Have you ever experienced picking out furniture with your partner? Chances are, you've had quite a few disagreements about the style, the design, and even the material of every piece of furniture in the store. It's a common sight to see couple arguing about the furniture they want to get for their home. Times like these, I often think that bachelors really have it easy compared to married men.

And why not? Bachelors get to pick anything they want and put it anywhere they want it. As for married men, every furniture-related decision will have to go through a series of arguments and debates before anything can be purchased. Whether it's a couch for the living room or a corner table for the bedroom, it's never easy finding and buying furniture for couples.

This is because men and women have entirely different opinions on what makes a good piece of furniture. When men think of furnishings for the home, they think of straight, clean lines, uncluttered designs, muted colors like tan, brown, and black, and large-scale builds with leather or plain fabrics. Contemporary, functional pieces with a casual theme go well for men, whether they are for wooden or upholstered furniture.

Meanwhile, women look for floral designs and pastel colors in their furniture, because to them, it looks attractive and stylish. They look for beautiful patterns and designs, and prefer floral, silk, smooth and soft fabrics. With regards to the architecture, women prefer curved backs, rolled arms, and extra details like skirting, pillows and cording. Overall, women's tastes go for elegant, with French, Italian, and English flavors.

Considering these factors, it's no wonder that couples rarely agree on what to buy or build for their homes. These two entirely different views will collide with each other every chance they get. Men will see the women's tastes as fussy and uninviting, while the women begin to think that men have no sense of style whatsoever.

The best way to solve this dilemma is to recognize both partners? preferences. Instead of looking for the obvious differences in taste and style, why not look for the common factors that you both have? Find some common ground and work from there. Perhaps you'd find that you both like oak furniture and stripes. Or maybe it's that armoire you got for your 1st anniversary. Discover what you both like and try to see if the other details can fall into place around that common theme.

You can also try compromising. Combine both your tastes and see if you don't find something that will match both your standards. For example, buy a large, sturdy sofa for him, and add some floral cushions for her. You can work around a color scheme that she likes, and incorporate a leather chair for him. Or the den might have dark wooden paneling and straight lines for him, but it can also have bright fabrics and accessories that would appeal to her.

Compromising can work very well in resolving the differences that can crop up. Each one should have a chance to express opinions, likes and dislikes. This way, serious disagreements can be avoided and you will have a home that is both functional and beautiful.