We are continuing our conversation this month on Bed and Bath ideas, so let’s keep it going by asking this question.
How often does your hubby get involved in your decorating decisions?
I’m pretty fortunate, in that my hubby doesn’t get too opinionated about things I do around the house decor-wise for the most part, but he will sometimes nix an idea or make his opinion known about certain things.  So, I’ve learned to listen to those ideas. 
When I redecorated our upstairs guestbath last year, which is right next to his office, I did take into consideration that he’s the main one who uses this bathroom, so I ran some ideas by him before I decided on changes. For one, I made it a little more masculine in here with earthy colors.
Green, brown and cream set the tone.
And I added this glassfront cabinet in there too to hold his reading material, which you can see is not inside the cabinet, but on TOP of it. Oh well, I tried!
So, how about at your house? Does your hubby get involved in the decisions about decorating OR does he leave those to you?
I’d love to get some feedback from all of you, since I’ll be heading to the ranch to meet Ree (YAY!!) and participate in my little video segment of our promotion, at the end of this month. We will be using reader’s comments for our video discussion, so chime in with me!
Head on over to the Putting it All Together page for more on this subject from the other girls who getting in on the discussion.
Hi, Rhoda –
My sweetheart gets involved in some decorating decisions – things like wall color if I’m not sure and flooring and some arranging and decorating. He has always had good taste and I value his input. For the most part he doesn’t have a problem with me just ‘doing’ the decorating. He seems to be very happy with what I’ve done so far, although I’m not certain he would say anything negative unless I asked him! We have a little half bath off the laundry room that is just off the garage. Because that little bathroom is used mainly by him – coming and going from projects in the garage and yard – I chose to decorate it ‘for him’. I chose a pretty Martha Stewart gray (several years ago), kept the decor in old cars and wall art of local scenes, some in black and white and old frames. I’ve been out of touch with you for awhile – had a computer ‘glitch’ and then changed computers and it took me awhile to find all my favorites again. You’re in there now, as well as on my laptop, so I shouldn’t ‘lose’ you again!
~Adrienne~
Good question, Rhoda!
I think it’s always a good idea to involve your sig other because then the space feels like “ours” as opposed to yours and mine. I would never make a major decision unless we both agreed (especially for major purchases like couches, furniture, etc.). Sometimes it can extend the design process, but better to be slow and happy than fast and fighting!
xoxo,
Lindsay
My husband wants lots of input. He is so particular and doesn’t allow wicker in the house. It is hillarious how much he dislikes wicker.
Over the years, he is releasing control more and more. He has almost let go of all of his bachelor pad junk. I mean furniture. On my end, I do send him pictures of any big purchases or furniture builds as courtesy. While I know he will say yes, he is a lot happier knowing what is going to happen.
Also, we have a large office that is completely his. He gets to putter around that room and cram as much clutter as he can. He is really into toys and has a sustantial collection of transformers, models and legos. The collections are rotated out on a nearly weekly basis since there is always something new he wants to showcase. I smile and nod and thank God it is no longer in the living room. 🙂
While my sweet hubby will tell you, “she’s the decorator in the house”, I do like to discuss my design ideas with him. I even get my older girls involved (they are both becoming quite the decorators by the way). I think it is important that all living in the space are comfortable and enjoy their surroundings.
It depends on whether I’m dumb enough to ask his opinion before I do something lol. After almost 19 years, I’ve learned to adopt the Nike slogan of “Just Do It”, and 9.5 times out of ten he likes it. He’s very paint averse so I haven’t done any major painting…YET. We have the paint we moved into our current house with and it’s fine because it’s neutral and I can change colors through accessorizing and wall decor.
The answer is — sometimes. He is opinionated about some things I do. Other times he could care less. My latest project — I think he loves it. Course he would never actually come out and say that right?? 😉
http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net/2010/06/window-party-time.html
A decorator told me years ago not to ask, just do, taking into consideration all the members of your family, especially your husband. Through the years that has been great advice. Prior to that in trying to incorporate hubby’s ideas, we would have conflicting ideas and never come to a decision. Thus, nothing got done, or at least it was done slowly.
Now, I move forward and he adds suggestions as things are finalized. It has generally worked really well and he still adds his opinions but less on the front but more on the back end.
Of course there are the funny times, like when he put rabbit ears on the kitchen counter so that the little under-counter tv got reception. That was not good but generally, our system works.
Your bathroom is gorgeous! It’s not too manly or too feminine…it’s perfect!
My husband and I usually make all the decorating decisions together. He has some awesome ideas! Sometimes he doesn’t see my “vision” but he’ll go for it anyway because he trusts me. Seldom do we not see eye to eye on something…most recently, I DYING to add some INDUSTRIAL feeling stools to our kitchen and he just can’t do it. Generally speaking though, he’ll say, ” as long as your happy!” YES…I’m a LUCKY LADY! Plus he is SUPER handy! You should head over to my blog and see what he just finished up for me! Plus I’m having a contest!
Mine doesn’t get too involved, only when I ask him to hang something or move a big piece of furniture in the garage for me to paint. 🙂 He has helped me on some big projects though, but as far as “input,” no, not really. 🙂
I do ask him if something looks good or bad and he will tell me.
After almost 32 years together, I don’t generally ask and he seems pleased with whatever I do. When I am having a hard time making up my mind about a color or an item I will ask him and the usual response from him is, is that he doesn’t care. He could honestly live in the wilderness if that clues you in on his decor style.
My husband is very involved in choosing big items or making big changes but I never bring him shopping for accessories. That’s more than he could take.
My hub gets involved, at least he lets me know what ideas he has. They don’t always make it though 🙂
Shelves were his best idea. I did a post on it.
Shelf Love: http://mybluesofa.com/blug/?p=325
I too am fortunate to have a hubs who does not really care what I do around the house….but since he finances my decorating I do feel the need to run things by him. He is a good sounding board in everything but paint colors. If it were up to him our townhouse would have builders beige everywhere. He cannot understand why I want to change the blah beige. lol…Just got back our state income tax refund and I am having a decorator come to help me choose colors! Hope Hubs approves them!
He doesn’t usually but we are moving into a new house and suddenly he thinks he’s Eddie Ross!
Even though my guy and I live together, the house is all mine. This means that it’s great when he wants to be involved, but any decision is ultimately mine alone to make. He’s good at picking out colors, though. I went through an entire week of comparing different shades of “sand”, only to choose the color he randomly pointed to the weekend before!
Yep, he gets involved.
He:
Pays. Hauls. Builds.
As opposed to my non-paying, directing, designing.
That’s how we both like it 🙂
I’m a lucky, lucky gal in that my hubby DOES take an interest – at least somewhat – in how our home is decorated. We both love antiques and are frequently on the hunt for things for the house. We are also DIYers to an extent and he is usually up for whatever the challenge may be. I feel that it is our home and I want his input. I want him to love and feel comfortable in our home. We had our home built (ended up sub-contracting part of the job ourselves!) and put a lot of planning into it. I enjoy having his input on the decor as well. Of course, there are times when I wished he did like something, etc. but for the most part we work very well together on our home.
tina
My husband gives me free reign! The only time he stops me is if I have an idea that just isn’t going to work. I tend to have lots of “ideas” that I haven’t actually thought through or I think it’s something so simple to do when in fact there’s no way!!!
Any big decisions have to be run by him first. He’s doesn’t really care about accessories or wall art, but he does like to be involved in anything more major than that. He’s my handyman, so I need his help on most home improvement things. For my craft room, he doesn’t care at all so I can do whatever I want!
No, only wants to know what it will cost.