5 Ways to Meld Your Design Style with Your Partner’s
Happy Valentine’s Day dear reader! We got you something fun this year…tips on how to end the fight about home decor for good. Sorry we didn’t wrap it, it wouldn’t fit in a box. But seriously, whether you’re moving in with someone for the first time or you’ve been living together for years, those arguments about what your home should look like will inevitably come up. Don’t get mad! Get creative, your home should be a reflection of the people who live in it—a reflection of you both. Here are some of our best tips to marry both of your tastes. The design therapist is officially in:
1. Your budget. This is a stereotypical argument for a reason, if one person is fine with a fold out futon and the other has more expensive taste, it can be challenging to find a middle ground. Sit down with your partner and figure out what items are worth an investment and a bit of a splurge so you can go into it together and make those things a joint purchase. Things like a comfortable sofa or the right bed, all pay for themselves over time. You’ll be surprised how quickly your futon-loving significant other might change their tune once they realize how nice it is to invest in a quality piece of furniture.
2. Choosing colors. Some colors might skew more traditionally masculine or feminine, but there’s still a way to use your favorite. You can keep your walls more neutral and play up an easy to change element like pillows or bedding, or you pay attention to the undertones of the color. So instead of a cobalt blue, why not try something softer and lighter, maybe with some gray mixed in. Strive for nuance rather than basic, one-note shades.
3. Totally different styles? This can actually be a blessing in disguise, if one of you loves more ornate and traditional furniture and the other loves minimal, modern pieces, it’s actually better to combine these two looks than commit to just one. Oftentimes when a room feel too one note, it looks like a TV set. So a house that’s all midcentury modern would feel like you’re living in an episode of Mad Men. Here, combining two opposite styles together actually works!
4. Find a place for some of their favorite things. The accessories and artwork in your home should feel collected and tell the story of your lives, both separately and together. Shelves, artwork, and the tops of sideboards or tables are all great places to creatively display things that mean something to your partner. Think outside the norms too, there are abstract ways to nod to someone’s interests.
5. Think about balance. We’ll put this in terms of patterns to make it simple to understand—but let’s say one person wants mini floral print sheet and the other wants nothing to do with flowers. Compromise. Combine the florals with a pattern that the other person might enjoy like plaid; but to make them feel more unified, make sure they feature similar colors to tie them together.
Images: Zack DeZon
If these tips don’t work—it might be time to hire a designer.
A neutral third party can take the stress out of decorating. Contact us for a consultation!
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