Sleeping in separate rooms can strengthen relationship

Actress Helena Bonham Carter and her film director partner Tim Burton sleep in adjoining houses to strengthen their relationship.

In addition, a third of couples take separate holidays from one another, and over a fifth often have "time out" to do separate things, such as stay with friends or family.

It has also emerged that 39 percent of couples believe their relationship is healthier because they have independence in their home life, while five per cent think having separate rooms is one of the main reasons they are so happy together, a major newspaper reported.

The study by home insurers firm also found that one in 25 couples have even taking a lengthy "sabbatical" from each other.

On an average, couples spend 22 hours together during the working week, with nearly half of all couples blaming hectic work schedules for a lack of "quality time" together.

Some 20 percent say seeing friends is the reason for not spending more time together, while 16 percent cite trips to the gym.

The survey, which questioned more than 1,000 people aged 18 or over, also discovered that 10 percent of men have a "games room," four percent of women have their own "powder room," and five percent of people would rather spend a night in with their cat or dog than their partner.

Furthermore, one in five couples (19 per cent) regularly eat their evening meal at different times, with one in 10 cooking completely different dishes from each other.

And proving that opposites attract, 15 percent of people describe themselves as the "polar opposite" of their partner, while 44 percent believe having different interests or hobbies makes for a stronger relationship.

Those under 25 are the most likely age group to spend time apart, with 21 percent admitting they regularly sleep in a separate bed - followed by the over 55s, at 16 percent.

A quarter of 18 to 24-year-olds regularly go on holiday without their other halves, followed by 15 percent of 25 to 34-year-olds.

But only six per cent of over 55s admit to going away without their partner.

Nikki Sellers, head of home underwriting at the firm, said: "They say that "absence makes the heart grow fonder", and this may be the case."