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I have a confession to make. I've made some big decorating mistakes in my marriage. One of the first happened when I had a garage sale while we were still newlyweds. Unbeknownst to my husband, I ended up selling all his brown bachelor pad stuff: the brown bedspread, brown towels, brown everything. As I later found out, he was not ready to part with those treasures of his single life. Another time, I refused to hang the oil painting of his precious grandparents on the hip-looking peach walls of our first home. "After all," I justified, "who wants dead people staring at you?" At times, in frustration, I would ask, "Please God, I know you say that the two shall become one, but that doesn't include our decorating styles—does it?"

After fifteen years of marriage and many more mistakes than I care to write about, I've come to realize that successful decorating, like a successful marriage, is about teamwork. For some couples, "how to decorate" debates may not be an issue—you may see eye-to-eye in all your decisions. Or easier still, your spouse may be passive about decorating and leave those decisions entirely up to you. The challenge comes when both parties have moderate to strong, differing opinions about decorating.

Here are eight ways to help the two of you become a dynamic decorating duo. (Spouses take your corners, please.)

Believe it or not, God, the Master Designer of the universe, wants to be intimately involved in all areas of your home life—even the decorating. Take one look at the beautiful world he has decorated and you'll see that God is interested in color, pattern, texture, and detail. Begin your decorating process by praying together. Ask God to guide your steps and unify your hearts. You'll be amazed at the results. Remember, the goal in decorating should be to create a beautiful home that reflects God's beauty and order. A home environment that is pleasing to God and to both partners will nurture your marriage and your family relationships. Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain." Don't take on your project without him.

Have fun looking at decorator show houses, model homes, furniture stores, and home improvement stores together. Or, for a cheap date, go to a bookstore, grab a cup of coffee, and flip through home magazines and books. Court each other again. Communicate your thoughts about what you like and then listen to your mate's ideas.

Your home should reflect the passions and personalities of both partners. Think about the things you and your spouse enjoy in life. The inside of your home should reflect what you like to do outside your home. Because my husband, Bill, loves golf, his office is decorated with old golf clubs, trophies, balls, and framed photos of fellow golfers. I love colorful flowers and beautiful gardens, so we hung several floral paintings throughout our home.

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