Michael Buss Custom Designs

How to Decorate Without Deteriorating Your Relationship

Whether you are building a new home, adding on to an existing home, or incorporating two homes into one, there are many choices that need to be made to make a shared space unique for everyone involved. Communication is key and that means communication with your architect as well.

We received an article that we thought would be relevant to share with you on this topic. As you read through, remember that your architect should be a part of these conversations. Trying to find a common ground in something as large as a living space can be a daunting task. Talk to your architect. Bounce your ideas off of him or her. Use your architect to find a common ground and achieve a balance suitable for everyone involved.

Enjoy the read!

How to Decorate Without Deteriorating Your Relationship

by Natalie Jones www.homeownerbliss.info

When two homes become one, it puts a twist on the “getting to know you” stage of a
relationship. You not only have to learn how to coexist in a shared space, but you’ll also learn
how to make that space appeal to your unique personalities. You may envision a modern style
with bold accent pieces, while your significant other is ready to retreat into a rustic setting. You
can’t have it both ways, so you’ll have to work together.

Communicate and Compromise

It’s no secret that communication is part of a healthy relationship. While you might think that this
is only relevant to big issues, like how the bills will be split, it’s also necessary when it comes to
everyday decisions. Don’t jump the gun by heading to the furniture store alone. Even if your
partner is relatively easy going, they will appreciate having a chance to give their input, since
they will be living among your communal belongings. Doing too much without communicating
your intentions can make you seem overbearing and controlling.

As you shop together, you may find that you have vastly different ideas on how your new home
should look, and how much you should spend on decor and furniture. This is where compromise
is essential. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to incorporate elements of each of your ideas
into a cohesive design scheme. When you are painting, for example, you should know that
overdoing it on one color can make your house look boring and flat. So, take some time to brush
up on color theory as it relates to home design. You will soon find that balance in your color
palette gives you the chance to play off your dominant color (60 percent of the room) with both
secondary (30 percent) and accent hues (10 percent).

Embrace Your Differences

According to HGTV, an eclectic design can give you the best of both worlds. For example,
mixing metal and wood textures can create an interesting aesthetic that will not only look great,
but will also satisfy everyone’s taste and style.

Divide and Conquer

You don’t have to compromise in every room. Talk to your partner about which areas of the
home are most important to you. If you are the primary cook, it would make sense to have the
kitchen tailored to your style. Think about it this way: If you’re a messy chef, you might want
easy-to-clean matte-finish cabinets and a non-porous countertop material that won’t hold on to
germs and bacteria. Your partner may be a gamer or like sports, so giving them a room (like a
man cave) to call their own may eliminate conflict when it’s time to negotiate your overall style.

See the Big Picture

The way you outfit your space plays a role in how much work it is to maintain. Your partner may
be concerned that an abundance of knick-knacks will make it more difficult to keep things clean.
You may be concerned that a light-colored carpet will show too many stains. Think about these
potential future issues, and agree to divide household chores to balance out any extra work
“your” and “their” additions bring to the home.

Do It All Together

Finally, it’s important to remember that your first few days and weeks together will set the tone
for your entire relationship. By making a point to plan out your household and workload
together, you may enjoy a happier relationship from the start.
Your home should match your styles, but when these are different, it can be tough. Don’t let
something as trivial as curtain colors ruin your relationship. Communicate and compromise
throughout the process. Soon, you’ll be settled, and you’ll find that you enjoy having the best
parts of both of your personalities on full display.

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