Love & Marriage:
Bringing Lives (and Styles) Together
Whether you’re moving into a “charming” 1BR/1BATH apartment or a sprawling ranch with room to grow, you want to fill it with the things you love.
The trouble is filling it with things you BOTH love. If you abhor his favorite recliner and he refuses to let your floral duvet and ruffled bedskirt anywhere near the bedroom, you need to find a way to let your separate tastes come together. Merging your belongings is a democracy; not a dictatorship. And just because you don’t like his beloved beanbag chairs, doesn’t mean he’ll put them out with the trash. Find out how you can keep the peace during the decorating process.
Yours, Mine, and Ours
Just like your living arrangement, you’re looking for furniture that lasts. So now is a good time to follow these golden rules: Measure, Inventory, and Toss.
Measure – Get the dimensions of your new home as soon as you can. There’s no sense in fighting over something that doesn’t even fit through the front door! To ensure perfect placement, use Art Van Furniture’s room planner to design a room, save your ideas, and printout your floor plan when you’re ready to buy.
Inventory – Start with the larger furniture pieces first since these will take up the most space, but don’t forget to make a list of accent pieces you’ll need, too. Items like rugs, lamps, and mirrors are just as important to your new home. (see our clever checklist!)
Toss – Hold off getting rid of well-made furniture by thinking quality and value before color or finish. After all, you can always have it recovered, which will make you feel like you’re getting a new piece of furniture. And because you’re both involved in the decision-making process, you’ll have a better chance of getting a look you’ll both love. Remember, it’s much easier to get rid of things before you pack and move.
If you’re not sure where to start, take our Style Quiz! Each of you answer the questions and tally up your separate scores to find out your individual styles — you might not be as different as you think!
