The top sheet vs. duvet debate just got more heated: Introducing the viral 'Scandinavian Sleep Method'
- The "Scandinavian Sleep Method" has garnered millions of views on TikTok.
- It involves using two twin-sized duvets instead of one and airing them out in cold temperatures.
Amid the arrival of chillier temperatures this autumn, TikTokers are going viral by sharing a cozy hack: the so-called "Scandinavian Sleep Method."
The term refers to sleeping practices popularized in the region, namely using two comforters instead of one and letting your bedding air out in the cold. And while it's resonating with uninitiated American viewers, it's also sparked a heated debate about whether top sheets are necessary (which Scandanvians largely do without).
In her video last week sporting the hashtag, the Swedish creator Cecilia Blomdahl — whose bio notes she lives in a cabin on an island near the North Pole — suggested hanging duvet inserts outside in the cold to let them air out, calling it a "great way to remove moisture and potential allergens."
Her video received 1 million views.
Blomdahl also said she doesn't bother using a top sheet, and "swears by" using two separate comforters for her and her partner (as opposed to one big blanket on the bed). This means no fighting for covers, she said in her viral video, and enables each to pick a duvet insert suited to their own temperature preferences.
Non-Scandanavian commenters largely endorsed the sleeping lifestyle and advice. "As a German I gasp when American influencers say 'first thing in the morning I make my bed' like what!?!? You don't let it air out ."
"*adds second duvet to the single bed I share with my cats*," another commenter joked.
Other accounts have also recently posted about Scandinavian sleeping hacks, with some TikToks also garnering millions of views.
An American named Erica Stolman Dowdy shared her "Scandinavian Sleep Method" process late last month, nabbing 6.2 million views and a mention by Whoopi Goldberg on "The View." Stolman Dowdy explained she was conducting a bedroom makeover after a recent trip to Denmark.
She started by switching out her white sheets for pink linen, saying, "There are no sad beige houses in Copenhagen." Then, she removed her comforter and replaced it with two twin-sized duvets. "No top sheet," she continued. "Those things are absolutely useless — getting rid of that."
This last piece of advice sparked a heated debate in her comments.
"I have to have a top sheet because if I get hot, I still want to be covered! The monsters will get me otherwise," one commenter argued. Another countered: "You lost me at no top sheet- just thinking about washing the comforters weekly is exhausting."
All in all, top sheet advocates argued they were a stellar comforter alternative when it gets hot at night. They also said the top sheet serves as an extra barrier of fabric to keep comforters clean.
Non-top-sheet users, however, reminded people that there are products designed to cover the duvet. "Are Americans confused about what duvet covers are?? We just wash it. Then pop it back on. It's not hard," one top commenter wrote.
In a follow-up video, Stolman Dowdy echoed the same response. She said she was surprised that top sheets had become "the most controversial topic," adding that hers typically gets pushed to the bottom of the bed. To viewers concerned about hygiene, she said she also regularly washes her duvet covers.
This isn't the first time that Scandinavian sleeping practices have divided TikTok. In February, a creator ignited another viral debate about Nordic parents leaving their babies outside in the cold to be able to sleep in public spaces.