Decorating Your First Place Together

Moving in together should be an exciting time! Don't let your decor differences get in the way. Here's how to learn to live with that special someone -- even if you hate their taste.

When two people move in together, problems often arise before they even start sharing an address. Whose sofa will they keep?She hates his brown leather recliner and he hates her love of yellow. In order to keep the peace, remember the three C's: Condense, Consider and Compromise.

Condense
Chances are you have duplicates of many items. Do you really need two coffeepots, two dinettes, or two vacuums? Weed out personal items that are no longer needed, too. By eliminating any excess, it will be easier to find space for everything in the new home.

How do you decide which pieces to keep and which to eliminate? Keeping the item that's in better condition is usually the best move, unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise. Sell or give away the items you will not be taking with you. Have a yard sale or put it on eBay and use the profit to buy something you both like for the new place.

Consider
Try to be empathetic. Consider your partner's point of view. Maybe that recliner is ugly, but it once belonged to his late grandfather. Or perhaps you find floral prints too feminine, but they make her spirits soar. There are ways to work around most points of contention. This is where you must begin to practice compromise, the third 'C' word. How about reupholstering the recliner so it better matches the rest of the decor? And there's always the opportunity to bring fresh flowers into the home instead of prints.

Compromise
Blending two households isn't easy, especially when decor likes differ. One person is a fan of country houses, the other urban lofts. He loves leather and dark colors; she likes pastels. The only way through it is to work together to reach an agreement you can both live with. Try pulling in some of each of your styles. Either stick with neutral colors or keep the larger surfaces, like floors and walls, all dark or all light, then bring in furniture in the opposite tone. Adding a rose-colored throw onto more masculine pieces will soften and freshen them up.

Find creative ways to show off each of your favorite accessories. Use items meaningful to both of you, like a clear bottle filled with shells you collected together or gallery of your weekend in the mountains.

Decorating battles don't have to end the partnership before you've laid out your welcome mat. Remembering the three C's will make the transition go smoother and help avoid that other dreaded C-word ...conflict.

Dee Baugher contributed to Shelterpop.com through Seed.com. To learn how you can contribute, go to Seed.com