The pandemic might still be happening, but it cannot stop love and couples from taking their relationship to the next level. In 2020, couples defied the odds by holding micro-weddings and elopement ceremonies, which proves that come hell or high water, people who love each other will always find a way.
But after the wedding comes the realities of life, like home care and concerns, tasks, and day-to-day living. If you and your fiancé or new spouse are planning on designing your home so that it’s a place that accommodates and cultivates your love and the commitment you made to each other, here are some factors, ideas, and tips you can consider.
Marry your tastes together
The wedding planning already most likely gave you a taste of how you work together and how you compromise so that you’re both somewhat happy with the choices that you make. This challenge will continue as you make decisions regarding your new home, which is an infinitely more important venture since your wedding is only one day. Still, you will have to live with and in your house for the foreseeable future.
Now is the best time to practice compromise. You will agree on many things, but there will also be those that you don’t. The best way to get around this is by finding pieces and colors that you love and marrying them together to make sure that your house reflects both your styles. If you still can’t agree, consider your lifestyle. and what will work best for your daily schedule. Make your needs the ultimate deciding factor during disagreements.
Don’t go beyond your budget
The last thing you want is to start your life together by being house poor or having a grandiose dream home at the expense of everything else in your life. This means paying for a beautiful house but not having the financial capacity for other necessities like a car or smaller luxuries like eating out. You want to avoid being house poor at all costs because it can cause one or both of you to be resentful over your new home, no matter how gorgeous or Instagram-worthy it is. Eventually, that resentment might bleed into your marriage.
Before building your dream home, sit down together and come up with a realistic budget for your home that will still allow you to have both your needs and wants moving forward. Make the resolve to stick with it no matter how tempted you get to make unnecessary additions or upgrades. Remind yourselves that you can always upgrade your home later when you’re more financially capable of doing so.
Choose a color palette that stimulates you both
A lot of research has been done on how colors stimulate human beings, and while these studies may seem quantitative and objective, at the end of the day, only you and your partner will be able to decide how colors make you feel. For example, some studies found that blue is also the color of productivity, but for many, it brings a sense of calm and serenity. So while we can use color theory as a guide, only we will determine how certain colors affect us.
What do you need to happen in your home? Of course, specific rooms will serve different purposes, but what is the overall atmosphere or feel you and your partner wish to achieve? Do you want it to be a place of safety or coziness? Or do you want it to energize and motivate you? Use colors that can help you achieve your day-to-day goal.
Choose a location that has access to everything you need
If you haven’t decided on a location yet, make convenience the last say, especially if proximity to family and friends and your employment situation have already been taken into account.
For example, when you have kids, you might need to be in a location that’s close to daycare or where conveniences like a laundromat or HVAC repair services are easily accessible. It may be stunning to live in the middle of the woods, especially in a pandemic, but prioritizing your essential needs and the ease of living can go a long way in helping to prevent fights and misunderstandings in the future.
No matter your budget, you and your partner can find ways to make your home design work for you and your goals as a married couple. So be purposeful in every design choice you make. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about helping you achieve your goals as well.
