Love is... living apart

Having your own space in a relationship -- seems to be essential. Today more and more couples are demanding his and hers toilets, dual kitchens and dressing rooms, writes Matt Woolsey in Forbes. And not only that. A study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders found that 60% of upscale homes (homes with more than 4,000 sq ft) will feature two master bedrooms by 2015.

At first sign the step looks to be a retrograde one. But experts feel that separate bedrooms will serve a couple much better in the long run. The National Sleep Foundation insist that the 75% of Americans who are light sleepers or snore will benefit with a separate bedroom.

It's not just sleep. A separate bedroom could actually work wonders for your sex life. Therapists insist the couple could return to the mystery and romance of their honeymoon days with separate bedrooms.

Also, it's a recognition that marriage today doesn't mean you have to compromise on your needs. Earlier a partner who slept in another room was seen as a sign of marital blues. Today that social stigma is vanishing.

It's not just the bed. Two thirds of builders surveyed in the NAHB study said there was an increased demand for a second kitchen. It doesn't stop at the kitchen. Separate bathrooms, dressing rooms, telephone lines and offices are also increasing in demand.

The trend seems to have begun, as most trends do, with the stars. Comedian Steve Martin and Victoria Tennant bought two apartments in San Remo in New York Upper West Side, when they got married in 1986. But the separate spaces couldn't help the marriage as the couple divorced in 1994. And sometimes separate spaces can bring you closer than you think: to the wrong person. Nelson Rockefeller had divorced first wife Mary Todhunter Rockefeller to marry his second wife Happy.

But he was determined to have his favourite floor of their Fifth Avenue apartment, with him. Rockefeller purchased the apartment next door, tore down a wall and secured his floor. He however lived next door to his ex-wife for 40 years.

Rockfeller's story highlights the problem with separate spaces. Experts say that by becoming too attached to them, the space can actually allow you to distance yourself from the marriage. Especially, at a time when you need to connect. This can even complicate things once the marriage is over: in divorce settlements.

However, today such problems could be a thing of the past. Experts say the increased openness of couples towards personal space suggests it is being used today for the betterment of the marriage. Personal space today indicates that most couples are happy and secure in their relationship. They go about their daily business trusting their partner. And that can only be a good thing. Right?