Benefits of Sleeping in the Buff

What do you prefer to wear to bed — pajamas, lingerie, sweats…or nothing at all?

While every person has his or her own particular preference, you should be aware that sleeping in the nude can be an erotic way to spark intimacy between you and your partner. Here’s why:

Most of us spend our entire days fully clothed. From the time we wake up in the morning to the time we go to bed, we are only briefly naked for a few moments at a time, save for in the shower. Even then, most of us hop right into a towel, preferring to stay robed in front of our partner.

Clothing can simply get in the way, and not just in a physical sense. Clothes can create a mental barrier between you and sex: a hand up that says “no way.” On the other hand…if you don lingerie or a black thong for date night, your partner — who has probably grown accustomed to associating those undergarments with sex — knows you are likely in the mood and ready to go. That’s a big turn-on for him, especially when he feels like you are trying to seduce him and make him feel special.

If you wear too many articles of clothing, or don your comfy flannel nightgown, your partner may be thinking: “Uh-oh, I know tonight is going to be nothing but a Real Housewives marathon.” Even if you don’t mean to send that message to him, you are subconsciously creating it — and you’re even sending that message to yourself! It’s hard to be in the mood for sex if you don’t feel desirable or sexy; and wearing a ratty T-shirt or an old pair of sweats, you probably won’t be open to the idea of sex.

The good news is that clothing (or lack thereof) can help to alter mood and increase sexual feelings. By doffing your clothes and coming to bed naked, you are sending many important messages to your partner. For one thing, you are letting him know that you feel 100 percent comfortable and safe with him, and that there is no part of your body that you want to hide. Rocking confidence like that takes guts, and it will definitely impress him — as will the view!

Going to bed in the buff also immediately inspires sexual thoughts and feelings. It’s as if you have taken off the armor for the day and entered a private retreat where only you and your partner are allowed. That can be highly sexy, especially if you usually spend the day surrounded by other people or swept up in a hectic family life. Taking your clothes off and hitting the sheets is like flipping a switch and entering a world that exists only for you and your partner — a world in which relaxation, sexuality, and intimacy are welcomed and celebrated.

If the idea of sleeping in the nude all night isn’t appealing, try to do so for at least an hour before bed, or try donning a slinky teddy or even a hot pink cami-and-boyshort set. Just find a way to let go of your armor and reveal yourself to your partner during those special hours that you get to be alone together. At the very least, you will cut down on your laundry!