A married couple who sleep in separate bedrooms say it has "reignited that spark" - and they arrange "intentional sleepovers". "

Sofi Elkin, 30, and Stanley Weems, 25, have been married for three years and have slept in their own separate bedrooms since buying their home in January 2023.

The couple - who are both neurodivergent - spoke about sleeping arrangements early on in their relationship.

Sofia had seen a video of another couple sleeping in separate rooms and realised it was something she wanted.

The pair have different sleeping habits - Sofia likes a warm room and Stanley likes it cold - and they have different work schedules.

They still have intentional sleepovers one to three times a week and say it keeps the "excitement" in their relationship."

Sofia, a content creator, from Baltimore, Maryland, US, said: "There is an expectation when you are married that you get out of the honeymoon phase."

"Having separate rooms reignited that spark. "

"We get excitement over having a sleepover."

"A lot of couples have arguments over clothes on the floor."

"He can do what he wants in his room and I can do what I want in mine."

"If he needs decompressing time he has his own space he can go to to do that."

"That's improved our communication."

Sofia and Stanley, an audio and video engineer, met in early 2020 and moved in after eight months of dating.

She said: "When we were dating we talked about wanting separate rooms."

"Stanley had never considered it before."

"I knew it was something I wanted."

"We're both neurodivergent and particular about the ways we like to sleep."

The couple - who tied the knot in May 2021 - initially shared a room while saving up to buy their home in January 2023.

Now they have two bedrooms - Sofia's is upstairs and Stanley's is downstairs in the basement.

Sofia said: "I have a lot of stuff. One room is not enough."

"I'm big into decor. I've decorated it very girly and pink."

"He's a minimalist - but that is what he wants."

"He's in the basement. He likes his room cold."

"He doesn't mind keeping the TV on and falls asleep with the TV on. I need full silence."

Having separate rooms means Sofia doesn't have to wake up early when Stanley goes to work.

She said: "I work from home - I'm on my own schedule."

"He gets up early. His alarm will wake me up if we shared - I don't want to deal with that either."

"We spend nearly every night together."

"We just hang out until bed time."

"If it's not a sleepover night he'll say goodnight, we might cuddle for a bit and then he goes to the basement."

Their sleepover nights are based on Stanley's work schedule. If he doesn't have to get up early the next day the pair will often sleep together in Sofia's room.

Sofia said: "We sleep the same."

"It doesn't seem to affect how we sleep that much."

Sofia does get some comments about their sleeping arrangement.

She said: "Some of our family members think it is weird but they are supportive."

"People online say one of you must be cheating or you are not in love and just friends."

Sofia - who has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD - says separate rooms works perfectly for her and Stanley's relationship and they don't see that changing.

She said: "Neurodivergent relationships look different."

"A lot of us need more personal space."

Stanley said: "It sounds kind of strange but I think sleeping separately actually allows us more opportunities to connect. "

"I feel like some couples can get into too much of a routine and spending every hour together that it doesn't leave much rooms for special moments anymore. "

"This arrangement gives us a space to ourselves and sort of built in way to miss each other and make something special out of having sleepovers and date nights."