One of the first requests I ever received for a blog post was to write about how to merge styles when moving in with someone. This can be the hardest part of blending your life with your significant other! When you finally get engaged or decide the time is right, there are a lot of decisions to be made and new routines to adjust to so thinking about completely redecorating can be an added hassle. When Andrew and I moved in together, I lucked out in the sense that we have pretty similar taste and any ideas that didn’t overlap, he let me take the lead on. Bless that man! But if you find yourself with someone who has a totally different style or is much more insistent with his or her opinions – you may need some help with merging interior decor styles.
Find a Happy Medium
This may sound obvious but the first thing you may want to consider is to compromise a little bit! At the risk of sounding like a relationship counselor, finding a happy medium between both of your styles will make you both feel as if you’re getting your way. For example, if one of you is ultra traditional and one of you prefers a modern look, try to go for a transitional style. This incorporates the sophistication and formality of traditional design but has simple, clean lines to give a more timeless, contemporary appearance. This is a really common compromise because it’s very common for someone to be on the more traditional side and someone to be on the modern side. Go for pieces that are sleek while still being cozy – this will make you both feel at home!
Shop my transitional style favorites here:
What Makes the Cut
Going through all of the decor items you own collectively can be tough because obviously you both think your stuff is the best choice. To avoid this turning into a battle of the sofas, try to make the process as fun as possible! Pour yourselves a glass of wine and make this the first exciting step in starting your lives together. Be delicate about the way you phrase things and make sure you’re taking into account how much he/she probably loves his/her own pieces. Avoid words like “ugly, awful, hideous,” etc. Put aside things that you could definitely live with and decide which things are non-negotiable. Donate the things you don’t need, keep the things you both like, and deliberate about the rest! No matter how much ugly stuff they have (and there may be a lot of it), remember that you’re doing all of this because you want to spend your life with this person.
Starting from Scratch
Sometimes two styles are impossible to merge successfully. For example, Victorian and bohemian will probably never blend seamlessly. You want your house to have an overall coherent style so that each room doesn’t look like it belongs in a totally different building. We all have a style that we love the most but there are probably a couple that you’re drawn to without even noticing. Consider ditching your main decor style and finding a style you both really like. Don’t settle though! Make sure it’s something that you’re both going to be happy with because you don’t want to end up living in a place that neither of you like, just for the sake of compromise.
Personalize Your Space
While you definitely do want to have a coherent design in your house, there are some exceptions! Any room that you will have completely to yourself, i.e., an office, beauty room, garage, or craft room, can be your chance to express your personal style fully. While your significant other probably wouldn’t be on board with an overly girly bedroom covered in blush and sparkle, this is certainly something you could get away with in your beauty room or closet. At the same time, you might want the rest of the house to be light and airy but if your significant other loves dark wood and leather, his personal office would be the perfect space to do this.
Shop my favorite girly picks here:
Shop my favorite masculine picks here:
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