Make small but kind gestures, forget ideal love… and three other things to do when the romance dies in your relationship

ROMANCE is how most relationships begin - the flowers, the cards, the constant affection - but somewhere down the line, it all begins to fade.

But there are ways to bring those sparks back in your relationship if you're coupled up and dissatisfied with the way things are going.

According to , experts reveal what to do when your sex life dwindles.

Here are their five ways to recapture the feeling of being in love:

1. Remember the "D" word

The fear of losing that person you love decreases once you say "I do" because let's face it, once you get married, you've basically signed up for a life-long lock.

But apparently you should be threatening your other half with the word "divorce"; to keep them on their toes.

Alain de Botton, author and philosopher said: "We should use the fear of divorce as an ongoing defence against complacency; not because we want to divorce but because a vivid impression of the partner’s freedom wards off fateful dangers of complacency"

2. Praise, praise and thank you

Dr. Dain Heer, relationship consultant and international speaker said: "Find three things you are grateful for her on a daily basis and tell her every single day. As your gratitude for her grows so will your lust."

3. Forget 'ideal love'

Relationship counsellor and author Juliet Grayson's top tip: "If you start a relationship on unrealistic expectations of how you’re going to be, then you’re going to be a disappointment to your partner once they start a long term relationship with you.

"So it’s better to set realistic expectations in terms of how attentive you are (and even how much money you're going to spend on them, trips promised, etc) from the beginning."

4. Do the small things

It’s the little things that count, not the grand sweeping gestures.

Jo Usmar, wellbeing writer said: "Bring them tea in bed, be sympathetic when they’ve got a hangover, make them dinner, bring them flowers for no reason, buy them that thing they admired when they didn’t think you’d been paying attention, pick them up from work, run them a bath, make sure you say thank you when they do anything for you no matter how small.

"It’s amazing the arguments and stress we’d all avoid just by showing a little appreciation."

5. Let go of resentment

Dr. Dain Heer believes romance dies as a result of judgement: "What you want to do is write down all of your judgements of your partner and ask yourself ‘will you let these go?’

"Maybe burn the list or destroy it, and then put your arm around your partner and tell them how grateful you are for them."