Let’s face it. Our homes are personal. And regardless of whether we’re moving in as a newlywed couple, a pair of close friends, or a newly-acquainted set of roomies, chances are high that you’ll both have items from your previous homes that you’re equally attached to. Deciding what stays, what goes and what gets relegated to the closet can be tricky ground to traverse. Because when it comes to merging interior styles, it’s hard not to take things personally!
Don’t worry, it’s possible to have the best of both worlds: A lovely roommate AND our cherished decor!
Navigating The Move In
Don't Sweat The Small Stuff
Time and time again, what most people care about is making sure they can achieve cohesively designed spaces in a personal way. We all want a place that is “pulled together” so that we can feel satisfied in our homes.
Therefore, disagreements and conflict typically occur in the decision making process around the small details. What we suggest it to begin the decorating process by talking about how you want each room to make you fee and to speak in more general terms first. This way, you’ll set the tone and an overall goal that you can both refer to later.
Don't Be Too Quick To Label Yourself
Recognize that each of you will likely have different definitions of what a “contemporary,” or “traditional” style really means. Instead of labeling yourself from the get go, begin by searching for inspirational images and consider what it is about those rooms that draws you to them.
Allow Havenly’s Pinterest images to help you visually express your style rather than fumbling over words that don’t quite convey your true leanings. By communicating visually, you might just come to realize that you have more in common than you think!
Keep Each Other Organized
Good design is about making intentional decisions about your future lifestyle in your home. When you venture into sharing your space with someone else, it’s all the more considerate to think about how you can keep certain items stowed away. This step can be vital in avoiding passive-aggressive behaviors down the road.
Keep An Open Mind
Life isn’t black and white and neither is interior design. Havenly is all about developing creative design solutions for your personal design challenges. Therefore, we urge you to stay open minded and creative in how you use your items and how you apply color schemes.
For example, teal might be your favorite color, but it doesn’t mean that it is your roommate’s. The two of you may not be able to agree on a teal colored wall in the living room, but chances are much higher that you will be able to agree on some smaller teal colored items.
Shop Together
Even if both of you are bringing a majority of the items with you from previous homes, it’s a good idea to consider going shopping together. This can be a lot of fun and a nice “roomie bonding” experience. Shopping for a few key pieces doesn’t have to be expensive and it doesn’t have to be time consuming either! Havenly has developed a nifty way to streamline your online shopping experience. Shop some of our trendy looks like the Contemporary Southwest Living Room above – or peruse our collection of complete looks to find a style that suits you and your roomie!
Visualize Your Space
Ok, so maybe you’re only capable of drawing stick figures. No hard feelings, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. However, visualizing your space before you commit to any design plans is the best way to unite two decision-makers with a common vision for a shared space. Luckily for you, we have a group of incredibly talented Havenly designers who are capable of walking you through your toughest decisions, providing trustworthy opinions to diffuse apprehension, and helping to visualize how your exact room will look!
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Melissa K.
These move in tips are brought to you by Havenly designer Melissa K. Melissa enjoys the process of working with clients to develop blissful lifestyles – one room at a time. She is keen on function and has the ability to effortlessly understand your style. She’ll help you create a space that you’ll love to call home! Book Melissa today and get decorated!
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