Decorating Guides
How to Turn Your Home Into a Love Nest
Build a love shack baby, and your relationship will be the healthier for it
Whether you’re in the honeymoon phase or have been together for decades, you’re living on your own as a couple or have a house full of kids, anyone can benefit from a little more togetherness at home. Connecting with your better half doesn’t always have to mean romance – although it can, of course – but it does mean you regain the intimacy that’s so easy to lose when both of you are busy or distracted. Let these tips encourage some more meaningful couple time at your house.
Celebrate you
Symbols of your togetherness can be powerful reminders during flat or tough times that you’ll get through it, and that you want to. A painting, framed photo, a memento with meaning – adorn your house with a few of them to keep you going strong.
Tip: If kindness underlies everything you do when you’re at home together, the rewards won’t be far behind. Take a breath before reacting to a challenging situation and ask yourself ‘How can I stay kind through this?’ Beginning a sentence with “I feel…” instead of “You always…” is a good place to start.
Symbols of your togetherness can be powerful reminders during flat or tough times that you’ll get through it, and that you want to. A painting, framed photo, a memento with meaning – adorn your house with a few of them to keep you going strong.
Tip: If kindness underlies everything you do when you’re at home together, the rewards won’t be far behind. Take a breath before reacting to a challenging situation and ask yourself ‘How can I stay kind through this?’ Beginning a sentence with “I feel…” instead of “You always…” is a good place to start.
Install a double shower
Dual shower heads don’t just make your mornings more efficient, they also foster an intimacy unique to the two of you. This shower even has a shampoo niche on either end for his-and-her products to prevent jostles over storage space.
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Dual shower heads don’t just make your mornings more efficient, they also foster an intimacy unique to the two of you. This shower even has a shampoo niche on either end for his-and-her products to prevent jostles over storage space.
Browse more bathroom photos
Work on your dreams together
Striving towards common goals isn’t just energising, it also signifies a commitment to your future together. It could be a plan to travel or move overseas, to renovate your home or buy a new one, or to quit your jobs and work for yourselves. Brushing your teeth together in a home like this one is surely a dream worth pursuing!
Striving towards common goals isn’t just energising, it also signifies a commitment to your future together. It could be a plan to travel or move overseas, to renovate your home or buy a new one, or to quit your jobs and work for yourselves. Brushing your teeth together in a home like this one is surely a dream worth pursuing!
Design (and use) nooks for two
If your home is set up for solitude, guess what? You’ll have plenty of places to retreat to on your own, and that’s what each of you will tend to do. Hang-outs for two away from the TV encourage connection, even if you’re just sitting side by side reading or posting on Instagram (let’s be real).
Tip: Consider establishing a new ritual you both love. Take turns making a divine breakfast for each other on Sunday mornings and devour it as you share the weekend paper – outdoors when the weather allows. Doing little things like this together can combine your separate lives into one.
Browse more swimming pool design ideas
If your home is set up for solitude, guess what? You’ll have plenty of places to retreat to on your own, and that’s what each of you will tend to do. Hang-outs for two away from the TV encourage connection, even if you’re just sitting side by side reading or posting on Instagram (let’s be real).
Tip: Consider establishing a new ritual you both love. Take turns making a divine breakfast for each other on Sunday mornings and devour it as you share the weekend paper – outdoors when the weather allows. Doing little things like this together can combine your separate lives into one.
Browse more swimming pool design ideas
Do your bit
Living with anyone can get irritating at times, but chances are you are just as annoying to live with as you think your partner is. Commit to keeping the house nice for the benefit of the other and check in now and then to see if there’s anything he or she would love you to do to make your lives better. You might be surprised at the reciprocal benefits that ensue.
Tip: A tidy house always feels better to be in than a messy house in need of a clean. If cleaning and tidying isn’t your forte, consider hiring a cleaner. The less resentment you have for your partner (and vice versa) when it comes to housekeeping, the more you can focus on what really matters – having fun. If a cleaner isn’t affordable right now, agree which chores each of you will do and how often. It soon becomes obvious who isn’t pulling their weight.
Living with anyone can get irritating at times, but chances are you are just as annoying to live with as you think your partner is. Commit to keeping the house nice for the benefit of the other and check in now and then to see if there’s anything he or she would love you to do to make your lives better. You might be surprised at the reciprocal benefits that ensue.
Tip: A tidy house always feels better to be in than a messy house in need of a clean. If cleaning and tidying isn’t your forte, consider hiring a cleaner. The less resentment you have for your partner (and vice versa) when it comes to housekeeping, the more you can focus on what really matters – having fun. If a cleaner isn’t affordable right now, agree which chores each of you will do and how often. It soon becomes obvious who isn’t pulling their weight.
Have date nights at home
If you’re saving towards a holiday, buying your own home, or putting aside funds for your retirement, spending up big at restaurants or on nights out can obviously make these goals harder to reach. By all means go out, but spending the odd date night at home and making it special can be a win-win. You get to spend some quality time together, and you’re one day closer to achieving your goals.
Tip: If finding alone time at home is all but impossible because of the kids – call in reinforcements. Family members or friends are likely to be happy to host a sleepover at their house if you tell them why you need it, or encourage any grown-up kids you have living at home to make other arrangements for the weekend. It’s a matter of making your relationship a priority.
If you’re saving towards a holiday, buying your own home, or putting aside funds for your retirement, spending up big at restaurants or on nights out can obviously make these goals harder to reach. By all means go out, but spending the odd date night at home and making it special can be a win-win. You get to spend some quality time together, and you’re one day closer to achieving your goals.
Tip: If finding alone time at home is all but impossible because of the kids – call in reinforcements. Family members or friends are likely to be happy to host a sleepover at their house if you tell them why you need it, or encourage any grown-up kids you have living at home to make other arrangements for the weekend. It’s a matter of making your relationship a priority.
Create a bedroom you both love
If one person tends to make all the decorating decisions at your house, the bedroom needs to be an exception. Shop together for bedlinen, check in with your partner before making a purchase, and consider his or her colour and style preferences as well as your own.
If one person tends to make all the decorating decisions at your house, the bedroom needs to be an exception. Shop together for bedlinen, check in with your partner before making a purchase, and consider his or her colour and style preferences as well as your own.
Renovating? Consider a parents’ retreat
Having kids can put a strain on the strongest of bonds, so if there’s an opportunity to create a haven you can escape to at times, do it. A renovation that includes a parents’ retreat could give you the alone time you need to keep the romance alive.
Read more:
14 Things You Need to Do Now for Your Partner’s Sake
10 Bad Habits That Are Making Your Home Messier…
Tell us:How do you make your home feel more like a love nest? Share your ideas in the Comments.
Having kids can put a strain on the strongest of bonds, so if there’s an opportunity to create a haven you can escape to at times, do it. A renovation that includes a parents’ retreat could give you the alone time you need to keep the romance alive.
Read more:
14 Things You Need to Do Now for Your Partner’s Sake
10 Bad Habits That Are Making Your Home Messier…
Tell us:How do you make your home feel more like a love nest? Share your ideas in the Comments.
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Remind yourself what you loved about your partner when you first got together. When you become more loving in your thoughts, the effect on your relationship can be profound, and you might be surprised at the changes you see in your partner – without you having to say a word.
Tip: Take it a step further and vow to do five nice things for your partner each day, whether it’s paying a compliment, leaving a funny love note, giving an extra long hug or doing something for them they aren’t expecting (even if it means unpacking the dishwasher). It’s the little things.
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