“Making your husband feel appreciated is an essential part of having a good marriage.”
Having been married for nearly 20 years, one thing I can say for certain is that men need love too. In fact, studies suggest that when it comes to relationships—men need to feel seen, supported, appreciated, admired, and attractive—just as much as women do.
It’s the month of February, which means that people will soon begin celebrating love and romance all over the world. But as we all know, marriage is a lifelong commitment. And it’s important to celebrate the person you love every day.
With this in mind, I’ve been thinking about all the little ways I like to express love towards my husband—such as cooking his favorite meals, showing interest in the things he likes, and preparing his favorite homemade hair rinse before he shampoos. It’s often the little things we do in our relationships that matter the most…
Since every woman loves differently (and every man receives love differently), I talked to 10 of my dearest friends to find out how they express love in their relationships. They shared with me the simple-but-loving things they do to make their husbands feel appreciated on a regular basis.
As someone who’s constantly striving to be a better wife, I felt truly inspired by what my friends shared with me. Here’s what they had to say!
In terms of my marriage, you know, falling in love with my husband was by far the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Caroline Kennedy
- “My husband is an entrepreneur, and that in and of itself can be stressful. When he has a really long day, I’ll write a small note on the bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker. The note may read, “welcome home” or “I love you.” His clothes and fresh towels will be ready on the bathroom counter, so that he doesn’t have to think about it. It’s a small but thoughtful gesture to let him know that I appreciate him.” (Nicole Leakey, realtor)
- “To make my husband feel appreciated, I make sure to celebrate him with new experiences, especially concerning the things he loves. For instance, he had never been to the AT&T Stadium (and he LOVES the Dallas Cowboys!). So on his birthday, we toured the entire stadium. We spent the entire day there and attended the Cowboys game the next day. He said it was the best birthday EVER!!! He doesn’t celebrate himself or do much for himself. He puts himself last—so I make sure to put him first. I’ve introduced him to several new experiences, including spa days. Now, he loves a good massage!” (Monique Cocroft-White, loving wife and educator)
- “When it comes to showing my husband how much I appreciate him, I make sure to consider his love languages. They are words of affirmation and physical touch. So, I make sure to tell him that he’s doing a wonderful job and have meaningful conversations with him. I give him hugs and kisses when I pass by him. I even hold his hand in the car. By showing him love in the ways he prefers, I’m able to communicate better with him. This makes him feel appreciated.” (Nicole Pocklington, creator of Behind the Classroom)
- “When my husband comes home from work, regardless of how crazy my day has been, I make sure he has time to decompress. I ask if he needs to do anything for himself before I ask him to do anything for me. Honestly, I try not to ask him for anything at all when he gets home. But if I do need his help, I try to wait for him to do what he needs for himself first. I give him time to ask HOW can he help, rather than launching a list at him right away.” (Melissa Smith, a godly wife)
- “My favorite way to make my husband feel appreciated is to run his bath for him after a long day of work, so that he can soak and relax after dinner.” (Nathania Archer, loving wife and mompreneur)
- “To make my husband feel appreciated, I make the effort to love him in his love language. He likes words of affirmation and physical touch. So I leave him little notes around the house and give him random kisses and snuggles.” (Mika Benford, mentor coach at Mommiversity)
- “I speak specifically to my husband’s integrity and his work ethic. I often tell him how much I appreciate, respect, and value everything he does for our family.” (Tandy Allison, midlife pharmacist)
- “I let my husband know he looks amazing. I give my love spontaneous massages, make fabulous desserts and meals, and offer him space to enjoy his sports time.” (Queen, wellness coach)
- “One thing that makes my husband feel appreciated is affection. He loves rubs, kisses, cuddles, and quality time. Simply telling him that I love him makes him feel special. He expresses his appreciation during these moments.” (Roche’ Hall, life coach at Lyfinche)
- “I decided to ask my husband what I do to make him feel appreciated—because he would know better than me. He said that I encourage him. I thought food made him feel loved and appreciated. But apparently, not as much as me encouraging him, lol.” (Darlene Bennet-Hass, loving wife and encourager)
If you’re married or in a committed relationship, I hope this list inspires you on your journey… The truth is, our men are strong. But they, too, have emotional needs. Making our husbands feel validated and appreciated is vital for their happiness and self-esteem.
Now tell me, what do you do to make your husband or partner feel appreciated? Share your tips in the comments!
53 responses to “How to Make Your Husband Feel Appreciated: 10 Loving Tips”
Great information! Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure. As always, thanks for reading! ❤️
What a great read and inspiring!!!
Thanks, love!
This has been so fun and inspiring to read! I love that you wrote this and I have enjoyed hearing what others do!
So glad you enjoyed this post! And yes, it’s always fun and inspiring to hear things based on other people’s experiences and perspectives.
Great post! Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure, Angelia. Thanks for reading.❤️
Such a great article, it can sometimes hard for me to show my appreciate to my husband this was very helpful
Same here, Tianna! Sometimes we get too busy or caught up in “all the things” that we don’t express our love and appreciation in the ways we would like. I write posts like this to keep myself inspired and to help me become more mindful of my own actions. Thanks for reading, hun.
