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One in six couples sleep in separate beds, and half of those sleep in separate rooms, according to a UK survey.

While these couples start sleeping apart in an effort to protect their relationship, researchers found that two thirds of lone sleepers admit that sleeping in separate beds has actually had a negative impact on their relationships.  In fact, the survey revealed that many couples believe sleeping apart it is making them feel more distant and is harming their sex lives.

Among couples who sleep apart, 86 percent report they get a better night's sleep when they don't need to deal with their partner's sleeping habits.

Some of the reasons why people want to sleep in separate beds include one person wanting to watch television or read, snoring, or wanting to sleep in one's own bed.

The study, which was conducted by mattress company Ergoflex, involved 2,010 men and women aged 18 and over in cohabitating relationships from across the UK.

Despite having a good night's sleep, the study found that sleeping in separate beds actually had a "negative impact" on couples' relationships.

More than half of couples who sleep in separate beds admitted that it made them feel "distant" from their partner and 42 percent said it had "negatively impacted their sex life".

The survey revealed that 43 percent slept in different beds because of differing bedtime habits such as different bedtimes, or one party preferring to watch TV and read. Over a third of participants said that their snoring or their partner's snoring was the main reason for having separate beds and a fifth of respondents said they simply preferred to sleep in a separate bed.

Of couples who slept separately, 72 percent admitted that they had previously shared a bed with their partner and had chose to revise their sleeping arrangements.  However, the rest admitted that they had always slept in separate beds.

When asked if they planned on sharing a bed with their partner in the future should their problems with sleeping together be solved, 52 percent said "no", with 78 percent explaining that the y actually "liked" sleeping apart now.

"We've seen a pretty impressive rise in searches for single memory foam mattresses on-site over the past few months, and thought it was either down to people wanting smaller beds - or something was happening with couples across the nation," said a spokesman for Ergoflex UK, according to the Daily Mail.

"Our results suggest the latter, and it seems that many couples in the UK are opting to sleep apart," he said. "None seem to mind either and actually claim to like it, despite many saying it's had a negative impact on their relationship."

"Whatever the reason for sleeping apart, it seems that many simply see it as the easiest way to get a sound night's sleep; which certainly makes sense in our book," he concluded. "Sleeping apart can help you get the quality rest you need, no doubt putting you in a better mood with your partner during the day."