Working with clients that are couples can teach you a lot about relationships. For all you lovers out there, these tips are for you! You have inspired us to shed some light on how you can keep your love alive through design.
Keeping your love alive can be tackled through two approaches; designing your space as a couple and design tips to create a romantic space.
HOW TO DESIGN A SPACE AS A COUPLE
No matter how much you think you know your partner, design projects can really put your relationship to the test. It is important to remember that you can disagree with each other; the key is to take each person’s tastes into consideration and learn to compromise.
Here are our top tips to create a space that works without straining your relationship in the process:
1. Blend Styles + Taste
It is important to compromise and incorporate both styles within a space. Remember to share ideas with each other and communicate. You can each choose one item each within a space that represents you as an individual and another as a couple that combines both tastes.
2. Accommodate Both Your Lifestyles
To accommodate each partner’s needs in the home, consider your lifestyle. Hobbies may require a creative work space, you may desire a yoga space for relaxation. It is important to understand how to utilize your home as a couple but also to have separate areas to nurture yourselves, no matter how small.
3. Shop Together
If you are living with someone, it is inevitable that new purchases will have to be made, at some point in time. It may sound overwhelming to think about shopping with your partner when you have different styles, but the end result will be well worth the process. Shopping together will force you to consider each others styles and come to a compromise. Everyone living in a space should have a bit of their personality injected into it.
4. Agree to Disagree!
It’s about balance, no two people are exactly the same and as a result each person will have different preferences and tastes. It is okay to disagree with your partner, but it is important to respect each others’ tastes and learn to compromise.
For more tips on designing as a couple, our Designing for the Couple Kit will help you work through your toughest design challenges!
HOW TO CREATE A ROMANTIC SPACE
1. Choose Items That Excite Your Senses
Our senses are an important part in helping us obtain a certain feeling or emotion. Add texture throughout a space with a soft blanket or pillows. Spray a room with fragrance or light some scented candles to stimulate your senses.
The Arke Throw Blanket will add coziness and comfort to your romantic space; while the Wyoming Canvas will add a touch of love on your walls with its bold message.
2. Dim the Lights
Softer and mellow lighting adds romance to space, so put those light switch dimmers to work. If your home is not equipped with dimmers then you can illuminate the space through lamps, candles or decorative lanterns.
The Machin Candle Holder adds a touch of nature with its dark brown treeline frame, setting the perfect mood for the pair!
3. Create a Furniture Layout with Flow
Any room with an open flow and less clutter can create ease. Make your space comfortable to move around in. Also, consider the placement of furniture – a large cozy chair near the fire can add romance to any space.
The Portsmouth Red Sofa is a perfect addition to your romantic space with its modern sleek shape and its vibrant red color.
4. Use Romantic Colours
Add a touch of colour through flowers, accessories, blankets or fabrics. Valentine’s Day is associated with the colour red, known for its romantic effects on humans – however, you can choose other colours such as soft pinks, greens, blues and purples to bring a touch of romance in your space.
For that romantic pop of color, The Dorames Floor Lamp adds a touch of Asian design with its gold metal base and red linen shade. The three arrows at the bottom are the perfect expression of love!
In the end, when making decisions together you’re creating a home as a couple and it should showcase the personalities of everyone who lives there.
Not sure what your style is? Try our quiz to determine your Style Personality.
