Moving in with a Significant Other? 4 Decorating Preferences to Agree

March 2, 2017

Moving in with your beloved is an exciting prospect but there are a lot of details to hammer down first. One of the things that many couples don’t consider is how their decorating preferences line up. At Half Price Drapes, we’re certainly not saying that if you can’t agree on decorations you shouldn’t be together, but we do think that talking through what you’re expecting is an important part of the pre-living together negotiations.

1. What wall colors do you like?

If the issue is choosing between egg shell and cream then you’ll likely be fine, but if the issue is that she wants bright, bold colors and he wants all walls to be gray, than this can be an issue. Additionally, you should make sure you’re both on the same page re: painting. This is a big project to take on and if only one of you wants to do it, then you should sort that out.

2. Furniture, appliances, and other big budget items

When it comes to the small decorating decisions, you can often just agree to disagree. For example, if he wants a painting up that she doesn’t like, but she wants a rug that’s not his favorite, they can likely compromise without too much trouble. The real problems start when the issues are with big ticket items like brand new furniture or appliances. No one is going to want to compromise on something they don’t like if it means spending thousands of dollars to do so.

3. Window coverings

The way your windows are covered can make or break a room. If you want sheer curtains that let in plenty of light, but your partner is interested in heavy velvet drapes that cloak your living room in darkness, then this is not just a difference of opinion on how the room will look, it’s a difference in opinion on how it will feel.

4. Bedding

If one partner likes a soft bed while the other likes a bed that’s firm, or one partner wants lots of pillows and a heavy comforter while the other prefers to sleep with a single pillow and a lightweight blanket, then problems can arise. There are solutions to any of the issues listed above. The purpose isn’t to decide if a couple should be together based on these factors, but to make sure that you’re communicating before you get married.

Back to blog