Do things need a little sprucing up between you and your partner? It’s normal for things to get a bit stale in a marriage from time to time – our likes and dislikes evolve, other priorities come and go, and sometimes we forget to communicate. However, the good news is that the sky’s the limit when it comes to creative ways you can reintroduce some sparks and excitement to your sex life!

Here are just a handful of quick and easy tips for bringing your bedroom romps back to the honeymoon days, but this list is by no means exhaustive – the most important thing is to communicate openly with your partner about each other’s wants and needs when it comes to intimacy.

• Experiment with sex toys together

Yep, we’re coming in hot. Sex toys are a fantastic way to introduce a new element of excitement and pleasure between yourself and your partner. And with so many great male and female sex toys out there, you’re sure to find one (or several) toys that do wonders for your sex life. Consider sitting down with your partner and browsing toys on an online adult and sex shop.

• Try role play

Role play doesn’t have to be cheesy – when done right, it can be a sure-fire way to kick things up a notch (or five notches!) in the bedroom… or wherever you and your partner fancy, really. It can sometimes feel a little embarrassing to talk about it, but try having a conversation about each other’s fantasies, scenarios that get you both excited, and different costumes that might help to spice things up. You can build suspense by texting each other naughty messages during the day before role playing that night!

• Try some fun new activities together

This tip is more for outside the bedroom, but spicing up your marriage in other ways can actually improve your sex life together as well. When was the last time you took a cooking class together, or went to a yoga session, or something unique like a pottery workshop? These are all great activities to bond over, they give you more things to talk about, hopefully you’ll share a few laughs and this intimacy often has an effect on your sex life as well.

• Try extending your foreplay sessions

How long do you both spend pleasuring each other before getting to the “main event”? Perhaps the problem is that you’re not giving each other enough time to get sufficiently aroused before jumping into the sex, and unfortunately the quality of the intercourse can suffer as a result. Try taking things slow, take turns pleasing each other, and wait until you’re both curling your toes with anticipation before giving in!

• Don’t wait until you’re both “in the mood”

Did you know that, as we get older, those spontaneous moments of suddenly desiring sex right there and then don’t occur as often? As such, if you wait for these moments to have sex, you might find yourself disappointed, or disenchanted by the fact that your libido isn’t what it used to be.

This is what the other four tips listed above are for – hopefully they will hope you both get into the mood, even if your next sex session is scheduled in advance. There’s nothing wrong with declaring tomorrow night after dinner as “designated sex time”, and having the mindset that you are both going to make an effort to make your sex life better.

Give these tips a try, and don’t stop exploring/brainstorming other creative ways to restore your sex life to the glory days of when you first started dating! With any luck, you’ll enjoy a happier, healthier marriage as a result.