One of the trends I’m seeing right now is that guys are interested and getting involved in the way their homes look. Years ago, when it came to decorating, whatever the wife picked was just fine. When it came to decorating the home I shared with my parents and my brother, Jack, my mother was the driving force. Oh yes, my dad was the one who put up the pictures, hung the fixtures, or did larger projects that included breaking down walls. He did all the heavy work, but my mother decided on all the decoration.
When Frank and I got our first home together, he had some very strong opinions, but that was because he was a creative director at an ad agency. We found a mutual passion for antiques that helped focus our energies. It made creating our home a wonderful project because of the passion we shared.
Other couples of our generation stuck to traditional roles; the wife drove the way their homes looked. These days that has changed and, in my opinion, for the best.
Whether it’s a man/woman couple, two women, two men, couples with children or without, married, or living together, men are expressing their opinions and working with their mates to create the home they love to live in.
This can create some tension. As you may know,I played a therapist on the ABC show One Life to Live. Even though I wasn't a very good therapist on the show, this I know: working together means you both have to be generous. Choose things little by little that you can both love, and compromise on those things you’re not too sure of. Not only will it give you a home you both love, it'll also make your relationship more solid.
How to get started? Sit down together and rip out pages of a magazine or check out various decorating websites. Take time to find things for your home that you really love. Find out what you love and find common denominators independent of each other. You can also divide up the rooms in the house. A man-cave (study) for him, and an office or sitting room for you. Create a living room, dining room, and master bedroom that reflect your common tastes but please decide on a common color scheme. As I've said many times, your home will have a lovely flow if you stick to three main colors.
If you have children, let them also have a say in what their rooms look like. You don’t have to let them go crazy—they need and should get your guidance. But I recommend you take their opinions into consideration. Give this whole family plan a chance; it might be the best thing.
For more ideas, tips, and new items, tune in on Thursday, September 12 at 6am ET for my show. And you can always shop my collection online here: Linda Dano Home Collection.
—Linda Dano