Room designed by Tobi Fairley
Couples who have been together for a certain amount of time will recognize this issue: One of them snores and the other can't sleep. It is such a common problem that doctors say that 70% or more of couples spend at least one night a month sleeping in separate rooms. That's probably been an issue since sleep was invented, but what's new about this is that the banished half of the couple is getting tired of having to sleep in a guest room or on the sofa.
Today, architects and interior designers are being asked to create second masters - not for guests, but so each half of the couple has an equally lovely and personal room to sleep in. It's becoming much more acceptable as people realize the importance of sleep for health, and that sleeping alone doesn't mean intimacy has to suffer.
So what do these new home designs look like? They could be a sitting area off the master (above) that can also be used for reading and relaxing, or can include a daybed or another full bed. My friend and fellow designer Alex Papachristidis says he's been asked for these rooms so often that he's come up with his own term for them: The Snoratorium. I love that!
Another design that I'm seeing a lot in architectural plans is a master suite that includes two bedrooms and a shared bathroom. This allows the couple to have a private space just for the two of them, and still be able to separate the snorer from the snoree when it's time for sleep. The one above is great because it also has a sitting area where the couple can enjoy a quiet time together with wine or coffee.
And then there's the dual master suite, like in the home above. You can find thousands of house plans online with this set up, and a lot of people request it for guests and visiting family, or even for in-law spaces. But I suspect quite a few of these homes are also being used as "snore rooms," don't you?
So if you have issues with sleep in your own home, start thinking creatively about the rooms and spaces. After all, a good night’s sleep could be the real key to a happy marriage!