Medical research into sleep habits over the past ten years suggests that couples who share a bed tend to live longer and stay healthier than those who sleep alone.

A recent study found that women in long-term relationships fell asleep faster and woke up less often than single women, leading to them having lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that has been linked to heart disease and depression.

Another paper claimed that sharing a bed boosts emotional well-being.

Well, goodness knows how! Because, as some married women will say, trying to get a decent night’s sleep with your husband can be a real challenge.

From slyly stealing the covers to snoring loudly, a man can turn sleeping by your side into a recipe for insomnia and arguments rather than good health and happiness.

So what can you do to make sleeping together more harmonious?

Buy a larger bed

With research suggesting that the average person will turn 60 to 70 times in the night, having enough space to stretch out and not be disturbed by your partner’s movements is the first consideration for a good night’s sleep.

‘One of the main reasons why many couples fail to sleep well is that they are in a bed that’s far too small.

‘A standard, 4ft 6in wide double bed gives two adults just 2ft 3in of width each — that’s the same width as the average cot.’

The easiest way to check if you have enough space in bed is to lie on your back next to your partner on the mattress, with your hands behind your heads, elbows out to either side. If your elbows touch, the bed is too small.

Is a bolster the answer?

Sharing the bed with a restless sleeper is no fun.

If you are fed up with finding an elbow in your ear and a knee in your back in the early hours? Try creating a physical barrier down the centre of the bed as one solution.

‘A pillow down the centre will solve the problem, but it takes up a lot of room and is easily shoved aside,’

Alternatively, slip a foam swimming noodle (a long, thin, cylindrical float) down the centre of the bed, under your bottom sheet.

Stolen duvet

Another common cause of sleep disturbance is stolen covers. If you and your partner fight over the duvet during the night, then the simplest answer is to get your own set of bed covers,

You can still have one fitted bottom sheet over the whole mattress, but then buy two duvets to cover each side of the bed separately. This stops cover-stealing and allows each of you to have a cover in a weight that suits you.

If you are concerned about how it might look aesthetically, you can buy a large bed spread or throw to put over both duvets, so the bed looks neatly ‘made up’ during the day.

Snoring noise

A recent survey, of 11,000 UK adults found that a partner’s snoring was the noise that gave most people sleepless nights.

To minimise the likelihood of snoring, studies suggests sleeping on your side, to keep the airways open. 

‘Avoid sedatives such as alcohol and antihistamines before bed, as these promote greater airway relaxation and collapse, and therefore more snoring,’

You can also drown out the sound, by flooding your bedroom with a low-level background sound, which can be anything from the sound of static to rain or a cat purring. Even though it may not seem loud enough, such ‘white noise’ can effectively mask loud snorts and snuffles.

If trying to drown out the sound fails, invest in a good pair of earplugs. Experiment with different types to get the best fit.

Sleeparate, the new bed divider

Sleeparate offers a bed divider solution for partners who share a bed.

The product is a foldable A shaped device that provides a barrier between you and your partner.

The sleeparate can improve both partners falling asleep times and help sleep quality by quietening the persons sleeping space. Other positives are creating a discrete area for sleeping with CPAP machines or such devices.