Guide for couples decorating their home

Introduction

You and your significant other might be deep in love, but we all know that love alone cannot solve everything in life. Decorating your home as a couple can be complicated and lead to a tiff, or worse, a full-blown fight. This is especially the case for many couples who are polar opposites of each other. For couples that have always been seen as highly similar to each other by their peers and family, do not be too quick to rejoice yet. Sure, you might share similar interests or have similar personalities but you two are definitely not going to agree on every single thing, let alone on every piece of furniture. 

A home is a place where you spend a least a third of your day usually and it is a space that is very important to your wellbeing; which is exactly why tensions can run a little high at certain times when both of you don’t see eye to eye on some styling choices. Another sensitive issue concerning decorating your home is also the cost that comes with different aesthetic choices. The difference in spending habits between couples is a whole different ballgame to tackle altogether, which further compounds the complexity of this issue. 

Home decorating for couples can be fun and satisfying only if both parties, like in a healthy relationship, communicate and compromise. Even if both of you like two different distinct styles, it is possible to achieve harmony and not end up hurling insults or items at each other. Beautiful looking interiors do not need to strictly follow an aesthetic but draw different inspirations from different styles. Before we dive further into how to execute this, there are some basic ground rules that you and your significant other need to abide by to make decorating your home a pleasant experience for both of you.

• Find common ground

You two have to be in this together. Try to list out the similarities in both of your interests and build off the plans using this as a starting ground. It will also do well to flag out certain deal-breakers on the decorations and design and avoid them altogether. Another critical issue that needs to be addressed is the overall budget for this project. Let each other know the range that you would be comfortable with and how you two are planning to finance the total cost incurred. 

• Be reasonable and inclusive

In some cases, the space you are working with might not be very huge and couples must choose to discard some older items away. In such situations, be fair and do not expect your partner to be the only one making sacrifices. One way to go about this is to set a rule to keep all sentimental items but be open to discarding other items. Also, include each other in all decision-making processes and for every single piece of item. Should this be too demanding for both parties, it is then important to set a clear limit on the expenses that both of you are willing to fork out for certain items. 

• Give each other opportunities to take reign

Most couples will have spaces they do not particularly have a strong need to take charge of for decorating. For instance, one party may be more interested in gardening while the other cannot be bothered as much. In this case, one of them should relinquish his or her say in decorating the yard or balcony which I am sure the other party will greatly appreciate. Basically, give and take. Compromise and do not be selfish about the whole process.

• Do not use this as ammo for your quarrels

There will be instances when couples disagree, or one party feels slightly drained from the demands of life as both of you juggle the decorations of the house on top of other obligations. Do not let the decorating process wear you two down and cause a rift. Never criticize or shame each other’s tastes and preferences and use it to launch a personal attack. A good suggestion is to pace this whole decorating process and plan a realistic timeline. Otherwise, whenever one party is getting emotional or riled up in a discussion, cease talking immediately and make sure that his or her basic needs such as hunger and rest are met. Resume the discussion only when the said party is calm and ready to talk without bursting with unwarranted emotions. 

Now that we have established the ground rules, here are some design tips which are equally as important. 

1. Opt for Neutral Walls 

Neutral colored walls go well with any style of decor. Even if the two of you have clashing tastes in decor, the neutral walls will be the key starting factor to help bring everything together. Neutral walls are able to work well with anything regardless of whether a couple decides to go safe or go crazy with their decorating.

1.  Choose a pair of complementary colors

Discuss with your partner beforehand and decide on a pair of complementary colors that both of you would be okay with. All furniture should have these two colors with the exception of certain pieces that serve as accents. Even so, these accent pieces should be of a varying shade than the two colors selected. This trick helps to make your room look well-thought-out and cohesive even if both of you are furnishing your home with all sorts of weird and odd decor pieces.  

1. Balance and harmonize

The ideal final look is to have an equal amount of masculinity and femininity in your home. A way to achieve this is to intentionally choose an opposing masculine color to a feminine decor shape and vice versa. 

Many couples also fail to pay attention to the textiles in their homes, resulting in a rather lackluster and ‘flat’ look. Textiles like wool, silk, cotton, and polyester help to give volume and texture to an otherwise plain room. They can also help dull the sharp lines of the furniture to contribute to a more homely and soft vibe to the room.  

1. Function first, aesthetic second 

Focus on the key function of each room before throwing in the visual aesthetics. By following this guiding principle, couples can avoid conflicts especially if they have disagreements on how to utilize their limited space. Ensure the essentials have their own place and then decorate the room around them. Of course, this means that couples will have to define what furniture is essential to their daily lives. 

Conclusion

Before we end, remember to enjoy the decorating process. This is a great opportunity to make lasting and fun memories with your significant other that both of you are sure to reminisce in the years to come. And if both of you are looking for an amazing place to buy your furniture pieces from, we’d recommend giving Big Save a go; they’ve plenty of options for you to draw inspiration and choose from!