February, the month of love.  Also the month when a dozen roses cost twice or three times what they do any other time of the year.  When chocolates, flowers and cards seem like a requirement on February 14th.  Maybe you’re tired of chocolates, teddy bears and roses.  As a couple, now would be a great time to give yourselves the gift that keeps on giving.  No, I’m not talking about a seven day cruise or even a phonograph.  I am talking about your own private sanctuary.   The master bedroom. A place to escape the dishes piled in the sink, the bills piled on the desk, and the clothes piled on your bed.  It’s pretty hard to have a steaming love life if you’re surrounded by clean Paw Patrol Underwear and it looks like Children’s Place threw up on your bed.  

As parents of four children, we know how hard it is to have your own place in the house.  The master bedroom is supposed to be that place, but my guess is you also may have photos of your kids on the wall and an exercise bike with clothes hanging off of it?  And not from a wild night of lovemaking, but perhaps you are using it for a laundry drying rack.  

Friends, it’s time to take back your master bedroom!  Get out the broom, and pull up your pinterest boards!   I’m here to help you create your own special couple’s retreat!  AKA Love Shack, Sexuary, Shagging Central.  (Your husbands can thank me by sending Homegoods and Target gift cards to my address.)    

In all seriousness, my husband and I have been very intentional in creating our own space for us.  Having a place to retreat to after a hard day of work and whining kids is wonderful!  We created our sanctuary a few years ago and still love heading up to bed at the end of the day!  

 We love that it’s the one room in the house that is strictly ours!  There are no kids’ toys allowed in here, no laundry baskets on the bed, no photos of children on the walls to stare down at us during while we, well you know…. 

Anyways, if you’re ready to get started on your own little love nest, here are some ideas.  Bonus, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on making your bedroom a sanctuary. 

How to Create A Master Bedroom Sanctuary

 Create your space together.  

Write down some words together and create a vision for your bedroom.  Think about how you want the room to feel.  Maybe intimate, cozy, sexy, elegant, relaxing,  spa-like or  luxurious like a hotel?   Bonus,  create a pinterest board to help gather ideas.   This was especially helpful with my man who can’t envision what I’m talking about.  Showing him a few photos really helped get the wheels churning.    

Clean out your bedroom! 

This is free and honestly will probably make a dramatic difference in your room.  Don’t use your bedroom as a storage unit, because it’s not.  Get rid of the exercise equipment that no one is using, along with the piles of paper, clothing, and whatever else. Bonus points if you make your bed!  

Get rid of distractions!  

We gave the television the boot out of our room.  At the end of the night I don’t want us staring at our phones or the tv. Use this time alone to talk and connect; your facebook notifications will still be there in the morning.  Remember you are creating a sanctuary!  

Decorate!  

Paint is a fairly inexpensive way to create atmosphere and change the look of a room.  There are so many fun color options out there; pick something you both love!  You can even paint your furniture to give it a fresh new feeling without spending a ton of money.  I love the Rustoleum chalk paint from Home Depot; it’s cheap, easy to use, and comes in some great colors!

Artwork can be as easy as purchasing a few picture frames and printing off some photos of yourselves from your dating years, your wedding day and any other pics that you love of the two of you!  You can also add in some quotes or verses that are special to you.  A leaning wall mirror can add some great light, along with other uses.   TJ Maxx/Homegoods and Hobby Lobby have a lot of great options that are fairly cheap, too!  

Don’t forget the lighting!  You can never have too many candles.  Or maybe use some white Christmas lights and  lamps that have dimmers!  We found a chandelier on Craigslist and took down our ceiling fan.  You can also find some fairly cheap wall-mounted fireplaces if you really want to up the romantic factor.  

Another great addition is music!  

There are some pretty sweet little speakers that pack quite the punch out there on the market.  After all, you need to play the smooth jazz so the kids know not to bother you!

Last, if you spend money on anything, spend it on your bedding!  

Buy pillows, sheets and bedding that are soft and luxurious feeling!  After all, you sleep in it! No one likes when their feet get caught on the pills of the bed sheets.  Or maybe that’s just our feet from the dry, cold winter?  Soft blankets and some cute throw pillows will add a nice touch.

At the end of the day, the goal is to create a place that you can retire to that feels relaxing and free of distractions.  A place to call your own, to spend time together and reconnect after the long, stressful, joyful and busy days of raising children.  Because after the kids all leave the house, your spouse will still be there!  Don’t let your marriage fall to the back burner; keep that spark burning!