Even though weddings are a huge affair in Bangladesh and a lot of planning and spending go behind the event, the real excitement for newlyweds lies in starting a new family together. And to do just that, the first thing they have their eyes set on is a new home. Amidst the joyful experience of uniting your lives with one another, it is easy to fall into a conflict over issues of furniture and decor. This is where the compromising and sacrificing in marriages take a start. 

Newlyweds first have to learn to navigate the potential discord of merging two households. Here are some tips to make sure you can decorate you home to its fullest potential, satisfying your own needs, as well as the person you are sharing your love and new home with.

CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES
This is good advice for married couples of all ages. Let him keep his favourite ratty recliner, or his beloved sofa. But if it really is an eye-sore, gently suggest it be recovered in a fabric of your choice. Respect his desire for a space that reflects his taste as well as yours. However, if he begins suggesting furniture that makes your home look like an office, it's time for you to put your foot down and remind him that a home should be a sanctuary instead of a place for business. 

You can suggest picking one room to make it his office space if it is absolutely necessary for him to bring work home.

Colour it up
Just as in a relationship, there is give and take in every successful combination. You can make some magic happen if you carefully combine the distinct differences in a couple's decorating colours and styles. When he loves a sleek, high-fashion style filled with dark coloured furnishings, and you adore bright, happy colours with some cottage flair, a neutral hue can help to join both schemes. 

Agreeing on a colour palette that consists of various shades of grey mixed with splatters of yellow and black can offer a pleasing scheme to incorporate their individual tastes. Stylishly mixing two different decorating styles can turn into something very aesthetically pleasant. 

A black leather sofa topped with cottage-inspired yellow-and-white toss pillows can infuse decorating styles together with a very designer-savvy appeal.

SET THE MOOD
What really decides the mood of a home depends on how the walls and windows contribute to the general atmosphere. Try giving your walls a neutral colour to create an ideal backdrop for decorating a newly married couple's home. Whatever you place up against it will stand out immediately. 

Light, neutral wall colours - soft white, barely beige and misty grey – also help make small spaces feel open and airy. You can also do some custom work on a wall or two with wallpapers or painted on patterns. Simple window treatments like white, wooden blinds with two-inch slats combine practical function with aesthetic appeal. Woven shades made of natural reeds, grasses or wood give a down-to-earth, but contemporary feel.

Turning a house into your home with each other can be one of the most satisfying and important first experiences for newlyweds. With the help of these tips, you can be sure to have a perfect start to this beautiful journey ahead.

Photo: LS Archive