Designing Your New Home Together

We are going to take a break from the Creative Wedding Themes this weekend and look at other topics that might interest you like making a house a home that reflects you both.

Designing Your New Home Together

In all the chaos of wedding planning, many couples fail to take a few moments to plan for their life after the big day.  While most of the decorating can wait, there are a few things that should be at the top of your list. First is your bridal registry.  Before you select gifts, sit down together and take some time to envision your new home.  The worst thing you can do is haphazardly register for gifts without thinking about how they’ll go with what you already have and how you plan to decorate your home.  Things like dishes, place mats, and linens can go a long way toward setting the tone of a room.  Need a bridal registry checklist?  Download one here.

Tips for Inspiration

If you can spare the time, sit down together and look through some home decorating books and decorating magazines or spend some time surfing the web.  Home decorating shows are another great place to get ideas.  While you don’t need to decide on every detail of your new home at this point, you should determine whether you like a modern or rustic feel.  Decide on color themes for each room of the house as well.  Look at the items that you already have and decide where they will be placed, what will stay, and what may have to go.

To Keep or Not to Keep
After the wedding, it’s time to put your new home together.  Stick to your previous agreements about furniture.  Don’t tell your husband-to-be that you love his ratty recliner while harboring secret plans to “lose” it in the move.  If a beloved piece doesn’t match the new décor of the family room, consider keeping it but moving it to a den or bedroom.

Leave Home Without It
It may be tempting to use this fresh start as an excuse to buy new sets of furniture for every room.  As fun as this may be, starting a marriage in debt will come back to haunt you.  Select a few nice pieces in your budget that will get you started, and work around them.  After all, you have your whole lives ahead of you to build your dream home.  Don’t forget to take advantage of cheap and quick ways to decorate in your new place – such as wallpaper, paint, and borders.  You can also dress up a room with creative window coverings and wall hangings.

Measure Twice, Buy Once
Last but not least, always take time to make calculated decisions when it comes to furniture.  Measure your rooms carefully as well as the pieces going into them.  Many websites offer room planners to help with this task. Before you even go furniture shopping, you should be armed and ready with your measurements.  You should also take advantage of paint chips and fabric samples.  Avoid any spur-of-the-moment decisions, especially on large items like a couch.

Your New Home
Work together and compromise and you can easily put together a warm and welcoming home that will suit you both.  Setting up a house or apartment to reflect both of your tastes is a great first step toward building a life together.

Photo Credit:  Polyvore