Awww! This was so lovely! To read how all of us wives cater to and love on our hubbies is beautiful!
Ikr! I actually had fun putting this post together and hearing about everyone’s different ways of showing love. Glad you enjoyed it.
Lovely blog! After being married for a while (especially with a baby now), we often overlook nurturing our marriage. I particularly loved the part where your friends share how they express love to their husbands. 😊
Thanks, Juane! And yes, it can definitely become harder to prioritize a relationship with little ones in the house. We used to have movie nights and indoor date nights after our daughter had fallen asleep when she was small. We still do, actually. Sometimes we stay up late and dance and listen to music, etc… You have to be creative when you have kids, lol.
Your post illustrates great ways to let husbands know they are is appreciated. I never miss an opportunity to say thank you for the kind and generous things he does. I cook a delicious meal, dance with him, and tell him he’s the greatest. Nancy Andres @ Colors 4 Health
I love it, Nancy! Cooking and dancing with my husband are two of my favorite ways to express my affection.
Wow! That’s a lovely read! I am actually imagining my husband while reading this post 🙂
So glad you enjoyed it!
I always wait at the door to welcome my husband home with a big hug and kiss. I show lots of excitement so that he knows home is a safe place where he is wanted. I also try to do at least one activity of service for him, whether it’s ironing his shirt, cleaning, getting him water before he asks. When I serve him he can better serve the family.
Such beautiful ways to express love towards your husband, Mikayla. I was touched by your words. And I agree that when we serve our husbands, they can better the family. Thanks for sharing, dear. ❤️
After 26+ years of being married, I can agree with this post 100%. Husbands love to be loved.
Indeed, Jolayne. I always tell my husband that he’s a big baby, lol! They definitely love to be loved.
Aww, these are all so sweet. I love you’re sharing it in February!
Thanks, Ashton! ❤️
What a great read! I love that you asked your friends how they show appreciation for their husbands – and they offered such good ideas. Our guys get taken-for-granted way too often, and this is a great reminder to tangibly SHOW them how much we care. This was inspiring – Thank you!
My pleasure, Janet! Glad you enjoyed this piece.
Great list. I really like #10, sometimes I feel like I should just know what my husband needs but it’s okay to ask too.
Exactly, Monica! Our husbands can’t read our minds, although we expect them to at times, lol.
One of my favorite ways to show my husband I love him is to give him a new rubber ducky in uniform for his collection when I return from a trip. It’s a little tradition that helps us laugh and bond after time apart.
Krystian, why do I feel like I want to know more about the rubber ducky story??? Lol, that’s hilarious… And thanks for sharing with us!
Beautifully written. Loved it.
Wonderful ideas!! It’s really the little things that make the difference!
Well, I’m not married yet but this post wasnso helpful, it actually got me thinking about showing the males in my life just how much I appreciate them. Thanks 😊
Roshel, I think our men could always use a little extra love and encouragement, married or not! So glad you enjoyed this post. ❤️
These are great examples. I used words of gratitude and appreciation.
This is so lovely to read. It’s so important to show your partner how much you love and appreciate them 💕
What a great article, thank you for sharing! I had just been thinking of how I can show my husband more appreciation lately, so this is perfectly timed 🙂 Wonderful examples!
So glad it helped, Anna!
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing.
Love this, we all need some reminders. Even after 20 years!
These are beautiful ways to express love to your husband. Most of them I do, but it’s a good reminder to be aware of doing it daily. My husband loves food, but most of all, he really likes physical touch. I always make sure to give him hugs, kisses, and extra (if you know what I mean) lol.
Love it, Tiffany! And yes, I definitely know what you mean by “extra.” Lol.
Yes, I agree with you that men need love as well, and all those little things like saying “I love you” are what counts the most.
Love this post!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Anthuwin! As women, it’s always nice to hear from a male’s point of view.
Wonderful article! I love to make my boyfriend feel special. I’ll write or text him words of encouragement and love notes. He commented how, despite having been in previous relationships, he has never felt more appreciated, and I love that for him and our relationship. Thank you for sharing 🫶🏽
I love the idea of love notes, Jasmine… Wishing you and your love much success and happiness!
TBH when I clicked on this, I thought it was going to be a simple list. Instead I am loving the specific perspective from a ton of individuals! Love the ideas given and love how personal they all are. Great blog!
That means so much to hear, Sarah. I’m glad this article surprised you in a good way! Thanks for reading, hun.
This is a lovely reminder that we should lean in and find out what makes our loved ones feel appreciated and encouraged. I do lots of little things for my husband and it’s great to think that this makes a difference to him. Wonderful post!
I love these ideas to make your husband feel appreciated. ☺️❤️
Love these ideas. Thanks for this post
I just asked my partner what I do to make him feel loved and appreciated, and he responds to physical touch. He says whenever I touch him, I make him feel fuzzy feelings. 🥺❤️
Love it, Jacqie! I’m finding that a lot of the guys respond to physical touch, including my own husband!