German Bed and Bedding

As is often the case with most couples, Allan and I have different heat tolerances. This is especially evident at bedtime-- back when we were sharing the same blanket, as most American couples do, it was rather trying. I'd either be too cold or he'd be too hot.

So we hit upon a solution: do blankets German-style, that is: each person has his/her own blanket (or. more accurately, duvet). Allan got a thin one, I got a thick one, and voila! No more problems at bedtime!

Now, the Germans don't just have separate blankets. They also have separate twin-size mattresses pushed together, like so:

Often the two mattresses are enclosed in one big bed frame, like so:

I like having separate beds and separate blankets. When your partner moves around, it's less likely to disturb you, because your shared space isn't as connected (single blanket that will move, single mattress that transmits motion to your side). There's a clearer delineation between your side and my side, which limits bed hogging. And blanket hogging is a thing of the past when you have your own!

I also like the concept of the duvet and duvet cover. Unlike American blankets, which are protected from your skin by flimsy flat sheets, duvets are encased in a cover, much like a pillowcase. When it gets dirty, it's a cinch to pull off the cover and throw it in the wash. And you don't have to worry about all those pesky layers of sheets and blankets getting tangled up. AND it's MUCH easier to make your bed-- fluff out your blanket, fold it neatly, and you're done!

Of course, Allan and I took this concept to the next level with completely separate DOUBLE beds (rather than twin beds) pushed together, creating the effect of one gigantic bed that still doesn't take up all of our master bedroom:

See? Plenty of room for our myriad of stuffed animals! :-D

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!