Some people dread living with roommates. The lack of personal space, uneven chore duties and clashing design aesthetics are enough to make even the nicest people shun the idea of shacking up with another person, even if it does mean cutting the rent check in half. But we’re here to tell you that living with a roomie isn’t all bad, and decorating a brand new space together can actually be, well, kinda fun! Whether you’re settling into your first dorm room or beautifying your first apartment, these 10 tips on roomie decorating will help you through it. Just remember the three Cs of joint decorating — communication, compromise and (of course) COLOR.
1. Make Sure You’re on the Same Page: Before you begin buying furniture and searching for bold wall art, sit down with your roommate to talk out the design of your new place. What color palette will you use? What vibe are you trying to create? Ask your roomie what they like and what they hate. Be sure to listen carefully; that way, you’ll get to know your their style and tastes inside and out. And don’t forget to talk about the most important decorating detail — the budget! (via Garden of Happiness)
2. Use Pinterest from the Get Go: Pinterest is about to become your best friend (if it isn’t already). Before you even move in together, share pinboards with your roomie to show off your style and all of the adorable items you love. By sharing your Pinterest dreams and desires, you’ll get the conversation started about how to decorate your awesome new space. Plus, you may even find you have some design preferences in common!
3. Take Inventory: What do you have, what do you need and where can you find it for cheap? Sit down together to take inventory before you begin the hunt for everything cute. You’ll naturally cut costs by making sure you’re not buying something you already have, and even if you do have doubles, it isn’t the worst thing in the world. Donating or selling redundant items is always an option.
4. Tie Existing Furniture and Decorative Elements Together: Once you’ve picked your colors and the overall feel, start tying existing furniture and decorative elements together. Paint old furniture to fit your color palette, swap out old drawer knobs for newer, cuter options and start thinking of washi tape hacks to spruce up the little things, like stray cords, vases and decorative coasters. (via Babble)
5. Go Shopping Together: If you’re in need of a larger piece of furniture, like a statement lamp, couch or dining room table, go on a roomie shopping spree. This is a great way to ensure you find a piece you both love and bond over your cool new digs.
6. DIY ‘til the Cows Come Home: Sometimes, finding the perfect piece of artwork or furniture is actually impossible. Instead, start a roomie project and DIY those hard-to-find items! (via I Spy DIY)
7. Take Design Risks: Just because you’ve laid out a general color palette and design aesthetic doesn’t mean you can’t stray every so often as long as it looks good. Mix and match florals and geometrics, juxtapose modern lines with more organic pieces. The sky’s the limit. Just be sure you’re on the same page about the look you want to achieve and you’ll be fine. (via Apartment Therapy)
8. Personalize Your Bedroom: Both of you will have to compromise when it comes to common spaces, but your bedroom is your domain, so go wild. DIY some glitter heart bed pillows, pick up a funky bedside table, slap on some sweet wall decals. Just let your creativity flow free. (via High on DIY)
9. Be Flexible: No one likes a roommate who isn’t willing to compromise. If your roomie is adamant about decorating a certain room one way, suggest that you take on another room that needs designing. That way, you both have your own design projects going at once, and you each feel like you have a say in how the space looks.
10. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate: We can’t say it enough: Communication is key. If something isn’t working, speak up! Remember: This is your space, too, and your opinion counts.
How did you and your roommate decorate your digs? Tell us how you worked out your design differences below!
