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It probably happens a lot: you and your partner get into the mood, make your way to the bedroom, but before anything can happen someone stubs his toe on shoes left out or steps on the dog’s squeaky toy, which prompts the dog to jump on the bed. And sex is over. Your bedroom is primarily for sleeping, yes, but if you live with your partner then you have to make some adjustments to make sure it is sex-friendly, too. At the very least, make sure your bedroom doesn’t repel sex. I understand that the weeks get busy, and life has a way of making its way into your bedroom. But for the sake of your sex life—especially if it’s going through a difficult phase—make a few changes in your sleeping quarters so they become banging quarters, too. Please forgive that term. Here are ways to make your bedroom more sex-friendly.
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Remove photos of family
Mom and pop don’t need to stare down at you while you do the deed. Move family photos out in the living room, kitchen, or other communal areas. Reserve your bedroom walls for nature images that calm you.
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Ditch cutesy pillows
Something about embroidered pillows with butterflies and puppies just doesn’t quite set the mood. Get these out of there. Those can go on the living room couch.
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Keep it clean and made
Have you ever noticed how much sex you have when you go to hotels? Part of it is how liberating a clean, fresh room and bed feel. So wash your sheets regularly and make the bed daily.
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Get the dirty laundry out
Don’t keep baskets of dirty laundry in your bedroom. There’s nothing like skid marks on a pair of boxers, hanging over the side of the laundry basket, to kill the mood.
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Select bedding you both love
Pick out bedding that you both think is the most comfortable, luxurious bedding you just want to spend all day in. Treat yourself to some hotel-worthy sheets.
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Replace that creaky frame
If you have an old, creaky frame, it’s time to replace it. That creaking makes you both insecure about bothering the neighbors.
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Keep important items within arms reach
Lubricant, vibrators, butt plugs, and whatever else you’re into—make sure these are always in the bedside drawer. Waddling over to the bathroom to find them kills the mood.
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Give the dog a separate room
Try to show the dog that your bedroom is not her bedroom. Perhaps move her bed and toys (and the little stairs you bought her to help her get up onto your bed) into another room. When Fido jumps onto the bed, sex is usually cancelled.
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Remove gifts from exes
If you have any gifts from exes lying around, put those away. Even if it’s just a lazy-boy chair you got with your ex and you kept—put it in another room.
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Keep the bathroom clean
If you have an en-suite bathroom, keep that clean. Looking over to a dirty bathroom, in the middle of foreplay kills the mood.
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Make it smell nice
Whether it’s through candles, essential oils, or scented detergent, make your bedroom smell nice. Vanilla, jasmine, and pumpkin eye are all arousing scents.
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Keep the temperature right
If it’s too cold, then you won’t want to take your clothes off. If it’s too hot, then you won’t want to touch another human being. Set your thermostat to the right temperature.
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Set up your office elsewhere
If you have a home office, don’t have it in your bedroom. Filing cabinets and documents will only stress you out.
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Add textured pillows
Add some throw pillows with interesting textures like faux fur and corduroy. The sensation of these on your hands can be arousing.
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Add low lighting
If your only options are extremely bright lights or pitch dark, you may not get in the mood often. You need to see each other a bit, but you also don’t want to feel like you’re blinded by the light. Add dimmers.
