Designing the shared house
When two persons marry, they pass from the stage of singlehood to a shared life. This shared life does not only denote emotional bonding but also more earthly matters like a shared house. And when it comes to decorating the dream house, the new wife – whether a homemaker or a working woman – always bubbles over with ideas galore. The shared space should be planned in such a manner that it gives comfort to the husband-wife duo in equal measure. More importantly, the accommodation should nurture a feeling of togetherness and wedded bliss. The interiors of a house should be visually appealing, but they should also cater to the specific needs and interests of the couple. The home should display the couple's lifestyle, and not a false image dictated by outside influences. US interior designer Albert Hadley said, "Design is coming to grips with one's real lifestyle, one's real place in the world. Rooms should not be put together for show but to nourish one's well being."
Emerging from the rigmarole of the marriage ceremony, the new couple is required to plan their living in the shared house. This is a meticulous process needing time, energy and money. There are individual choices and there are 'couple' choices, as it were. Attention to home decor details is not a minor business. Only thoughtful execution of the details of a home will promote neatness, class and meaning. While sticking to the rules, the couple should also let their imagination and creativity play a role in designing the home decor in the spirit of individuality. This will break the monotony.
Ingenuity is the trick
But all this does not mean that the home makeover is going to be a costly affair. Home decor needs a little ingenuity and perhaps, a few additional purchases, which, however, need not disturb the family budget. When it comes to interior design, the less is often more. Simplicity imparts an overall feel of cleanliness.
Go for colours, but a bit muted
So, how do the newly-weds go about the task of home decoration to make it less formidable and more couple-friendly? Well, they can start with the walls which will get an easy facelift with application of a fresh coat of paint. Apart from imparting newness to the interiors, the refreshing colours will also transform the moods of the couple. A few ideas will suffice: don't go for flashy shades. Just choose the ones that lift your mood and are soothing to the eyes. Of course, you can also use wallpapers which come in all varieties – to add an extra zing to a corner of the house. But no riot of colours! After all you are the one who will look at the walls of your house every day. So any overdone work will annoy you after a while.
Choice of furniture, accessories
Now comes the expensive bit. The couple may consider buying new sets of furniture according to their requirements and preference. The furniture should be comfortable as well as functional. A new sofa, a cosy divan and a spacious dinner table will add to the overall charm of the living and dining room.
The couple can add a personal touch to their bedroom with statement furniture and accessories like bed, dressing table, wardrobe, mattresses, pillows, rugs, et al. The basic idea is to infuse a romantic element into the setting. It is more a private thing, so the couple has only to fulfil their own interests while designing the bedroom decor.
The wife can always place fresh flowers and candles, complete with shining crockery and cutlery, to add style to the dinner table. An adequately furnished room gives a welcoming feeling to both the householder and the guests. However, nothing should be gaudy about this whole thing.
But if you don't have the money right now, you can go for rearranging the existing furniture and moving it around so that the room gets a neat new look. The couple can try out different layouts and configurations with the beds, wardrobes, study tables, etc, relocated to a different space. However, avoid cluttering the place.
Decorative items and showpieces
All of us are fond of cherishing memories and the fun moments. The new couple can reserve a wall in the room to put up a photo gallery of their own. The artefacts and the trinkets that the new couple bring from their tours can adorn a cabinet too. Accessories like cushions, vases, clocks, candle holders and fancy frames can also brighten up your decor ideas. Curated personal items and showpieces on the basis of individual or common interests and passions, can definitely enliven the surroundings.
Assortment of lights
One thing that immediately exhilarates the mood is plenty of natural light in the room. But if the house design does not permit that, the couple can make use of artificial lighting fixtures like pendants, chandeliers and floor lamps. A well-lit and airy room is conducive to healthy and cheerful living.
The natural touch
Now is the time to add a splash of Nature and natural elements. The wife can always bring in indoor plants that thrive even in partial light or shade and arrange them in designer porcelain, metal, plastic and terracotta pots. Houseplants like peace lily, lucky bamboo, money plant, syngonium, philodendron and snake plant are perennial favourites. Flowers also bring beauty and romance to any setting. So, you can also have them in plenty. Twisted wooden branches, conches and shells are some natural objects that can find a place in home decor.
Decor hacks and the conclusion
A few other interior decoration tips can be emptying the living room shelves and putting in new things with the change of season, and making ample use of throw cushions. Another hack is hanging your curtains a few inches above the window top so that the window looks larger. Antique pieces also bring character to the house. You can definitely keep a few of them to add sophistication as well as trigger conversation with guests. The antiques also ensure that the couple is not the oldest thing in the house with the passage of years.
As the newly-weds contemplate on a journey of happiness in their years of togetherness, they need to create a home out of a mere house. Home is where you love to return and where you get rejuvenation after a hard day's work outside. Therefore, it should be a cohesive unit that gives a sense of connection. The rooms should reflect peace and orderliness, and not discord or anxiety. The right decor will last a lifetime with only a slight rejig here and addition of a little extra space there as the years wear on.
Also Read: Love as a Search for Life
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