How to Blend Your Style With Your S.O.’s—And Make It Truly Work

UpdatedSep 29, 2021 6:45 AM EDT

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

Sign Up for Domino’s Newsletter

It can be tricky enough to move into a new place with your significant other, but when your partner has a markedly different personal style than your own, it can feel supremely challenging.

Designer Megan Hopp (whose work you may recognize from this beautiful Williamsburg rental) is proof it can be done. Relocating to New York’s high rise–lined Financial District from a charming brownstone in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, felt like a challenge in itself, but given certain perks—panoramic water views and in-unit laundry (if you don’t live in a city, you’ll never grasp why this is a luxury)—the 750-square-foot apartment she now shares with her boyfriend is a place she’s more than happy to call home.

Initially drawn to the natural light and the view, Hopp leapt into the project right away, beginning with the bedroom. Almost immediately, she ran up against strict boundaries. “As much as I’m all about layering styles, the apartment is so modern and minimalist that there was a line I couldn’t cross in terms of how vintage or kitschy I could go,” explains Hopp.

What followed was a lesson in compromise. Hopp, whose personal style sits somewhere between Scandinavian and Palm Springs mid-century (“I know they’re polar opposites, but the middle of that Venn diagram, that’s where I live”), worked to blend that with her boyfriend’s more traditional mid-century aesthetic (“He would be happy living on the set of Mad Men”). The apartment is an ode to mid-century with a few bohemian, eclectic accents. It’s all about balance.

Take the bed, for example: it’s upholstered in an abstract print that suits Hopp’s style, yet features a sleek, square silhouette more aesthetically pleasing to her boyfriend. The overarching blue palette is a happy medium between the bright colors he loves and the more neutral, feminine tones she favors. Both also brought in a couple of no-veto pieces (for Hopp, a dresser; for her boyfriend, a sofa) but started fresh with everything else so they were equally involved in the decision-making.

A mix of big-box retailer finds from places like Article, Blu Dot, and even Target, alongside unique pieces (Hopp is a devoted flea-market fan and an avid thrifter), the apartment strikes a balance in another way by blending old and new in addition to personal styles. Small touches, like a bone-inlaid table and large-scale artwork from India, round out the space.

“I didn’t want to do just a bunch of glass and chrome and acrylic furniture,” says Hopp of navigating her new home’s more contemporary vibe. “I wanted to use comfier, richer, more substantial pieces that were more my style without defeating the purpose of the clear view.”

As it turns out, there are perks to a more modern space anyway: the floor-to-ceiling windows allow for a steady stream of light and make something like matte black walls feel achievable. “I’ve wanted a black bedroom for a very long time but never had a space where that would be remotely appropriate,” says Hopp of a bucket-list design feature.

Read on for Hopp’s tips on decorating an apartment with your S.O., adding personality to a rental, and navigating a smaller space.

Make a three-tiered list: Write down the nonnegotiables (the items you don’t want in your home), the things that aren’t your favorite but wouldn’t be hugely objectionable to see daily, and the things you really love. Set some hard rules.

Present options: For some reason, one of the hardest things for us to settle on was an area rug in the bedroom. I mocked up six small mood boards so he could see the bed atop six area rugs I’d be okay with; it was helpful to visualize that.

Temporary wallpaper is always my number-one tip for everyone. Here, I took simple lacquered photo ledges and wallpapered three-quarters up the wall to create a faux chair-rail trim without actually installing any fake molding. It was a way to achieve a more permanent look with something that’s super-temporary.

In general, thinking about your walls and ceilings is really important in a rental. People will furnish [their homes], but even when the furnishings are lovely, that’s only half of it. I try to do as much with wall mounting as I can: bedside sconces instead of table lamps, a floating vanity console instead of something more traditional. I also added bamboo Roman shades in the bedroom to make it feel more custom.

Figure out what furniture you actually use and need versus what your brain tells you that you need. For example, something we went back and forth on was a dining table—we could have fit a two-seater bistro table, but at the end of the day we’re not really going to use it.

Be mindful of ways to build storage into all kinds of pieces. One of our side tables is a cabinet. That doesn’t mean everything you buy needs to be a big block of drawers—just stay aware of it.

Finally, the rule book needs to be tossed out regarding what gets stored where. If you open the cabinet above my microwave—where one might assume I keep a Crock-Pot—you’re going to find vintage tchotchkes and books. There’s definitely organization [everywhere], even though it doesn’t look the way you might have imagined.

See more homes we love:This Is the Chicest Bachelor Pad in L.A., Hands DownThis South of France Home Reminds Us Why We Love French StyleThis Interior Designer Goes All Out for the Holidays—Take a Look Inside His Home

Elly enjoys covering anything from travel to funky design (tubular furniture, anyone?) to the latestcultural trend. Her dream apartment would exist on the Upper West Side and include a plethora of mismatched antique chairs, ceramic vessels, and floor-to-ceiling bookcases—essential to her goal of becoming a poor man’s Nora Ephron. You can probably find her in line at Trader Joe’s. You will never find her at SoulCycle.

Learn more about Domino.comEditorial Standards