Mars and Venus and Choosing Furniture
You may remember the scene in the movie "When Harry Met Sally" when a couple had their first fight while moving into a new home. He'd brought his huge "bachelor pad" wagon wheel coffee table, only to find out that she can't stand it. The next scene shows the weary man hauling his prize table out to the curb for trash pickup.
Why is this so funny? Perhaps because we've all had our run-ins with the Mars vs. Venus factor in home decorating. He's thinking "comfortable, sturdy, and functional" while she's thinking "floral, pastel, and pretty".
Whether a couple is merging two established households or just starting out, these two different views can collide into small and large disagreements over how to furnish a room and a home.
Unfortunately there's no one solution to this dilemma. Every week, Michael Payne, host of HGTV's "Designing for the Sexes", tackles one project, mediating the divergent wishes of a couple for their room decor. The show often make it look easy, but it's probably rarely as smooth as it seems.
The Venus desk: smaller scale, curved lines, carved details
Desk by Hekman, photo courtesy of FurnitureGuide.com
While there are numerous exceptions to any rule, men often want sturdy furniture, a comfortable lounging place, simplified accessories, and room to spread out. She's worried this means ugly recliner chairs in the living room. When she sees floral designs and curvy lines, to her it's elegant and pretty. He views it as being fussy and uninviting. Then she begins to think he has no decorating taste whatsoever... and they're off!
Since the key to solving most dilemmas is understanding, the following chart of men's and women's likes and dislikes may be the place to start. Instead of marveling at the opposites however, see what "likes" you may have in common with your spouse, and use those as starting points for decorating harmony.
