11 Ways to Blend Two Styles Into One Home

Moving in with a partner or roommate requires more than simply merging your closets. It means blending your tastes and lifestyles — from finding common ground on how your beloved linen sofa can cohabit with your housemate's concert posters, to deciding whether the thermostat runs warm or cool. These details may seem trivial, but they can shape whether a shared space truly feels like home or like a constant negotiation.

Luckily, your place doesn't require one style to be great. We spoke to interior designer Courtney Warren and therapist Leeor Gal about how to blend two aesthetics (and two personalities) into a space that feels like it reflects you both. Spoiler: Compromise is an important part of the process.

1. Talk before you buy

Moving in somewhere new means a blank canvas to decorate and express yourself, which is pretty exciting if you love to shop. But before you head out to the store, chat with your roommate or partner about what you want your home to look like. And take their thoughts into consideration, too. 

On top of having a chat, Gal suggests choosing new items for your shared spaces together, so you have better odds of creating a home you’ll both love. Adding more decor can also mean getting rid of old stuff. But Warren advises against rushing that decision.

“Take inventory of what you have, and what is practical for your needs,” Warren said. “Don’t purge too hastily. It’s easier to get rid of something than to get something back.”

2. Find one color you can both live with

If you and your future housemate have very different types of belongings (you own a prized collection of colorful, abstract art while they love their beige macrame wall tapestries), you can still find a way to blend your styles — mainly by using color.

A shared palette is a great way to make mismatched pieces look intentional, and maybe even impressive. Warren recommends picking a color you're both happy with and planning the room around that, then deciding together where you want neutrals and where you want bold pops.

3. Give each person a few vetos

It could help keep the peace if everyone gets to keep a couple of things that are exempt from compromise, no justification needed. Gal said this could apply to all sorts of belongings. 

“People have connections to their ‘things,’” Gal said. “Whether that’s for sentimental reasons, financial reasons, or just pure aesthetic, everyone has their own style and taste.”

4. Divide and conquer your rooms

When two aesthetics clash, like minimalist versus maximalist, or modern meets traditional, Warren suggests skipping a 50/50 split of every room. Instead, she suggests each person take the lead in a different room. For example, one of you owns the entryway and dining room while the other takes the kitchen and the living room, then each adds small touches to the other's space. This approach could be cleaner than a muddy compromise that nobody likes.

5. Anchor the space with neutrals

Can't agree on everything? Warren points to rugs and lighting as unifiers, as they act as neutral bases for tying together different types of decor. If you’re on a budget, Warren says paint gives you some good value, so you could turn your walls into neutral canvases.

6. If one person cares more, let them lead

Before making any changes, Gal suggests having a conversation with your housemate so you each know how the other feels about decorating. If your roomie says they’re indifferent to the decor, you can have free reign. Just be sure you keep them updated on what you’re decorating and how. 

7. Keep personal items in private spaces

The rules for shared rooms like the kitchen are different from the rules for private spaces like bedrooms and private offices. When it comes to your own individual space, you can be as minimalist, quirky, or trendy as you like. Private rooms can also be the perfect spot for belongings that you and your roommate don’t agree on.

Do you love your lava lamp, but your roommate prefers a more modern look in the living room? Warren says pieces like that could be better off in your bedroom. She said the same goes for sentimental pieces. 

“Those are for the private areas,” Warren said. “If it means a lot to you, put it in your room.”

8. Remember that compromise means you both give something

Living with somebody else can naturally lead to disagreements, and designing a space with somebody who has very different taste can cause even more. If you want a harmonious relationship with your roomie, Gal said you both have to be willing to let go of certain wants, and negotiate in good faith.

"A compromise means nobody wins — you meet in the middle and both give up something and gain something," Gal said. 

9. If moving into an already-decorated home, add, don't erase

In the case of one person moving into another’s established home, the person who was already there has to embrace giving up some space, Warren said. 

This could look like clearing spots for the newcomer's things in each shared room, and swapping out things you don’t care much about for something the new person loves.

Here is Gal’s suggestion on what you can say: “Hey I love our apartment, and I would also really like to add some pieces that feel like me or us in here.” 

10. Say it with "I," not "you"

When a piece of decor or the design of a space bugs you, how you say it matters more than what you say. Gal recommends using "I" statements over "you" statements so you don't raise the other person's defenses and they can actually hear you. 

“Being able to access your own values, wants, needs, or desires is important when expressing your feelings in disagreements,” she said.

11. Know there’s no perfect approach to blending two decor styles

Warren said there’s no single “right way” to blend differing decor tastes. Instead, the best way is the way that works best for everyone living there.

“For one space, that might mean one roommate takes on the decorating because the other one truly has no preference. For another home, it might mean both give and take and compromise and design together,” she said. “What ‘feels like home’ is subjective to each person, so both roommates are the best source on what that looks like for them. They might do it differently than anyone else and that’s OK.”

Remember that the goal isn't a magazine-perfect place. It's a home where you both feel safe and seen.