Sean and I moved in together just over a year ago (!!!) and it’s been amazing ever since.
Okay, maybe not all the time. We’ve definitely had disagreements about how to arrange and decorate our apartment. But surprisingly not many.
One thing I was a bit stubborn with (and luckily Sean didn’t put up too much of a fight) was not having a tv in the bedroom.
Why was I so stubborn about it, and how has it worked out since then?
It wasn’t because of money.
We both had televisions from our time living apart. So it wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend the money on a second television.
It wasn’t the aesthetic.
I really don’t mind the look of a flat-screen television mounted on a wall. Sure. the cords could be prettier, but it’s not too big of a deal for me.
It’s because I want our bedroom to be a sanctuary.
I don’t want to be the couple that stays up all night staring at a screen next to each other without any sort of communication. I want the bedroom to be a place of relaxation, not a place where screens take over.
After all, the blue light in our phones, computers, and tvs actually makes it harder for us to fall asleep. So why would you want a tv in the bedroom?
And yes, my rule does extend to laptops, as much as possible. We don’t have our desks in our bedroom (despite only having a one-bedroom apartment), and I try to make sure I’m always working at my desk, not on the bed.
Plus, do two people really need two televisions?
If we’re spending that much time apart, it’s a red flag for me. Sure, I need some alone time every once in a while, but that doesn’t necessarily mean television-watching time. If I really need a break, I’ll go in the bedroom and read.
Do you keep a tv in the bedroom? Why or why not? I’d love to find out!
I read an article a while back that said having a TV in the bedroom was a terrible mistake for a couple’s intimacy (sexual and non-sexual). But even if that’s not true, I’m not a huge fan of falling asleep to the TV (or even worse, waking up to it!) and if there was a TV in there, that’d probably be a more common occurrence. I like what you said about the bedroom being a sanctuary. We don’t specifically limit phone or laptop use in there, but usually if I’m in there it’s for sleep or solitude, so it’s kind of become a sanctuary without us having to try to make it one.
It’s seriously the best feeling to have a sanctuary in your home! Even if it’s intentional or not. 🙂
Growing up I’ve never had a tv in my room, and there was never any need for it. Right now I don’t have a tv either, but I am guilty of using my iPad as a tiny tv from time to time. My fiancé has a tv in his bedroom so whenever I’m there we sometimes watch tv in bed, not all the time though. His other tv is in the living room so that’s where we do most of our tv watching.
I prefer watching tv in the living room! It’s seriously so much better. Plus I’m less likely to fall asleep in the middle of a show 🙂
I’ve grown up having a TV in my bedroom so it’s hard to imagine not having one. However, now living with my fiancee, we have one in the bedroom but we rarely use it. The internet doesn’t work as well in that part of the house so we can’t use Netflix..(which is basically all we use our TV for). I’m getting used to using just the one in the living room and that’s fine by me. Simplifies life!
I have the same problem with internet in the bedroom! I never really considered that for tv purposes, but it makes sense because we don’t have cable. It’s so true about how having only one television simplifies life!
I have a TV in my bedroom. I go to bed with hubby which is several hours too early for my night shift body, so I read and watch TV when he falls asleep!
Haha that’s so interesting! I feel like I couldn’t read for several hours without falling asleep on my own. 😉
I hear you. My mother gave us our second tv against our will (she gifted it to my 5 yo who at the time 4 for Christmas for her room) and we put it in our room but we barely watch from it…we do not even have cable, so it is only netflix and dvds that we play on that thing.
It’s so great not having cable! Seriously. And I love that your mom gave your 4-year-old a tv. I could totally see my mom doing that! 🙂
Growing up, I never had a TV in my bedroom. Now, we do. With 3 kids in the house, if I ever want to watch something that’s not a cartoon, I need to hide out in my room. Plus, TV is an escape for me, and I really enjoy it. Our house is small, and our toddlers destroy everything, so I have to keep my desk/laptop in the bedroom too. Once they are out of the house, maybe we can have a technology free bedroom.
Haha! I don’t know what I’ll do when I’m in that situation. I thought having a puppy was bad enough… 😉