You may think that marriage advice and home improvement don’t go together. This post offers four reasons why working on a home-improvement project can make your marriage better at the same time.
This post was written by Megan Wild.
There’s room for improvement in any marriage, whether you’ve been married for 30 years or only one. Chances are, there’s also room for improvement in your home. If there is a project that’s been on your honey-do list for weeks, why not tackle it together?
A home-improvement project can do more for you than just make your house look nicer – it may strengthen your marriage as well.
Here are four reasons why working on a home-improvement project can make your marriage better at the same time.
1. It Builds Teamwork
Has there ever been a better team than married couples? You are the ultimate team! You live together, eat together, sleep together and still manage to successfully navigate schedules, kids, pets, and jobs. Teamwork is a must when it comes to marriage.
A home-improvement project can build that teamwork if you handle it correctly. Sometimes, if you aren’t careful, projects like these may lead to frustration and hurt feelings.
Dividing up tasks and assigning them to the person who is best at those tasks will take away any opportunities to be bossy.
Finding out your spouse’s strengths won’t just help you with your project, it will also help your relationship. Look for ways your spouse can use those strengths in everyday life.
Related: 5 Ways to Keep the Spark Alive
2. It Strengthens Communication
Communication is one important key to a successful marriage. The same thing goes for a home-improvement project. You need to communicate the steps you will take to complete the project. Someone needs to clearly communicate the directions and the other person needs to follow them.
Working on a project around the house is a fun way of practicing everyday communication. It’s important to have clear conversations. Be intentional with your words. When you ask your spouse how their day went, really listen to their answer and respond with your own questions.
They’ll see you are interested in what they did. It’s easy to fall into the trap of making your world revolve around your job or your kids’ schedules. Don’t let those things take over the time you need to talk to your husband or wife.
Good communication means loving each other with words. Speak kindly to the other person. However, communication isn’t just about talking – it’s also about listening.
Be an active listener by making eye contact, touching them at appropriate times or asking questions to better understand what they are saying. In the same way, have fun with your project and use it as a time to catch up with each other.
Related: 10 Proven Tips on Actually Creating Intimacy in Your Relationship
3. It Saves Money
Budgets are a major point of contention in marriages. Some couples focus on making more via part-time jobs, such as those in the ridesharing economy, and others focus on saving and cutting discretionary expenses.
One focus isn’t necessarily better than the other, it just depends on what works for your and your spouse.
When starting your project, instead of making a list of things you want a professional to do, look around and see what you and your spouse can do on your own. When you are picking out a project, look for one that’s cost-effective, because it’s important to be financially responsible in your marriage.
Talk with your spouse and figure out how this project will save you money in the long run or compare prices of DIYs to hiring a professional. This way, money is one thing you won’t have to argue about.
Related: 5 Smart & Practical Tips for Spending Less and Saving More
4. It’s a Fun Date
Speaking of saving money, here’s a semi-cheap date that you and your spouse can do together. Married couples need regular date nights. So if you aren’t already dating your spouse, you should really start right now!
Plan them out and put them on your calendar so you’re more likely to follow through. If you can’t afford to go out very often, have a date at home, like a home improvement DIY.
Don’t do it late at night when you’re already tired from a long day of work or chasing kids around. Maybe take a day off work together and make it a fun time to be at home, just the two of you.
There is something really enjoyable about spending the day at home when everyone else is working. Order pizza and pop a movie in while you work. It’s a really productive date, and if your kids are in school, you won’t need a babysitter.
Related: How to Make Date Night Happen
There are a lot of reasons why working on a home-improvement project together can actually improve your marriage. So what project is next on your to-do list?
Megan Wild is a home improvement specialist who loves ripping things apart to make them more functional. Check out her ideas and tips for sustainable home improvement on her blog, Your Wild Home.
You really highlight and explain this correlation well! Working on home improvement projects with your significant other will guarantee more time with them and gives you something to work towards as a unit. Awesome points here. Nicely done!
Hey this is great. As a contractor my favorite experiences have been with a husband and wife team that really play off one another. It is such a fun time, and we really can get creative.