The Newlyweds' Guide to Decorating a New Home
Here's how you can spruce up your first home with simple design hacks.
Starting a new life with someone is tremendously exciting, but it’s no walk in the park either. After the magic of your wedding day comes the reality of your new life together: monthly bills, groceries, and the upkeep of your new love nest. While this may be daunting for some, nothing is as exciting as starting a life together in a new space you can both come home to after a long day.
For newlyweds Migi and Jenilee Soriano, moving into a unit in a centrally located property instead of a house proved to be a smart decision, since this is more suited for their busy lifestyles. For their first home, the Sorianos chose The Grove by Rockwell, right in the heart of Pasig City.
Aside from the property’s amenities and convenient location , the couple fell in love with its tropical feel and spacious units. And while decorating their bare home came with its own set of challenges, it was a task that Migi and Jenilee thoroughly enjoyed—one of their first major feats as newlyweds.
Moving into your new love nest? Here, some tips on how to easily make any space your very own:
Decide on a unifying theme or look.
Are you an outdoorsy couple? Do you love minimalist design? Agree on a theme and stick to it, or else you’ll end up with a hodgepodge of ideas. For this couple, simplicity is key. “We're both into the Scandinavian style with a bit of twist, so our place is modern minimalist,” says Jenilee. “The simplicity gives a luxe appeal, and it’s also more environment-friendly.”
Talk about your personal styles and preferences, then decide on a look that you’ll both love coming home to.
Get style inspiration from the pros.
You can get expert input minus the cost by turning to online resources, like Pinterest and design websites, for inspiration and visual pegs. Migi and Jenilee, however, decided to invest in a pro. “We [sought the help of] Martina Bautista, our interior designer,” they share. “She understood what we liked and helped bring our vision to life.”
Spruce up a room with greenery and flowers.
A simple yet beautiful way to customize a space without shelling out on a lot of décor is by bringing in some plants. “Plants definitely bring a more homey and fresh feeling to any place,” Jenilee says. However, more than just being decorative, “they help purify the air too,” they add.
Stay true to your aesthetic.
Picking out furniture can get overwhelming and you can easily lose sight of the big picture. At the end of the day, what matters is coming home to a space that suits your personality. At The Grove, select one-bedroom units come with fully customizable dens, allowing residents to create spaces that are uniquely tailored to their preference. The den can be converted into an office, study room, artist’s space, or guest area.
Do-It-Together.
“If you decide to DIY, it's a great way to bond with each other, at the same time making the item more you,” the couple enthuses. Pinterest boards are great but also take a look at what’s around you. “You'd be surprised with what a fresh coat of paint and new hardware can do to change a piece,” the couple says.
With a little creativity and teamwork, decorating your new home shouldn’t be a daunting challenge or an expensive one at that. Migi and Jenilee also share this advice: “When looking for a place, don't just look into your own space but also at the common areas, the community, and the surrounding neighborhood.”
Both into fitness, the Sorianos love heading to their fully equipped gym as a way to stay in shape and spend time together.
“A gym is a must-have for us, especially a spacious and well-kept one with up-to-date equipment,” says Jenilee, who adds that her husband particularly enjoys the basketball court.
The Sorianos also enjoy grocery shopping at the supermarket, considering that it’s just a stone’s throw away from their building. At the Retail Row, they can enjoy a cup of coffee at Starbucks before starting their day and have dinner in restaurants like Hanamaruken to cap it off. But what they love the most about their current residence is how it’s now officially home. Jenilee shares, “While it can be challenging to renovate and design your space, it's best to figure out your style so you'll feel right at home when you do.”
At The Grove by Rockwell, it’s easy to create a space that you’ll love coming home to. Apart from offering bare and customizable options, The Grove also offers fully furnished one-bedroom units, which that come with a den and are are well-appointed with classic color schemes and hotel-like designs. This makes personalizing and decorating a much more manageable task, helping you focus on what really matters: Building your new life with your partner.
To know more, visit The Grove by Rockwell’s website or Facebook page.