How to Convince Your Partner to Allow More Home Decor Stuff in the House
You’ve probably heard the phrase “Home is where the heart is”. But for some of us it’s more like home is where all our stuff is. We are decorating fans, but our partner seems to hate every new plant, piece of furniture or painting that enters their domain. And that’s not really fair, right? What do you think? Let them have their opinions! No matter what they say – even if you’re current home looks like a dump compared to all those houses in interiors magazines…at least you can be sure how much your partner loves you. Well…it might change with the next addition to the household…but let’s hope not.
So let’s help each other out by passing on these tips on how to convince your partner to let you have more home decor stuff in the house.
1. Include them!
You might think that putting together interior design boards like these on Pinterest is nerdy, but it’s not (and neither are you). It’s actually pretty cool that you’re into this, and if they truly love you then they will be too! You know what? Why don’t you put them together – after all…it’s about creating a space where both of you feel good! And also…if they say “no”, at least do it for you (see below). Just make sure the room isn’t exclusively yours or theirs; be very careful with symbols like ‘his’ or ‘hers’. I found some great examples on Pinterest of rooms that include one partner’s tastes (here, here, and here)
2. Make it beautiful – for yourself!
No matter what they say, if you love something it will bring happiness into your home. So even if you don’t get approval to buy that super modern piece of furniture or fixture, at least makes your space as gorgeous as possible (within your budget). After all, interior design is about how YOU feel…and not them! Even better, don’t wait until you can afford the perfect lamp; repurpose two ugly ones! This isn’t about changing who you are just because someone doesn’t approve; this is about feeling good in your own home without having to ask first. There are so many articles and videos about how to make your place look pretty cheaply; here’s one from Apartment Therapy.
3. Make a plan!
I think the biggest mistake we make as decorators is thinking that what we love will always be universally loved. If you truly want to have more home decor stuff in the house then it’s up to you to show your partner why they would benefit from being surrounded by beauty. You don’t need to give them an art history lesson, but do explain how colorful furniture makes us feel happy – whether they believe it or not! Research studies exist, so at least try and convince them with science too…especially if their favorite color is green (haha). Here’s from Sunset Magazine.
4. Keep mentioning those magazines!
I know…it can get annoying. But as long as you’ve taken the time to create boards on Pinterest and include them too, then they should already be aware that your obsession with design is real. And if not, find a good mag that they would like too – trust me, there’s at least one room in every publication that will appeal to their tastes (if not their style). Be careful though: don’t just point out what you hate about their taste; nobody likes being told off! So instead of telling them how boring their table is compared to this Euro Saarinen classic, show them how yours compliments it perfectly. You are not trying to contrast everything around you, but highlight the really good bits of their taste.
5. Get them involved!
The best way to convince your partner that they should love more home decor stuff in the house is to get them involved in the process. They might not want to go looking for items themselves, but you can ask for their opinion on paint colors and furniture sizes once you’ve done all the research yourself…and trust me, they’ll be more than happy to say no (which brings us back to step 1). This way you’ll both feel like participants instead of one dictating while the other gets annoyed. It will also give them a sense of achievement when that desk or shelf finally hits the wall. Trust me it will happen soon if they are involved in choosing every item!
Conclusion:
Remember that your partner is being supportive of you by not letting you have more home decor stuff in the house. If they didn’t then they wouldn’t be your partner! All I’m saying is that it can be very nice to surround yourself with beauty, and there are ways to do this without making them think you’re trying to attack their taste or lifestyle. After all, if they love you then the home design shouldn’t be an issue – just like how sex should never be one…even if they don’t want to try something new! At the end of the day everyone has different standards for what makes a space look good; so let’s celebrate all tastes whether we share them or not.