According to psychology, people who never make their bed often have this particular strength.

For years, a neatly made bed was treated as a badge of discipline, good upbringing and success. New psychological research is now challenging that assumption. People who routinely leave their bed unmade often display traits that are highly valued in modern working life and day-to-day living - and may even be doing their health a favour at the same time.

Why we were taught to make the bed in the first place

Most people learn the drill in childhood: get up, pull the duvet smooth, plump the pillows, job done. Parents, teachers and self-help advice turned it into a daily ritual. The message was simple: a tidy bed equals a tidy life.

Historically, that habit also comes from a period when appearances carried more weight than genuine hygiene. A perfectly turned-down bed signalled respectability, propriety and control, even if the mattress was worn out and the room rarely aired. It was the look that mattered - not necessarily the air quality.

These days, everyday life looks very different: packed diaries, constant availability, more stress and a much stronger focus on mental wellbeing. Many people deliberately drop the rigid routine and leave the bed exactly as they got out of it. For a long time, that was dismissed as laziness. Psychologists now tend to view it in a far more nuanced way.

What research reveals about leaving your bed unmade

Psychologist Kathleen Vohs at the University of Minnesota examined how tidy versus untidy environments influence our thinking. Her findings are widely cited in environmental psychology.

"Order encourages conventional, conforming thinking - a certain amount of ‘creative chaos’ sparks new ideas."

In highly orderly rooms, participants were more likely to make safe, predictable choices. They followed rules and opted for the “correct” decisions - but rarely the surprising ones. In messier settings - such as scattered papers, items left out, or an unmade bed within view - something different happened: people generated more unusual, original solutions.

Vohs describes this as a creativity catalyst. The disorder is not only a distraction; it can be a stimulus. The brain has to filter more, sort more and set priorities more actively - which makes it easier to question what is familiar and try alternatives.

“Constructive chaos” (and the unmade bed) rather than laziness

Leaving the bed unmade in the morning often reflects an unspoken mindset: not every task deserves the same attention. Energy and concentration go to what genuinely matters - work, family, personal projects - rather than purely cosmetic neatness in the bedroom.

Psychologists sometimes refer to this as “constructive chaos”. In practice, it means:

• accepting that not everything has to be perfect
• being able to prioritise, rather than getting bogged down in minor details
• allowing more room for spontaneity and fresh ideas
• often being more open to unconventional solutions

This is particularly useful in jobs where ideas and problem-solving are central - from advertising to product development - because those roles often benefit from people who can tolerate a bit of disorder without immediately needing to eliminate it.

What an unmade bed can suggest about personality

An unmade bed is not, of course, a definitive personality test. It can, however, offer clues about how someone tends to operate and relate to their environment.

The “don’t-make-the-bed” group

People who simply leave the bed as it is in the morning often show these tendencies:

• greater tolerance for imperfection and minor mess
• more focus on substance than appearance
• stronger creativity - or at least a greater enjoyment of experimenting
• less rigid day-to-day need for control

That does not automatically mean they are disorganised. Many work in a structured way, schedule carefully and meet deadlines - they just draw the line differently between what truly needs regulating and what is essentially decorative routine.

The “make-the-bed” group

On the other hand, some people feel they cannot properly start the day until the bed looks immaculate. Research more often links this pattern with:

• a stronger tendency towards perfectionism
• placing high value on visual order and harmony
• using tidiness to soothe nerves or tension
• creating external control to offset uncertainty in everyday life

For these individuals, making the bed functions like a small anchor - a controlled beginning to a day that may become unpredictable. That can be genuinely helpful, as long as the drive for perfection does not become excessive.

The key point is that neither approach is inherently superior. They are simply different ways of managing stress, structure and expectations.

Health: why an unmade bed can be a plus

It becomes particularly interesting when you look beyond psychology to physical health. Researchers at Kingston University in the United Kingdom investigated how made versus unmade beds affect house dust mites.

"Making the bed straight away traps warmth and moisture - a paradise for mites and allergens."

While we sleep, we perspire. Moisture builds up in sheets, the mattress and pillows. If the bed is pulled tight immediately after getting up, that residual dampness is sealed in. For mites, that creates ideal conditions: warm, slightly moist and protected.

If the bed is left open for a while, air circulates more effectively. The mattress dries faster and the textiles can “breathe”. Mites do not thrive in that environment; many die off or reproduce less.

Habit	Possible outcome
Making the bed straight after getting up	More moisture trapped, better conditions for mites
Leaving the bed open for a few hours	Less moisture, lower mite load, often better for allergy sufferers

If you have allergies, sensitive airways or asthma, a simple change can help: air the room in the morning, fold the duvet back, stand the pillows up - and only make the bed later in the day, once everything has dried.

How to combine chaos and structure sensibly

The more useful question is not “make the bed - yes or no?” but: what kind of environment supports the way I think and live?

A few prompts drawn from psychological practice:

• Create zones: keep the work area tidier and the sleeping area more relaxed - or the other way round, depending on what suits you.
• Deliberate omission: drop certain routines and invest that time in creative or restorative activities instead.
• Protect morning energy: avoid loading the start of the day with mini-tasks; begin with a clear focus.
• A small ritual is enough: for perfectionists, smoothing the duvet roughly may be sufficient - without chasing every last crease.

If you tend to judge yourself harshly because the bed is not perfect, it can help to remember: a bit of disorder is not failure, just a different way of navigating everyday life. And if you keep everything razor-straight, it may be worth asking where a touch more looseness could be beneficial.

Practical bedroom tips for everyday life

So that creative disorder does not turn into stressful chaos, a few simple habits can help:

• Air the room briefly each morning for at least five to ten minutes.
• Fold the duvet fully back, rather than half-opening it.
• Change sheets regularly, roughly every one to two weeks.
• Vacuum the mattress from time to time, especially if you have allergies.
• Go by feel in the evening: if order helps you unwind, make the bed calmly then.

This way, the potential psychological upsides of an unmade bed - more creative freedom and less rigid perfectionism - can sit alongside a healthier sleeping environment. It is not a military-smooth duvet cover that determines how successful or “together” someone is, but the mindful way they manage energy, priorities and their own mind.