Sleeping Arrangements
In fanfiction, it is widely accepted that Dean almost always takes the bed closest to the door because of his need to protect Sammy. This page will document what happens in the show. Once all episodes have been cataloged, a tally will be given at the bottom of the page. The episode summaries will give a brief description of the sleeping arrangements. If the boys don't have a motel room, it will be listed as "No Room Shown" (NRS.) If a room is shown but no indication is given, then it will be listed as "Unclear."
SEASON ONE
DEAN = 9. SAM = 3
Episode 1.1 - "Pilot" (a.k.a. "Woman in White") NRS. The boys do visit John's motel room but neither is shown sleeping there.
Episode 1.2 - "Wendigo" NRS. Presumably, the boys both stayed awake all night to keep a lookout for the Wendigo.
Episode 1.3 - "Dead in the Water" Sam. Dean is shown throwing his laundry onto the second bed. Later, they have a discussion while Sam sits on the foot of the first bed and Dean sits on the foot of the second.
Episode 1.4 - "Phantom Traveler" Dean. Dean is shown asleep on the first bed as Sam returns to the room with coffee.
Episode 1.5 - "Bloody Mary" Sam. Sam is shown asleep on the first bed just before he wakes from a nightmare.
Episode 1.6 - "Skin" NRS.
Episode 1.7 - "Hook Man" NRS.
Episode 1.8 - "Bugs" NRS. The boys stay a night in an empty house.
Episode 1.9 - "Home" Dean. Sam is shown lounging on the second bed when he realizes his nightmare featured their old house in Lawrence.
Episode 1.10 - "Asylum" Dean. Sam is shown sitting on the second bed and Dean's duffel bag is on the first. (This episode ends in a different motel room with both asleep but I'm going to count it as part of the next episode.)
Episode 1.11 - "Scarecrow" Unclear. The boys are awoken by a phone call from John. The room door is never shown.
Episode 1.12 - "Faith" First room: Unclear. Sam's stuff is spread all over the first bed (while Dean in in the hospital) which may indicate Sam slept on the other one. Second room: Dean. He tosses his keys onto the first bed. Later, Dean and Sam converse whilst Dean sits on the first bed and Sam sits on the second. Later still, Dean and Layla converse while sitting on the first bed.
Episode 1.13 - "Nightmare" Unclear. Dean spends the night with Cassie at her house. Dean and Sam are shown in the motel room and Sam picks up his jacket from the second bed.
Episode 1.14 - "Nightmare First room: Dean. Both are sleeping when Sam wakes up and begins packing and insists they leave. Second room: Dean. When Dean is cleaning the weapons, they are spread out over the first bed. When they are packing to leave Dean's duffel is on the first bed.
Episode 1.15 - "The Benders" NRS. Sam is kidnapped and Dean spends most of the episode looking for him.
Episode 1.16 - "Shadow" Unclear. Sam drops the weapons duffel on the second bed; possibly just because Dean is standing by that one.
Episode 1.17 - "Hell House" Sam. Dean is lounging on the second bed when doodling the Blue Oyster Cult logo. Sam's clothes are on the first bed when he comes out of the shower.
Episode 1.18 - "Something Wicked This Way Comes" Dean. Sam sits on the second bed while researching Strigas. Dean's duffel is on the first bed.
Episode 1.19 - "Provenance" Unclear/Tie. The door is on the wall opposite the beds, so neither is technically closer.
Episode 1.20 - "Dead Man's Blood" Dean. (Does it count as protecting Sammy when John was also there, wide awake?)
Episode 1.21 - "Salvation" Dean. Dean is sitting on the first bed while Sam fills John in on his visions.
Episode 1.22 - "Devil's Trap" NRS/Unclear. The boys are too busy rescuing John and squaring off against YED to worry about sleeping.
SEASON TWO
Episode 2.1 - "In My Time of Dying" NRS. Most of the episode is in the hospital after the car crash.
Episode 2.2 - "Everybody Loves a Clown" NRS. Who could sleep when there's a killer clown on the loose?
Episode 2.3 - "Bloodlust" Unclear. When Sam is alone in the room he sits on the first bed while calling Ellen.
Episode 2.4 - "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things" Sam. He's sitting on the first bed when Dean comes in to catch him watching 'Casa Erotica.'
Episode 2.5 - "Simon Said" NRS.
Episode 2.6 - "No Exit" Unclear. No indication of where Sam slept and Dean slept in the chair.
Episode 2.7 - "The Usual Suspects" First room: Unclear. Sam is arrested in that room and the beds aren't shown. Second room: Unclear. Sam has stuff on both beds and Dean is never in this room.
Episode 2.8 - "Crossroad Blues" NRS.
Episode 2.9 - "Croatoan" Unclear. When Sam wakes up from his vision of Dean shooting someone, he is on the floor between beds.
Episode 2.10 - "Hunted" Unclear. The only motel room shown isn't shared.
Episode 2.11 - "Playthings" First room: Sam. He sits on the first bed and Dean is on the second while Sam explains why he wants to take a new case. Second room: Sam. Dean drops drunk Sam in the first bed.
Episode 2.12 - "Night Shifter" Unclear. Both beds have stuff strewn on them but neither one goes near the beds.
Episode 2.13 - "Houses of the Holy" Sam. Dean appreciates the Magic Fingers hooked up to the second bed.
Episode 2.14 - "Born Under a Bad Sign" Unclear. They never share the room. Dean throws his duffel on the first bed but sleeps on the floor after Sam knocks him unconscious before leaving. Plus, Sam was possessed by Meg the whole time.
Episode 2.15 - "Tall Tales" Dean. Sam gets mad because Dean is eating while lounging on Sam's bed.
Episode 2.16 - "Roadkill" NRS.
Episode 2.17 - "Heart" Unclear. Sam stays at Madison's.
Episode 2.18 - "Hollywood Babylon" NRS.
Episode 2.19 - "Folsom Prison Blues" NRS. The boys are placed in different cells.
Episode 2.20 - "What Is and What Should Never Be" Sam. At the end of the episode Dean is sitting on the second bed.
Episode 2.21 - "All Hell Breaks Loose, part 1" NRS. Sam disappears to Cold Oak.
Episode 2.22 - "All Hell Breaks Loose, part 2" NRS.