Designing for Two

My hunny John and I are high school sweethearts and married for almost 9 years.

“How can we merge our styles? We are so opposite?”

“How can I convince him we need to get white cabinets?”

Sounds all too familiar, right?
I’ve been an elementary teacher for eleven years and having worked with young children for so many years you learn much about the “art of negotiating”. Like in any relationship, whether it be teacher-student, parent-child, or a life partnership, making decisions together can require a bit of negotiating in order to come to a compromise. This is also true when deciding on the look you want to achieve in your home. After all, you and your spouse/partner ultimately have to live with each other and within the space so it’s important everyone involved has a say!

​The first step in making decisions for your home is determining yours and your partner’s personal styles. What styles do both you love? What styles do you both dislike? Start there and you never know...you both may find you have something in common! Begin a collection of photos together on Pinterest or Houzz. You’ll likely start to see a common thread among your own photos you’ve pinned and you may even notice specific design elements you and your partner often gravitate towards.

When merging two differing styles within a living room or bedroom, start with the largest furniture pieces and choose timeless furniture designs and finishes. He likes modern prints and she likes white and bright? Choose light, neutral colored linens and bedding and add subtle pops of color and a mix of prints using decorative pillows and a fun throw. Throws and accent pillows are an easy way to personalize a look without spending a fortune.

Can’t agree on a kitchen design because you want white cabinets and your spouse wants wood tones? Many are afraid of going with bright white cabinets because of the expectations of high maintenance. Choosing a cabinet color that will hide fingerprints and scuffs like a light gray-beige is a good compromise. If you’re painting cabinets, Benjamin Moore colors such as Moonshine and Balboa Mist offer the light and bright benefits of a white kitchen while providing a practical advantage (hiding those fingerprints). Opt for a light colored quartz countertop that will help reflect light and help give the room a fresh look. Bring in wood tones in stools or countertop accessories to add texture to the space to help please you’re partner’s love of wood tones.
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Ultimately, merging styles isn’t about making him or her come to your side. Though, in reality, don’t we all just want everything to go our way? Or is that just me? Ha! It really is about compromising on the major decisions and adding personality to your home in the smaller purchases and accents. Happy decorating, friends!
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Liz

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