Décor Dilemma #1: Sports Fan Marries Art Lover
Him: DH is a born-and-bred Steelers fan with enough paraphernalia to fill a closet. As much as DH appreciates the art his sweetie has brought back from her travels, taking down his Pittsburgh-hurrahing signs and souvenirs would make him feel tackled.
Her: DW minored in art history in college and has an assortment of small paintings and ceramics from the places she has visited. Even though her Matisse prints get center stage in the dining room, two of her favorite watercolors from Paris have been pushed aside in favor of the 2006 Super Bowl poster in the bedroom. She wants DH's things to have a place too, but the sports stuff has to go!
Solution: There's a place for everything, just perhaps not together. Since mixing French scenes with football posters in a pleasing way is a tall order, instead relegate each aesthetic to an appropriate room. The low-key, fun atmosphere of the kitchen or den provides an ideal space for the punchy sports knickknacks to gather, you can even use bold colored frames to combine her taste with his pride and joy. If DH can't imagine any room bereft of Steelers pride, agree on a great photograph of the field or a picture of the two of you -- not wide receiver Hines Ward -- at a game to hang above the bed.
Décor Dilemma #2: Modern Edge Marries Vintage Country
Him: This hubby grew up in a house filled with Nelson lamps and Eames molded chairs. Suffice it to say, this darling husband is most comfortable with bare-wood floors, pull-down shades, and straight-edged furniture. Any interior piece that doesn't come in a neutral shade also makes him a little queasy, although occasional hits of orange or deep yellow suit him just fine.
Her: This wife's idea of style consists of vintage floral prints and toile plates hung on the walls. She's drawn to light yellows and blues, and white billowy curtains. She also has a few worn-in farmhouse chairs, complete with peeling white paint. She likes her DH's clean aesthetic well enough, but needs color and soft textures to feel like she's not living in a refrigerator.
Solution: The trick here is to liven up the room with color and a little fancy, while still keeping it clean. Start by making the background a solid white. To add personality to the sofa without undermining its integrity, choose two or three throw pillows in updated, modern patterns of yellow or blue. Cover the windows in floor-length white or yellow panels, and put down a square or rectangular rug (not oval) in a solid or neutral hue. As for the ultragirly plates, let them reside someplace where they aren't the main attraction -- like in the front hallway, in the back sunroom, or above the kitchen sink.
Décor Dilemma #3: Minimalist Marries Clutterbug
Him: The man of this house likes his environment sparse. Read: He's happiest when nothing clutters the shelves and other surfaces, except for a few favorite books and a framed photo or two. He prefers the coffee table and side tables to be free of votives, bowls, and magazines, since he thinks that too much stuff makes a room feel messy.
Her: She likes having trinkets and baubles around to make the house comfortable, and she especially doesn't want all of her sparkly wedding gifts to gather dust on the top shelf of the dining room chest. The dozens of framed pictures that crowd the mantel and side tables make their families feel closer in proximity. And her collections of retro condiment trays, Jonathan Adler figurines, and jars of sea glass from the beach make her home hers. Without all of these meaningful items on display, her house would feel empty and cold.
Solution: Agree on which spots of each room are allowed to proliferate, and organize the rest of the little extras in a way that lets the rooms breathe. Start by taking photographs out of standing picture frames and hang them on the walls. Get the magazines and catalogues off the coffee table and into a basket on the floor. As for the collections of vases, candlesticks, and bowls: Mantels and living room or bedroom shelves provide an ideal showcase and will keep such treasures out of elbow room.
-- Natalie Ermann Russell
See More: Cleaning & Organizing