Decorating as a Duo: 5 Tips for Designing a Home with Your Spouse
Designing a home is no easy task on its own, and it gets a little more complicated when you have to do it with a partner. We sat down with Shannon Bryant, the Design Manager at Lindvest, to see what tips she has for couples designing their home together.
Meet in the Middle
Bryant encapsulated her advice with one word: compromise. She explained that it’s all about learning to meet in the middle and understanding where to give a little and where to take a little. “You really are doing a tug of war,” she said, encouraging couples to give grace to their partner’s suggestions. If your spouse is getting involved, it’s a sign that they care about your future home together. She emphasized that after you get on the other end of the process, you come out as a stronger couple; “if you can make it through designing a home together, you can make it through anything.”
Explain Your Thinking to Your Partner
In order to meet in the middle, both partners need to learn how to explain the thinking behind their design decisions. Rather than leaning solely on preference, it’s helpful to think in design principles — think in terms like colour, balance, and scale. If both of you can get behind some of these concepts, it will make your design discussions less personal. This might require you to watch a few videos and learn a few design terms, but in the end, being able to explain your thinking will help you both understand each other’s vision.
Decide on One Piece of Furniture
Bryant also provided an insider tip: Look for one piece of furniture that you both agree on. From there, you can design the rooms based off that starting point. She shared an example: a couple who had totally opposite design styles, but after they agreed on one bathtub, their home started to fall into place. If you can make a compromise on just one important piece in each room, you can work from there.
Know Your Budget and Stay Within It
According to Bryant, the budget is the most common source of tension. She encouraged all couples to “be really, really conscious of your budget.” Each of you should agree on the size of the budget and where the budget will be spent. While it’s easy to fall in love with beautiful pieces that cost a fortune, “if you can't afford it, you can't afford it.”
Consider Lindvest
Having an expert to lead you through your home-design journey will make it that much easier to create the perfect space. So, if you’re thinking of buying pre-construction, going with Lindvest will ensure you have experienced professionals helping you design your next home.
Are you interested in moving to a Lindvest home? Check out our communities now selling.