Whether you lit the unity candle, jumped the broom, or broke the glass, putting together your wedding ceremony was probably one of the bigger projects that you’ve had to do. But now that you and your significant other have finally gotten hitched, it’s time for the next big project: putting together your first home.
Decorating any space isn’t easy, let alone your first home with your spouse. That’s why this brief guide to decorating your first home as a newlywed is here to help.
Nail Down a Budget
If you have ever gone shopping for a nice rug, you know that decorating can get pricey. Before you even crack open a catalogue or browse Pinterest, you should nail down how much you want to spend on the décor. That way, you can avoid falling in love with a furniture piece or paint color that’s out of your price range.
Identify Your Personal Styles
The whole idea of marriage is taking two people and bringing them together as one. But that doesn’t mean the two separate personalities disappear. It means that they come together to form something even better.
To that end, it’s a good idea to start the process by figuring out what both of your styles are individually. This is an especially good idea if either of you hasn’t gotten the chance to decorate your own space. Once you each know what you like, it will be easier to find a design middle ground.
Practice Give and Take
This is one of the trickier parts of decorating your first home as newlyweds. Even though it might seem easier at first, resist the urge to throw out one person’s style ideas in favor of another. This is both of your home, so you should do your best to embrace both styles.
One way to do this is to focus on a simpler, more neutral style as far as color scheme and furniture go. From there, find subtler ways to include both your aesthetics. If one of you loves cottagecore, you can bring in an antique statement piece. If one of you likes the farmhouse look, you can add a few accessories.
Share the Work
Of course, building a home isn’t all Pinterest boards and paint swatches. It involves hard work and perseverance. You can see this as a chore, or you can see this as an opportunity to bond by working on it together.
Work to your strengths. If one of you is a professional painter, that can keep you from avoiding beginner painting mistakes. If one of you is an electrician, they can make sure the lighting is perfect. But even as you divide the work, be willing to lend a helping hand for projects you’re new to. Before you know it, you’ll have made your house into a home.