Color choices - his and hers. Can they be in harmony?

Kat and Pat
by Kat and Pat
My hubby prefers solid colors, solid patterns, dark tones, brass and clutter, good thing he has a nice bod! I prefer lighter, airy, seaside/lakeside colors clean lines, and practicality and no clutter. I'm trying to add a little brightness in to our dark living room. I can't buy any furniture so all I can do is work with what i have and get fabrics to recover pillows, and maybe pick up some sea glass colored items here and there. Does anyone have any other ideas that are cheap and dark for him but yet clean and airy for me?
  3 answers
  • Teresa Teresa on Apr 19, 2015
    Try covering some styrofoam or corefoam board in some light airy fabric and using for wall art. Try the thrift store for glass vases and filling them with glass pieces from the dollar store. Any thing you can pick up that is light and airy looking try removing one of his brass pieces and replacing it with the new pieces. Hope this helps.
  • Kat and Pat Kat and Pat on Apr 19, 2015
    thank you. i hadn't thought of the board and fabric idea. that is doable! removing any of his brass items is next to impossible. he is very resistant to change, and all the brass items came from India when he and his parents traveled there. i will definitely try the fabric and board idea, and i have some clear glass 'fish bowls' and other clear containers that i have filled with seashells, i painted a cabinet in a light seafoam color (he hates it) and i want to replace/recover some pillows.
  • Carole Carole on Apr 19, 2015
    Could you try keeping all the brass and dark stuff to one room to satisfy his need to keep all his old stuff and try out your beachy light style in another room so he can see the difference? If he likes it, he may relent and let you go with your style providing he can keep all his dark and brass stuff somewhere. I feel even though eclectic is a word we use a lot these days, your two styles are quite extreme and I don't think beach goes with brass and dark wood etc. I think if used in the same room they will clash and do nothing for each other. Owning a home together and living together is all about compromise and he could meet you half way by letting you do your thing in a couple of rooms at least. I also think if you are the sort of person who prefers light and airy you will find his style quite dark and oppressive over time and will feel the need to create a light and airy sanctuary for yourself if you are to live under the same roof!