
1. When combining a couple’s homes for newlyweds, each spouse chooses their own, two to three, best quality pieces.
3. Each spouse should be allowed to veto one of the other’s furnishings. These are ONLY based on poor quality, wear and tear, or overly gender-based themes (the color pink, car posters, etc.) but please don’t overdo the vetoing!
4. If possible, it’s advisable for each spouse to have one area that is decorated solely for him/her such as the master bedroom (her), the den (him), the home theater (him), or the patio (her). These are perfect venues for those gender-based items that have been vetoed or weeded out.
5. Most people find interior schemes that have a mix of both masculine and feminine elements quite comfortable to live with and easy on the eyes so don’t be afraid to mix in feminine and masculine touches like floral fabrics and gentile colors alongside masculine architecture, metals and dark woods.
A beautiful blend of styles starts with a plan. Download the free guide, Blending Home Styles the Second Time Around, and bring both your homes together — beautifully.

When combing styles, it’s helpful to find one thing in particular that will tie everything together visually. You need a singular, unifying element like a wall color, or fabrics or unifying area rugs or furniture to use throughout the main living spaces. You can also pull a design scheme together with white upholstery or slipcovers and a simple print fabric on pillows and accent chairs.
This is an instance when having a few hours consultation with a design professional can guide you on what to keep, what to repurpose, and what to discard. They can hang your pictures, artfully place your accessories and make solid suggestions on upcoming projects or purchases like paint and furniture.



What is Wellness Design? Learn more about the connection between your wellbeing and your home, featured on Deirdre Fitzpatrick’s Dying to Ask Podcast.
And if you’d like to dive deeper into refreshing your home, check out my blog post, “Hiring an Interior Designer”.


