5 Relationship Problems Solved by Design

Problem No. 1: Everything else takes priority over your relationship. Whether you've been married for 20 years or dating for six months, every relationship hits a patch where it gets neglected. Bills pile up, work turns stressful, kids gets sick — and romance gets pushed to the back burner.

By setting up a special place in your home for you and your sweetie, you'll be encouraged to spend part of the day together — just the two of you. An outdoor setting like this provides instant romance. Plan a date at least once a week to enjoy your special spot with a bottle of wine or book of poetry, no cell phones allowed. If a cozy outdoor venue isn't in the cards, push a bench near a window with a pretty view and cover the seat with plush pillows and blankets. Anything soft will do.

Scattering little happy reminders of your relationship throughout the house can also help when priority slips. When you don't have a spare second for romance, they can keep you in each other's mind. Photos, framed tickets or a blushing bouquet can make all the difference, helping even the most utilitarian corners of your house feel filled with love.

Problem No. 2: Communication has gone out the window. With all the distractions of day-to-day life, it's easy to misunderstand what your loved one is saying. And of course, misunderstanding can quickly lead to an argument. (I know that my boyfriend and I would save a lot of time and energy if we just listened to each other in the first place.) Having a conversation in person — not on a cell phone or via text message — and without distraction can make a world of difference.

So make sure that you have a quiet and relaxing space where you can talk without the distraction of electronic devices. Having the ability to hide your TV, for example, can make a big difference. Don't just turn your set off — tuck it away entirely. Let your living room or family room become a space that's just about the two of you and your conversation.

Having a phone and computer station is just as important. When you get home, resist the urge to spend dinnertime on your cell phone as your sweetie chats with you about the day. Even if you think you're hearing everything, odds are you aren't. Commit to stashing your phone and computer in another room as soon as you get home from work. Keep the ringer on for important calls, but don't sit around playing with your phone.

Problem No. 3: You can't agree on finances. For couples that are in the early stages of living together, figuring out how to deal with money can be incredibly stressful. Arguments can arise from all sorts of situations, but staying organized and being honest can help prevent a lot of them.

Have a shared space where both of you can access all of your financial information. Whether it's a drawer, a file cabinet or an entirely separate desk, make sure that it stays organized. Create a system that both of you agree on and stick with it. Place budget goals in a highly visible place. Write down both of your financial strengths and weaknesses and keep each other accountable. Decide who is responsible for which bills, then write everything down and post your notes in a visible place. Get a calendar and make sure you each know when the bills need to be paid.

Problem No. 4: Doing housework inevitably leads to an argument. In most relationships, each individual has a very different approach to housework. One might be a neat freak, for instance, while the other is a complete slob. The best thing to do is be up front about your cleanliness preferences — and try to be sympathetic about your significant other's.

Of course, that only goes so far, so assigning chores and sticking with them is really the best bet. Yes, it feels childish. But it also works. Come up with a chore chart based on what needs to be done weekly and monthly in the house, then post it where both of you can see it. Make sure that it feels fair to both of you: Try to give each person the chores they like and rotate the ones that both of you hate.

Nothing builds resentment faster than when one person does all the work because the other keeps forgetting, so stay accountable with your housework. Do your best to make your chore zones pleasant. Clean up the laundry room, organize the linen closet and purchase a few snazzy cleaning supplies. It's amazing how a nice environment can motivate you both to get the job done.

Problem No. 5: The bedroom is feeling anything but romantic.
A bedroom redesign can drastically influence your time spent in there. If your bedroom feels messy, cluttered and disorganized, it's easy to feel stressed and unhappy when you're getting into bed at the end of a long day. But if your bedroom is clean, soothing and open, you and your honey will love getting into bed at night.

First things first: Clear out all the clutter. A feng shui principle is to raise your bed off the floor and sweep away any clutter underneath to let energy flow freely in the room.

Next, get the lighting right. Too little or too much can make a bedroom feel uncomfortable and restricted. Rely on several different sources of light — lamps, chandeliers and sconces. Install dimmers wherever possible and scatter candles for extra romance.

Third, stick with a soothing color palette. Cooler colors in the same tones feel instantly relaxing. Blues, grays and greens are especially calming. Feel free to add dimension with texture, but keep everything in the same palette.