5 decorating tips for couples moving in together

From the Resene decorating blog

Blending different home decorating ideas, contrasting colour personalities, and favourite furniture isn't easy but it can be done – read on to find out how.

Moving in with your significant other is exciting and fun, but not without its challenges. Having a home that looks well put-together when you both have completely different interior design styles can be difficult to say the least. Sharing a home doesn't have to mean an endless series of compromises over your individual aesthetic tastes, though, as harmonious balance can be established. Blending different home decorating ideas, contrasting colour personalities, and favourite furniture isn't easy but it can be done – read on to find out how.

1. Establish a solid colour palette

Having a defined colour palette limited to three or four hues will lay the foundation for decorating together – a range of styles can be brought together if the palette ties them together. Keeping to within the limits this creates will reign in your decorating from being totally haphazard.

Selecting a colour scheme isn't as simple as nominating your favourite hues, however. Good colour palettes work together. Knowing some relevant terminology is helpful when picking out the right shades. Monochrome colour palettes use different tones of the same colour – say, Resene Astronaut, Resene Kashmir Blue and Resene Echo Blue. Analogous palettes take hues that are next to each other on the colour wheel, Resene Conifer and Resene Broom, for example. Complementary colours sit opposite each other on the colour wheel, such as Resene Keppel and Resene Rouge. Resene Find-A-Colour is perfect for picking out complementary schemes.

2. Find common ground

Recognising both of your individual tastes is important, but so is establishing a common thread that you can use to tie the decor together. You don't have to specifically like the same colours, but if you both have a preference for warm palettes, that's a good place to start. Maybe you both have a shared love of wooden furniture, or large windows. Whatever your common ground is, it is a good place to kick off your joint decorating.

A visually interesting interior

A range of textures, shapes, and textiles lets you both contribute to the decor, while keeping things visually interesting.

3. Keep main living areas neutral

Keeping the overall palette of your shared space neutral makes it easier to incorporate different colour preferences. With a neutral base to work on, you can add statement accessories, such as bright cushions or a favourite chair, that match the hues of your colour personality. Taking your different colour personalities into account is important, as these are your comfort colours. Without them, you may feel dissatisfied or uncomfortable. Even something as simple as an ornament or rug in your favourite colour can make you feel more at home.

Neutrals don't have to dominate the whole home, though. If either of you has a favourite spot where you spend a lot of time, such as an office or TV room, take the lead on that space and select the colours and furnishings that best suit your personal tastes. Having ownership over the decorating in one area is an ideal way to let your different personalities shine and to work bolder colours into your home.

4. Incorporate contrasting elements

A balance between masculine and feminine can be achieved by introducing both dark and strong, light and soft elements. Darker tones can be tempered with lighter-coloured items like pillows, throws, and flowers to create a more inviting look. The same goes for textures: mixing up hard and soft, metal and wood, or a range of textiles adds visual interest and allows you to both contribute your personal tastes.

5. Make decisions together

Communication and joint decision-making are important elements when decorating a home together. For the big things, such as the colour of the walls, the style of the sofa, and the dining room furniture, it's important to choose together. Compromise is important, but if one of you seriously doesn't like the colour theme or the big furniture pieces, you won't feel comfortable or at home in the space.