Some American Couples Are Seeking Separate Bedrooms

A survey carried out by the National Association of Home Builders has found that more and more couples in America are ordering separate master bedrooms in their homes so that they can ensure a more "harmonious marriage". The survey predicted that by the year 2015, up to 60% of custom-built homes will have two master bedroom suites, rather than the traditional single master suite.

As couples seek a better night's rest, this growing trend reflects that sleep deprivation actually robs a couple of joy in their marriage, causing tension and arguments. Surveyed couples said that sleeping in separate bedrooms has helped improve the quality of their marriages. According to Gopal Ahluwalia, of the National Association of Home Builders, the trend was a "market-driven demand that's going to continue".

Sleeping in separate bedrooms used to be viewed as evidence of a failing or struggling marriage. However, this trend seems to appeal to some couples and is practical for them, as it means they are more likely to get a good night's sleep each night.

Reasons for disturbed sleep include snoring, night time visits to the bathroom, seeing to a baby or sick child and shift work. All of these activities can rob a couple of the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night.

The situation appears to have become more of an issue as gender roles have become re-defined, with women as well as men juggling work and childcare duties. Stephanie Coontz, a families expert told the New York Times that there were many couples "confident enough that they have a nice marriage, but they don't particularly like sleeping in the same room. I don't think it says anything about their sex lives".

Despite Ms Coontz' assertion, many builders are calling the extra room a "flex suite" in order to avoid any embarrassment. The newspaper reported that this trend is not restricted to the upper end of the market. Take for example Lana Pepper of St Louis. She said that she switched things around in her new apartment so that she could cope more easily with a restless husband. "My husband is still alive. I would have killed him," she said. Perhaps that says it all.

Couples who are opting for separate bedrooms are making a personal decision. It is not up to anyone else to judge them. They may have tried many other alternative options that did not seem to work for them. Some differences just cannot go away without some serious intervention. Shift workers cannot suddenly start working days and a baby in the home will need regular attention for quite some time. But by switching to separate bedrooms, some couples have reached a compromise that suits everyone involved.

Source:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6441131.stm