A couple sleeps separately in their one-bedroom apartment. He sleeps on an inflatable mattress, and relationship experts say it might work for some couples.

• Jenny Davis and her husband sleep in separate beds because they have three kids and one bedroom.
• Experts say some couples can benefit from sleeping alone and it could improve their mental health.

Physical and emotional intimacy are important parts of almost any romantic relationship. Some of that intimacy — whether it's catching up after a long day, cuddling, or having sex — happens in the bedroom.

For some couples, though, sharing a bed isn't preferable or even possible. Many people choose to sleep in separate beds from their partners, while others have their own rooms altogether.

For instance, Jenny Davis lives in a one-bedroom apartment in New York City with her family of five. Since her children get the bedroom, she and her husband have their beds in the foyer. Davis sleeps on a Murphy bed, and her husband sleeps on an air mattress.

Relationship experts say sleeping separately from your partner could have benefits but also reduce intimacy.

Sleeping in separate beds may have pros for some couples

Every relationship is different, and there's no right or wrong way to handle sleeping arrangements as a couple, Suzannah Weiss, a board-certified sexologist, said.

If your relationship is feeling stale, having some space from your partner could help you get over that sense of overfamiliarity and, hopefully, create some excitement.

"Taking time apart, even just when you sleep, minimizes opportunities to get on each other's nerves and can help maintain or reignite the spark in a relationship," Weiss told Insider.

If you and your partner have different needs, deciding together not to share a bed could help both parties feel more respected.

"Romantic relationships thrive when there is a healthy respect for the individuality of each partner," Katie Bingner, a licensed counselor and communication coach, told Insider. "Having your own space can help you and your partner feel safe, free, and seen as individuals."

Prioritizing your health is another reason it may be good to sleep solo, Bingner said. For example, maybe you and your partner have drastically different schedules and you'd wake up and struggle to get back to sleep if your partner rolled in after a late shift. Perhaps you're a light sleeper and your partner snores loudly, or maybe your partner prefers a firm bed and you like a softer mattress.

Sharing a bed just for the sake of it could interfere with sleep and, over time, result in conflict.

"In this case, having separate rooms with separate beds can be a fantastic option to reduce resentment building in the relationship," Cheryl Groskopf, a Los Angeles marriage and family therapist, told Insider.

But sleeping in separate beds indefinitely can affect the relationship

Regularly opting to sleep separately could indicate your relationship is struggling. Some couples may sleep apart to avoid spending time together or connecting physically.

Similarly, this arrangement could negatively influence healthy relationships — especially if you don't prioritize connecting outside the bedroom.

Bingner said in many cases, sleeping separately could result in decreased intimacy because you're not cuddling in bed regularly, so you may not have as much spontaneous sex.

Sleeping apart could also breed conflicts and, in the long term, emotional distance.

"Without a shared space for reconnection, partners may find themselves easily detached, avoiding each other and ultimately not resolving their issues," Bingner said.

How to protect your relationship if you sleep apart

If you opt to sleep separately from your partner — like Davis and her husband do in their New York City apartment — you can still have a strong relationship.

Groskopf said you just have to be aware that in the absence of that shared space, you'll need to carve out dedicated time for your relationship to prevent conflict and maintain a connection.

"Couples who don't sleep together should prioritize emotional and physical intimacy through open conversations, dates, and, although it may not sound very sexy, planning when to be intimate," Groskopf said.

Be sensitive to your partner's needs, too. If one person loves the idea of cuddling right before bed or first thing in the morning, make time for those activities, even if you don't end up sleeping next to each other.

If you and your partner disagree about sleeping arrangements, Weiss recommended finding a compromise, such as sleeping in separate beds only certain nights of the week or sleeping in the same bed generally but having an extra bed in case one person has trouble sleeping or wants to sleep on a different schedule.

"Whatever arrangement you choose, it's important that both people are on the same page," Weiss said.