Sex in *this* room of the house increases heart rates by 73%

When it comes to places to have sex in the house, it seems that it's some more surprising options that get our hearts racing the most. With more people than ever working from home in recent months due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, it’s no surprise that some might have been looking for ways to spice up their love life. After all, with restrictions still in place on going out, there’s never been a better time to experiment with your partner. Many people might enjoy discovering a new favorite position or best vibrator, but when it comes to location, you might just be wondering - does that *really* make a difference?

The answer, it seems, is yes! A new study by OnBuy.com has looked into whether the location in your house actually affects how good your orgasms are. The 50 couples who participated in the research tracked their heart rates before and immediately after having sex in different rooms. 

Prepare yourself for some pretty unexpected results…

What is the best place to have sex in the house?

You might not believe it, but when it comes to the best location to have sex it seems that the bathroom comes out on top! Couples who experimented there experienced heart rate elevations up to an average of 121BPM, a shocking 73% increase. It seems the heart wants what it wants as when asked to rate their experience, having sex in the bathroom also received the highest score. Participants gave bathroom sex a massive 8.5 out of 10. 

And why? They stated the steamy room and standing sex made it that much hotter!

What are the other top places to have sex in the house?

The bathroom may have raised participants’ heart rates the most, but coming in a close second is another equally surprising choice - a balcony. Many houses might not even have one of these, but if you live in a house or apartment that does, it seems it may be worth a try. 

Participants’ heart rates rose to 116BPM on average and when asked, several couples stated the exposure and publicity of a balcony are what gets them going.

In third place came a closet or utility room, where the participating couples’ BPMs jumped by 64% and rated this experience as a still-impressive 7.3 out of 10. Some even mentioned the use of a washing machine to add good vibrations!

What are the worst places to have sex in the house?

Whilst those top three certainly got the participating couples’ hearts beating faster, there are some locations in the home that definitely fell flat…

According to the couples, sex in the bedroom is just a bit too predictable, with the comfort of a bed seeming to cap the pleasure and heart rates to just 108BPM.

But whilst sex in the bedroom didn’t set their worlds on fire, it’s still much better than the landing or stairs which OnBuy has revealed to be the least enjoyable area of the house to have sex.

Whether the shape or size of these areas makes it difficult to experiment - or it’s just too uncomfortable - heart rates only rose by 43% to 100BPM on average and it only achieved 6.5 out of 10 average rating.

What should we think about when choosing the best places to have sex?

These results may be surprising and more than a little enlightening, but how does this affect us at home? When it comes to deciding where the best location to have sex is for you and your partner, there are some factors to keep in mind. 

Daniel Sher, clinical psychologist and sex therapy expert at Between Us Clinic, an online men’s sexual dysfunction clinic says: “When choosing where to have sex, it’s important to think about what turns you on as a couple - being intimate on the balcony brings with it the possibility of being seen by others for instance. 

“Having sex in the kitchen can be new and exciting and can also add an added layer of intimate knowledge between you and your partner, which can be subtly tapped into the next time that you’re hosting guests. 

"A subtle glance will suffice: you don’t want to put your guests off their dinner. Not to mention the kitchen renders food like fruit and whipped cream accessible - employing the aid of these sorts of items during sex can add an extra layer of sensuality and novelty."

“Lastly: it is always a good idea to experiment with sex in the bathroom. This space provides so much opportunity for exploration and alternative sensual stimulation. Get creative. Have sex standing up. Have sex in the shower, on the basin, in the bath. Make full use of steam, soap, lotions and perfumes”, Daniel says.  

It seems pretty clear what got these participants' heart rates rising, but when it comes to spicing things up at home, personal preference is key.

Whatever works for you, after all!