best mattress" they had, noting how they would "definitely recommend" it to a friend and professing how they loved the quality!
Casper Mattress
BUY NOW Casper
Price: from £375
Casper claims to have created a comfy, supportive mattress specifically designed to help you beat the heat. An open-cell top layer uses convection and conduction to take heat away from your body. At the same time, the memory foam layer uses airflow to pull heat out of the top layer, leaving you cool and comfortable.
By eliminating showrooms, employing smart logistics, and using compression technology to ship the Casper mattress in a compact box, Casper claim to offer a premium mattress for a fraction of the price.
WHAT THE GHI THOUGHT: All our testers found the mattress easy to set up. The mattress felt luxurious, substantial, and sturdy in design. The layers of memory foam effectively moulded to testers' body shapes and they found it helped to regulate their body temperature.
Providing balanced comfort and support, the mattress felt even and sturdy, and there was no permanent indentation after the trial period. Testers found that the mattress let them get a very good night's sleep, night after night.
All of our testers said they would happily buy this mattress after having trialled it, and all of them would recommend this mattress to a friend or a family member.
The Leesa Mattress
BUY NOW Leesa
Price: from £450
This mattress is designed to be suitable for all sleepers –whether you’re a back, stomach or side sleeper – as Leesa claims it's engineered to adapt to you. Made entirely from foam, it has three layers delivering a cooling bounce, contouring pressure relief and core support.
For every ten mattresses sold, Leesa donates a custom-made mattress to organisations that serve homeless and at-risk men, women and children at every stage of their transition to better lives.
WHAT THE GHI THOUGHT: The mattress was easy to unbox and manoeuvre, and took shape quickly after opening. Testers felt it provided adequate support with the layers of memory foam effectively moulding to the body. The mattress felt even – including when testers were sharing it with a partner – and there were no visible dips after the trial.
The mattress enabled a good night’s sleep with optimum comfort. All of the testers said they would happily buy this mattress after having trialled it, and would also recommend it to friends or family.
Rem-Fit 400 Hybrid Zoned Mattress
BUY NOW Rem-Fit
Price: £499
A hybrid memory foam mattress composed of a total of six layers. One layer is infused with a cooling gel, designed to help regulate body temperature. Combined with 1000 pocket springs, it’s designed to be for all sleepers, whether you’re a back, stomach or side sleeper.
WHAT THE GHI THOUGHT: Straightforward to unpackage and place onto bed frames with some commenting that the supplied knife came in very handy. The mattress was felt to have an excellent grip and make good contact with bed frames. However, some testers found that their existing fitted sheets didn’t comfortably fit the mattress because it was slightly deeper.
Testers found the mattress comfortable and luxurious to sleep on and it felt substantial and sturdy in design. Provided good support with shoulders and hips feeling well supported with no pressure at these points. The layers of memory foam effectively moulded to testers' body shapes and they noted that there were no visible dips where they had slept by the end of the trial.
However, testers were split when deciding if the mattress regulated their body temperature. Some found it warmer than their previous mattress, but they still all felt it provided a good night’s sleep. Testers said they would happily buy this mattress after having trialled it and all would recommend to a friend or family member.
Otty Hybrid Mattress
BUY NOW Otty
Price: £499.99
A hybrid mattress that uses a combination of springs and foam to create both support from the pocket springs and comfort from the foam. The top layer combines gel-infused foam technology that aims to regulate your body temperature, keeping you at the optimum temperature for sleep.
WHAT THE GHI THOUGHT: Easy to unbox and place on bed frames with it taking shape quickly after opening. Testers' existing bedding fit the mattress comfortably and they were impressed with the comfort of the mattress.
Shoulders and hips felt well supported with no pressure at these points. Most testers felt that the layer of memory foam effectively moulded to their body shape and thought the mattress regulated their body temperature well.
The mattress was felt to be substantial and sturdy in build, including the edges. There were no creaks when testers moved or turned and, if sharing with a partner, testers didn’t feel their side was affected if they moved in the night. There were also no dips in the mattress by the end of the trial.
Regarding the firmness, testers felt it was just right for them. They all felt the mattress provided a very good night’s sleep and said they would buy the mattress and recommend it to friends/family.
Emma Original Mattress
BUY NOW Emma
Price: £429
Composed of foam layers that are designed to help regulate body temperature, promote better air circulation, provide comfort and relieve pressure for enhanced support. It’s designed to be for every type of sleep, in any season, and has a useful removable and washable top cover, for added convenience.
WHAT THE GHI THOUGHT: Easy to unbox and place onto bed frames with it taking shape quickly after opening. Some testers mentioned their existing bedding was a bit of a tight fit (it has a 25cm mattress depth).
Testers were impressed with the comfort of the mattress. Shoulders and hips felt well supported with no pressure at these points. Some testers felt the mattress regulated their body temperature well, however some felt they got too hot on it.
The mattress was felt to be substantial and sturdy in build, including the edges. There were no creaks when testers moved or turned and, if sharing with a partner, testers didn’t feel their side was affected if they moved in the night. There were also no dips in the mattress by the end of the trial.
Regarding the firmness, the majority of testers felt it was just right with one commenting that it was slightly too firm for them. Testers felt the mattress provided a very good night’s sleep and all said they would buy the mattress and recommend it to friends/family.
The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
BUY NOW Nectar
Price: from £399
A medium firm mattress that is designed to be for all sleepers, whether you’re a back, stomach or side sleeper. Composed of four layers including a cooling layer, to regulate body temperature, and three foam layers. The mattress comes with two free pillows.
WHAT THE GHI THOUGHT: Despite claims of being delivered to the room of your choice by a two-person delivery team, not all testers said this was the case. However, it’s an easy mattress to manoeuvre and place onto bed frames with it taking shape quickly.
Testers found it comfortable and luxurious to sleep on, and substantial and sturdy in design, including the edges. It provided just the right support, but testers were split in deciding if the mattress effectively regulated their body temperature, as it claims to do. When asked if, as a medium/firm mattress, it met their expectations, all testers agreed it did.
Testers found that the mattress enabled a very good night’s sleep throughout the testing period. All the testers said they would happily buy this mattress after having trialled it and would go on to recommend this mattress to a friend or a family member.
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