Why Separate Bathroom Space Can Help Your Marriage
by Sydney Venable

He's nagging you about your cosmetics being on the countertop again. But if he leaves the seat up one more time you're liable to strangle him with the dental floss. When did your bathroom become a battle zone?

It's a given that married couples will disagree. Share that much time and space with another person and a fight is bound to happen sooner or later. So instead of cleaning up the fallout, why not be proactive and give yourselves a little separate space before Armageddon happens in your bathroom?

I Just Need A Little Space
We've heard that line over and over again, usually because one partner feels smothered by their spouse. While the true source of the problem is probably neither your wife's cosmetics nor your husband's chronic toilet seat issue, these little quirks can agitate an already existing relational sore.

The need for space is predominately psychological, but, sometimes, psychological needs are met by taking real life action. A little independence can go a long way and having private spaces that cater to each partner's interests is usually the first thought. Whether it's a workout room or a woodshop, the list of potential private spaces is endless. But unless your house has the square footage to allow for such luxuries, creating those necessary private spaces means building a pricey addition.

Keep It Simple
The beauty of a bathroom remodel is that it takes place in an already existing, high-traffic space. By taking your master bath and splitting it in two, you not only add value to your home by adding the extra bathroom, but you can get that sense of space you want without embarking on a costly construction project.

To keep down the costs of your master bath remodel, do not move plumbing lines where possible. If space is more of a concern than cost and splitting your master bathroom down the middle isn't possible, consider creating separate "his" and "hers" vanity areas to allow each partner his or her own space.

Sources:
Consumer Reports, Bathroom makeovers: Relaxing retreats for less
doityourself, Bathroom Planning and Remodeling
Forbes, Homes With Separate Spouses' Spaces, by Matt Woolsey

About the Author
Sydney Venable lives in the suburbs just outside of Las Vegas. She currently works in education and athletics with the Clark County School District. Before moving back to Las Vegas, she lived in India where she taught English and participated in social programs. She holds a BA in English from the University of Nevada.