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Couples clash over interior design
Men are becoming more vocal about how their homes look, both inside and out
A new trend has emerged of ‘menterior designers,’ with men taking a leading role in the design of their homes, according to research for Direct Line.
Nearly half (45%) of interior designers reported an increase in the number of male clients taking an active interest in the how their homes look and function over the past 12 months.
A fifth (19%) of interior designers say men now want to be involved in the entire design project, rather than just specific furniture installations. They are also more concerned about current design trends than ever before and doing more research into home interior fashions.
However the study highlighted some friction, with 70% of interior designers having seen couples clash over the design of their homes.
Dealing with disputes
Agreeing on how to design your home can be a challenge, as tastes can vary significantly, according to three-quarters of designers.
When designing rooms, men are reported as wanting to focus on the technological aspects whereas women prefer concentrating on colour and pattern of the décor.
While a third of interior designers that they step in and mediate when such clashes of taste occur, a significant 23% choose to stay out of any incidents, preferring to let clients sort their disagreements out themselves.
However, the designers have offered some top tips for couples to avoid clashing over the interior of your home:
- Agree a plan before employing a designer and decide which rooms are to be re-designed
- Set aside a strict budget and agree beforehand whether this is flexible
- Settle on a few ideas of general design concepts and colour schemes
- If couples cannot agree, split the rooms so each partner can have free rein in the most important places for them
- If you cannot agree on a design, ask the interior designer to sketch out how it would look before making any firm decisions.
Katie Lomas, head of Direct Line Home Insurance, commented: “Homeowners should take note of the advice provided by interior designers, as spending time agreeing on a few ideas beforehand may help limit the possibility of clashes further down the line.
“Having good home insurance is extremely important, especially when making fundamental changes to the structure of a home, as these changes can impact the property value and in turn, the insurance policy. Those planning architectural design works for example, should be sure to inform their insurance provider beforehand, as elevated cover may be required for the duration of the work.”
