What side of the bed is best?

It’s a well-known fact that sleeping on the right side of the bed is better. Unless you are my partner, and then everybody knows the left side is best. Obviously, whatever side of the bed you chose is the side that’s right for you (or left), but does it really matter? Is there any scientific explanation for a favored side, or is it simply a matter of what you are used to, and the condition of your mattress?

Thanks to huge advancements in mattress technology, some ensembles and mattresses offer multi-zone support, meaning two people can enjoy the same bed without being disturbed. While some prefer it firm, others like it soft, and these mattresses can offer both levels of comfort at the same time.

With such high-tech mattresses available, promising to rid you of a bad night’s sleep, does a particular side of the bed offer any benefits other than mental? And if not, is the mental benefit enough to affect your quality of sleep? Let’s find out.

Singling out.

What if you slept on a bed like the Sealy single extra long ensemble? There is no ‘side’ just one big comfy bed. For the annoying stickler in me, I would say the argument of which side of the bed is bunk (sorry I had to). If you sleep in a single bed, that’s one less thing to worry about, nice.

Double up.

For those of us who share a bed, there is an inevitable amount of routine that indicates what side of the bed we sleep. For me, I was always a right-side sleeper before I can remember making a choice. My partner has always slept in a queen-sized bed and always slept on the left-hand side. Your choice of side is likely influenced by convenience (easier to get up from one side, close to the light switch, etc.)

If you have a quality mattress, with dual-zone support it shouldn’t matter what side you sleep on, you should get a perfect night’s sleep every time, and so should your bed buddy. But maybe your choice of side does say something about your personality.

Does your side define you?

Last year a quirky poll by SlumberCloud surveryed 2000 Americans and their bedside preferences. The limited survey seemed to find a correlation between left side sleepers and a love of restrained, intellectual pursuits while it found right-sided sleepers to be more interested in beer and action movies. I mean, I do love both those things, but is it really that simple?

Another survey by Premier Inn seemed to reveal something more disturbing. According to the 3000 Americans surveyed, those who preferred the right side were usually grumpier and had a more negative disposition. Lefties, in comparison, were happier and more energetic.

What’s going on here? In my opinion, nothing. These surveys add color to the story, but they are too limited to be of any significance. Three thousand people may seem like a lot, but these were prescreened people who were staying at a Premier Inn. The SlumberCloud survey was an online poll with anonymous participants, so the accuracy is questionable at best.

What these surveys do illustrate is our fascination with taking sides, whether it be sports, politics, or the brand of car we drive, we seem to feel better when sticking to a side.

What side of the bed is best? In reality, its whatever side you think is better. There is no evidence to suggest anything other than personal bias. Some funny survey results are floating around online, but they only divide our opinions further. When you wake up tomorrow, maybe it’s healthier to be happy you woke up in a comfortable bed and not be concerned about what side you are on.