Last week, I wrote about how to bring up the idea of moving beyond vanilla when it comes to bedroom flavours. But taking things up a sexual notch doesn’t mean you have to renovate your house to include a fully equipped dungeon. If you’re nervous about moving out of your sexual comfort zone, start simple. And one of the simplest things you can do to spice up your sex life is to get out of bed.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having sex in bed. In fact, after years of having to find locations to have sex where your parents won’t catch you (cars, closets, bathroom stalls, or wherever kids sneak off to have sex), it’s rather nice as an adult to have sex in the comfort of your nice, grown-up, 400-thread count Egyptian cotton-sheet-covered bed.

But while beds are great for sex, when you’re busy, overworked, and exhausted, it’s often more tempting to fall asleep in them than have sex in. You’re far less likely to fall asleep when you’re doing it on the kitchen table, for example. It’s why vacation sex is often hotter than at-home sex. The change of scenery takes you out of your comfort zone and allows you to see each other against a different backdrop.

Obviously, if your relationship has more serious problems, simply changing the scenery in hopes it will fix everything can create unrealistic expectations and set you up for failure. Nothing like being trapped together in a hotel room with no daily routine or children to distract you to amplify everything that’s wrong between you.

And be prepared: when it comes to sex in unusual places, sometimes the reality doesn’t quite live up to the fantasy. Sex on the beach for example. The idea is very From Here to Eternity. The reality, on the other hand, might have you picking sand out of your buttcrack for days or soothing the crab bites on your ass — something that happened to a friend of mine.

Also, because men parts are more accessible and quicker to arouse, they usually get to enjoy the full benefits of the event more often than she does. It’s hard to get off when you’ve got a ladder in your back when you’re doing it on an antique fire truck at your husband’s work. (Same friend. She’s an adventurous one.)

The idea of potentially getting caught in the act can create an urgency and excitement whether it’s full intercourse in the bathroom at a party (just be quick, others have to pee) or copping a feel under the table while you’re out to dinner with friends. Trying to pretend nothing’s going on is not only playful and deliciously naughty but it forces you to react differently to familiar sensations, making them feel brand spanking new. Trying to be quiet having sex while your houseguests are asleep in the next room is also great for this.

If you’re lucky enough to have a tub big enough for two (it’s hard to feel sexy when your knees are in your eye sockets), baths can be a great place to get intimate. With him sitting between your legs and her lying back against his chest, he can give her breasts and shoulders a nice, soapy spongedown. If you’ve got a removable showerhead (if not, a waterproof sex toy will do nicely), he can use it to get her off while she lies comfortably back. Switch positions and she’s in a perfect spot to give him a nice, wet, slippery handjob.

Attempting intercourse in baths or showers is a little trickier and should be undertaken with extreme caution, as slippage is a serious issue. Sex on the bathroom rug after a nice, hot bath or steamy shower, on the other hand, is great. You’re both clean as a whistle, the bathroom’s all warm and steamy, and afterwards, you can simply jump back in the shower to clean up.

The bathroom isn’t the only other home location available outside the bedroom. The aforementioned kitchen table (just remove sharp objects and clean up afterwards, people have to eat off it), the couch or living room rug, the laundry room (usually lots of dirty towels around for cleanup afterwards), and the kid’s room (okay, maybe not) are all potential sex locations.

Happy location scouting!