Bride’s Guide: Adding Personality to a Shared Space

By Oscar Collins

One of the most fun — and stressful — aspects of getting married is cohabitating. You might be moving into your partner’s place or getting a unique one for the two of you.

Either way, you want to feel like yourself when at home. Here are five tips for adding personality to a shared space.

1. Upgrade the Floors

You should clean the carpet when you rent or buy a home. The Norovirus can live in carpets for up to a month, causing stomach flu if you get infected. Keep this tip in mind if you and your beau acquire a new place together.

Why not add personality by redoing your floors? Hardwood is an excellent choice, and you might find such a floor already installed under carpet or linoleum if you buy an older home. In that case, all you need to do is refinish and stain the surface the shade you want with light grey colors that liven up a room or dramatic walnut or dark ebony.

2. Paint

Painting is one of the best ways to spruce up any home on the cheap and reap a considerable return on investment. You go further than looking at swatches at your local hardware store. Today, you can download various apps that let you see what your finished product will look like before you pick up your brush.

3. Set the Lighting Mood

You can also set a mood with lights. Today’s LED bulbs let you play with fun colors, giving your entire home a warmer feel. You find lavender-tinged bulbs to create a romantic, relaxing ambiance in the bedroom, welcoming new love.

4. Add Some Plants

Houseplants are more than mere ornamentation. They can improve your indoor air quality — NASA proved this healing ability back in the 1980s.

If you don’t have a green thumb, easy-to-grow varieties like succulents are your go-to. You can also try species like peace lilies that thrive in low-light areas like bedrooms.

5. Pictures and Knick-Knacks and Crafts, Oh, My

Finally, the best way to personalize a shared space is to add details that mean something to you. Why not create a picture wall where you combine your prized photographs with those of your new spouse?

You can also add details like a basket hanger full of decorative containers — such holders come in handy if you later have kids and need a quick place to stash their scattered Legos. Cozy throws and personalized pillows also say, “we both live here.”

Add Personality to a Shared Space

Transitioning to cohabitation is an exciting challenge for many newlyweds. Add personality to your new shared space with these tips.