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About the author: Gloria Martinez loves sharing her business expertise and hopes to inspire other women to start their own businesses and seek promotions in the workplace. She is the founder/creator of WomenLed.org.

Personalize Your Space Affordably and Memorably: Decor Ideas for Young Couples

Moving in together is often a nerve-jarring experience for young couples. One good way to take the edge off is to lighten the atmosphere and have fun doing domestic things together — like decorating! Decorating is an intrinsically creative activity that can be a lot of fun for couples who are still getting used to each other. And it’s a terrific bonding activity as long as both of you keep an open mind and maintain a willingness to compromise. Even if you have clashing styles, it can still work — sometimes creative tension can be a good outlet for interpersonal tension. So channel your inner designer and see how innovative and budget-minded you can be. The results just might affirm the sentiment the two of you really do belong together. Here are a few tips from Gharyan to help you get started:

Start with a Plan

Do not head straight over to your favorite home decor store. That’s a recipe for a) going way over budget and b) potential in-store disagreements. From the jump, carefully consider your space and budget and form a decorating plan around those factors. Depending on your living situation, your needs will vary. For example, if you and your love have just bought a home as-is you may need to budget for home repairs, such as a new HVAC or home appliance repair, before you can start planning out that living room gallery wall. If you’re moving into an apartment together, your decorating options might be more limited than if you own your home and so on. Creating a decorating plan at the start and sticking to it will be the best way forward for both your wallet and your relationship.

His Space/Her Space

You may be working together to create a unified design vision, but that doesn’t mean you both shouldn’t have a space that’s just for you. Whether that means creating a “man cave” and a “she shed” or something a bit less gender-centric, it’s a good way to make personal statements without dominating the other partner. Besides, everybody needs a little time alone once in a while, and it can even be healthy for the relationship.

Ideally, these “me” spaces will reflect your personality, but consider setting aside a corner to honor your mate. Save some money by hanging your favorite photo of the two of you, or try your hand at drawing or painting by rendering your love’s image in watercolors, chalk, or oil.

Appliance Art?

Small home appliances are distinctive features, just by being functional and omnipresent. Why not add some aesthetic appeal to each appliance’s utility so they stand out as artistic expressions in their own right? You and your partner may not eat toast in the morning, but you can find a cheap toaster at a second-hand store or yard sale and turn it into a real conversation piece by covering the sides with rhinestones or a swatch of reflective wallpaper.

In keeping with the kitschy design ethic, check out consignment stores for a vintage percolator coffee maker, preferably one in beige enamel that could have come directly from the set of an iconic 1970s television show. As you purchase new appliances, whether it’s a microwave, toaster oven, or TV, look for deals online through major retailers. And stores like Walmart will help you save on all your household purchases, whether it’s an electronic item or just a replacement set for your significant other’s threadbare bath towels.

Fun Decor

Remember, this should be a fun project from top to bottom. A big part of the fun comes from being unconventional, from doing things that other people might gasp or shake their heads at, but that’s pretty much the point!

If either of you has a crafty flair, there are plenty of inexpensive things you can do throughout your home. If one of you is handy with a sewing machine, you can easily produce homemade window shades, seat covers or even pillow covers. You can also add accents with DIY floral arrangements or even create your own wall art. Look to craft and hobby retailers to find supplies that won’t cost a fortune. Stores like Joann or Hobby Lobby regularly offer deals on items like fabric, frames, home accents and more. If you shop online, you can often find coupons and promo codes to help keep your budget in check.

Other great places to look are estate sales and antique and thrift shops. You could run into an item — or items — that can be rehabbed and turned into a striking piece, even if it started out as garbage to someone else. And of course, online retailers, such as Gharyan, are great places to shop for statement pieces, like light suspensions and plant pots, that will catch the eye of all of your future guests.

You can stretch your design budget and strengthen your relationship by spending time working on a DIY interior decor as a couple and create something that’s uniquely yours. Remember that art is a fluid thing, so the two of you can enjoy adding to or changing around the grand “canvas” of your first home together to keep your living space and relationship fresh and vibrant.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

About the author: Gloria Martinez loves sharing her business expertise and hopes to inspire other women to start their own businesses and seek promotions in the workplace. She is the founder/creator of WomenLed.org.