Home Decorating Ideas - How to Combine Styles After You Say 'I Do'

(ARA) - In the days leading up to your wedding, you can pretty much count on complications. The caterer calls you up and says he doesn't think he'll be able to find enough lobster tails to fill your order; or all of a sudden your uncle and his family will be coming after all and the priest just got called out of town on a family emergency.

It's no wonder all of your time has been spent worrying about the main event, not focusing on yourself, your new husband-to-be, and how to build a life together. But if you want to return home from the honeymoon to a life of wedded bliss rather than confusion, you need to take the time to "set up house."

If you and the groom are already living together, combining stuff and styles is something you've probably already gone through. But if you'll be moving in together for the first time, you need to give it some serious thought. You're going to need furniture, appliances, dishes, linens, etc. You'll also need to come up with a mutually acceptable decorating plan.

So where do you start? By determining your style. If you're happy with what would be considered "the norm," you'll probably want to go with a traditional look -- furniture with soft, smooth edges; paint and accessories with mid-range tones and fabrics that are neither too shiny nor too textured. A contemporary look, with its bold lines and colors, is often appreciated by couples who enjoy the arts and love to entertain. French Country is the way to go if you want a home with that "lived in" look.

"Once you pick out the furniture, you can really make the 'look' come alive by choosing the right bed and bath linens," says Virginia Peale of Yves Delorme, a French purveyor of fine bed linens and matching accessories. "I especially like the options our Olivier Desforges collection has to offer. It features contemporary French design with a young, urban sensibility." Log on to www.olivierdesforge.com to sample color swatches or look at design and grouping ideas.

If you want a look that's simple and sophisticated, Peale recommends you consider Newport, a simple geometric design that features the interaction of stripes and dots and the addition of a discreet line in ultramarine. The reverse of the duvet cover, the fitted sheet and boudoir shams have a navy background; European shams are engineered with a navy center.

If you want the bedroom to be all about romance, you may want to go with Manade. The design features elegant mini lianas and tiny flowers surround a large, classic Indian paisley in shades of pink and red. This pattern is paired with a tone-on-tone paisley design in strong red on the reverse side of the duvet cover, the fitted sheet, and the boudoir shams.

To transform your bedroom into a whimsical getaway spot, day or night, consider the Ciragan design. It features a dreamlike Oriental garden with daring colors -- a blend of Indian rose, orange, turquoise, and absinthe green.

"The fashionable style and high quality of the line ensures its broad appeal -- from those who love to decorate in vogue to those who value lasting design," says Peale.

For more decorating ideas, log on to www.olivierdesforges.com.

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