By Angie Hicks
From Ask Angi
Thinking of taking on a home project this Valentine’s Day? Give yourself the gift of a more comfortable home.
Here are some relationship-saving projects that can make living with your partner a little bit easier.
1. Upgrade Your Bathroom
Bathroom space is one of the biggest complaints from couples who live together. We often have different routines from our partners and require storage space for our products. If you don’t already live in a home with separate bathroom spaces, like double vanities and or separate sinks, talk to a contractor and see if it’s possible in your space.And if you find yourself short on hot water after your significant other takes a shower, it might be time to invest in a better hot water heater. If you install a tankless water heater, you’ll never run out of hot water.
2. Organize Your Closet
Closets are another problem area for some couples. If you’re limited on closet space, consider decluttering and reorganizing your clothes, or installing custom shelves in your closet. It’s also a good idea to store out-of-season clothing somewhere else to free up some coveted closet space. Consider hiring a professional home organizer for an outside perspective on how to best use the space in your home.3. Control the Climate
If you can’t agree on your home’s temperature, install ceiling fans and place portable fans or heaters throughout your house. That way, one person can stay cool while the other stays comfortably warm. If you’re willing to invest more in this problem, consider adding a split-duct system that allows you to control the climate in individual rooms more easily.4. Increase Privacy
They say good fences make good neighbors, and sometimes, good doors make for a harmonious home. Every couple needs areas where each can spend a little time on their own and unwind. Add interior doors to rooms that don’t already have them in order to close off spaces, buffer out noises, and create room for hobbies or other activities.If you have hobbies or activities that tend to create noise, consider soundproofing that room. You’ll spend about $1,900 for this work, but it can be money well spent, especially if you work from home and one partner has a noisy hobby.
This can also help you navigate a conversation about needs and priorities in your home. Even couples who have been together for decades should circle back to their essential priorities every so often, since they can change over the years. For example, if you’ve recently found that you enjoy cooking together, a kitchen renovation may be in order.
5. Ask the Experts
For many couples, home improvement projects can add extra stress and frustration. Consider bringing in a pro to do your projects for you to avoid unnecessary tension. For example, hiring a professional house cleaner can avoid any conflict over whose turn it is to make the house sparkle. Also consider hiring out for other seasonal or monthly tasks, such as pool maintenance, landscaping, and pest control. Hiring a pro not only ensures a job well done and takes one more thing off your plate, but it buys the gift of time to spend with each other.
Tweet your home care questions with #AskingAngi and we’ll try to answer them in a future column. Copyright 2025 Ask Angi. Visit at angi.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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