NEWS COPY
The average British couple spends just four hours a day in the same room as each other.
A study of 2,000 adults who live with their other half found conflicting work hours, different interests and alternative bed times results in little time spent together.
The typical weekday sees couples spend seven and a half hours in the house at the same time, but only 57 per cent of this is in the same room.
And at weekends couples spend a total of nine hours under the same roof, but only 60 per cent of this time actually together.
It also emerged three in 10 couples have opposing bedtimes, so they rarely go to bed at the same time.
But the study, commissioned by heating expert Drayton, found that even when they are in the same room together, couples don’t always get on, with a fifth disagreeing about the brightness of the lights and a tenth arguing about who sits where on the sofa.
A third also disagree over the temperature of the heating, with a quarter arguing about how hot or cold the bedroom should be.
More than half of those polled said their partner has different opinions on how hot or cold the home should be, with women more likely to have the final say on the temperature (31 per cent of women compared to 22 per cent of men).
As a result, more than a third said if they were able to control the heating of the separate rooms they’re in, it would save lots of disagreements.
Natalie Wathan, spokeswoman for Drayton, said: “It’s interesting to see just how much - or how little - time is spent with a partner at home together.
“The study shows that most couples have conflicting schedules to each other and as such use the rooms in their home in different ways and times.
“This can cause arguments when it comes to things like the heating, but modern technology now means the home can now be personalised to your needs.”
The study also found a fifth mutually agree with their partner to spend time in different rooms, but a tenth admitted they are like ‘passing ships in the night’.
A sixth don’t even sleep in the same bedroom, with 42 per cent putting this down to their partner snoring.
While 31 per cent put their limited time together down to conflicting work hours, 45 per cent simply claim to have different interests.
More than a quarter do try and set aside time to spend together when they are home with their partner and most commonly this happens on a weekday evening.
Popular ways to spend time in the same room as one another include watching TV, eating and even tidying up together.
Drayton’s spokesman added: “Modern life means that a one-size fits all approach to things like heating, lighting and even watching TV no longer works - instead we now use technology to tailor and customise our home.
“Wiser by Drayton allows you to create up to 16 individual heating zones, so you can set different room temperatures throughout your home.
"This means that you can set the temperature in your kitchen to a welcoming 21°C and if your other half is chilling out in the lounge they can have the temperature set to their preferred degree."
ENDS
