The other night, while folding laundry and watching “Pokerface” on Peacock, we started talking about all the things we do as a couple that our straight friends either marvel at or…quietly try to copy.

Don’t get me wrong, we (obviously) love our straight friends. But there are some small, sacred (and truthfully, stylish) ways we navigate life as a gay couple that we think everyone could benefit from.

Here are a few of our favorites:

1. We Make Interior Design a Team Sport
There’s no “one person gets the garage, the other gets the living room” energy in this house. Every decision, from paint colors to outlet placement, is joint custody. We’ve been known to text each other photos from opposite ends of HomeGoods like it’s a military op. It takes longer, sure, but our throw pillows have range, and it’s much more enjoyable when we’re both on the same page about something, or at least come to a compromise.

Steal this: Design your home together. Even if one of you “doesn’t care,” secretly, they do.

2. We Talk About Feelings Mid-Argument
We argue like everyone else, but somewhere in the middle, one of us always blurts out something like, “When you XYZ, I feel XYZ,” which usually softens the whole thing into a much shorter argument. When you share how you’re feeling and approach it from a caring, empathetic POV, it can completely change the course of a fight. Gay relationships teach you early on to be your own therapists.

Steal this: Pause during a fight and name the actual feeling. It’s weirdly effective.

3. We Obsess Over the Little Things Together
Is it weird to spend 30 minutes reorganizing the spice rack by both cuisine and alphabet? Maybe. But it’s fun when you do it with someone who gets why cumin deserves respect (being a little dramatic here, but you get the idea). Some of our best memories are built from the tiniest, most domestic moments, like switching rooms around or choosing a new candle for the house.

Steal this: Turn chores into rituals. It makes everyday life feel like a sitcom you co-write.

4. We Celebrate Small Wins Like They’re the Oscars
Got the laundry folded and put away in the same day? We’re pouring wine. Remembered a friend’s birthday without a Facebook reminder? That's a high-five and a dance in the kitchen. Life is hard, and we think it deserves more tiny applause breaks.

Steal this: Start cheering each other on, even (especially) for the mundane stuff.

5. We’re Each Other’s Hype People
“Do I look good in this?” is not a rhetorical question in our house. It’s an opportunity. Whether it’s jeans, a haircut, or a new J.Crew haul, we gas each other up like it’s our job. Because it kind of is.

Steal this: Compliment your partner like you're trying to get a tip.

Honorable Mentions:

Our playlists are curated for mood (think grilling out on the back deck or an intimate dinner party), not just genre.
We both know the family drama details on each side, and have team opinions.
Matching loungewear for the win.

We’re not saying gay couples invented emotional intelligence or scented candles…but we might have perfected them. ;)

What are the little things you and your partner do that make your life feel extra? Whether you’re queer, straight, married, or not, we’d love to hear!