Would you pick sleep over your spouse?

• New research by VELUX, the world's leading manufacturer of roof windows, shows that 1 in 14 Brits have broken up with a partner due to issues sleeping in the same bed i.e. not being able to sleep comfortably.
• A further one in ten (11%) Brits have also considered a breakup for this reason.
• A third of Brits (33%) claim they have a worse night’s sleep when sharing a bed with their partner and more than a third (36%) have slept in a different bed/room to their partner because they haven’t slept well.
• Turns out Brits don’t like it hot and heavy in the bedroom, as VELUX reveals the top three things that cause arguments with them and their partners when it comes to sleep are: snoring (32%), hogging the duvet (21%) and difference in temperature (16%) - but they could be overlooking an underlying factor and mistakenly playing the blame game.
• VELUX explains that indoor pollution can also impact our sleep, and offers simple ways to improve indoor climate and overall sleep hygiene.

New research shows that Brits might love sleep more than their spouses – with a staggering 1 in 14 Brits breaking up with a partner due to issues sleeping in the same bed, including 1 in 12 (8%) women.

The research, commissioned by the world’s leading roof window manufacturer VELUX, reveals another one in ten (11%) Brits have considered dumping their loved one due to sleeping issues – but Brits may be cutting budding relationships short for all the wrong reasons.

In fact, it could be your bedroom, not your partner, keeping you up at night. A third of Brits (31%) in a relationship claim that stuffy air impacts their sleep – and their other half is an innocent party in this sleep stifling.

With almost a further fifth (19%) of Brits that live with a partner claiming that the main argument they have when it comes to sleep is a difference in temperature, it seems many are missing a trick when it comes to keeping the peace.

An ideal bedroom temperature is around 16-18°C, so keeping the bedroom cool creates optimal sleeping conditions... and could mean less spats with the other half.

With everyday chores like cooking clamming up your indoor environment, poor ventilation could also be the culprit in your suffering sleep; so proper ventilation is crucial for your health and your relationship status.

The lack of sleep caused by an unhealthy indoor environment can even make matters worse when it comes to those little relationship gripes. Sleep deprivation, made worse by a poor bedroom environment, is known to cause snoring – so manage your indoor climate and nip that age old snoring bicker in the bud.

When asked about tips for improving sleep, Peter said “It is easy to overlook our bedroom environment when it comes to sleep struggles, but this would be a big mistake. Proper ventilation and maintaining a stable and comfortable room temperature is crucial to getting a good night’s sleep – and it might just save your relationship.”

Tips to save your relationship and keep things ‘fresh’ in the bedroom

• Air out your issues

When it comes to having a healthy bedroom (and a healthy relationship), the devil’s in the detail. Understanding the everyday home life activities which cause indoor pollution, such as cooking, cleaning, showering, lighting candles, air drying clothes indoors and even sleeping and breathing is key to tackling the issue. These can, over time, lead to mould and damp homes, impacting our overall wellness – and apparently our relationships. Just air out your home 3-5 times a day for 10-15 minutes, and you’re golden.

• Keep them in the dark

Using black out blinds, especially in the spring and summer months can prevent light from disrupting the creation of melatonin, ideal for a quality snooze.

• Getting too hot under the covers?

For a good night's sleep, the temperature in your bedroom shouldn't drop below 17 degrees Celsius or rise above 20 degrees Celsius. Opening the windows immediately after you wake up and before you go to bed can make a big difference to the air quality within your home.

In the colder months, turning down the heating while you're asleep can help, as long as the temperature isn’t dropped permanently – which can encourage mould growth.

Opening curtains during the day and ensuring enough natural light makes it into your home, can improve mood and encourage creativity.

• Heating up and cooling down

We might all like things steamy in the bedroom, but regulating indoor temperature can work wonders for sleep. Make energy-efficient changes to your home where you can, like double-glazing, cavity wall insulation and solid wall insulation. This can help to reduce emissions and protect health against cold weather effects.

It is important to keep your bedroom as cool as possible in the summer, so close your windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun and let fresh air in at night. You might also want to get your hands on a humidifier, to reduce moisture and chances of damp and mould.

As a global leader in daylight and fresh air, VELUX is on a mission to raise awareness of how to bring this into our homes, making our houses our sanctuary – and more importantly, making them healthy. VELUX can help to remove indoor pollution and improve the health within our homes.

Time to stop pointing fingers at your partner – it could be your bedroom environment keeping you up at night.