I’m a property pro – the 8 housing issues which could ruin your relationship… and why TAPS can be a dealbreaker

TURNING that dream home into a reality may sound idyllic – but the truth is that for many couples it is anything but. 

There are clashes over colour charts and bickering about bathroom fittings, with 47 per cent of people finding the renovation process frustrating.

Meanwhile, 11 per cent say couples’ counselling has crossed their minds, according to a survey by interiors app Houzz.

So what can you do if you and your partner differ on design decisions?

From paint problems to storage showdowns, property expert Julia Starzyk, of construction consultancy Star Projects, tells Sarah Morton the most common flashpoints  . . . and how to avoid them.

COLOUR WILL CAUSE CHAOS

WHEN It comes to decor disagreements, one subject stands head and shoulders above the rest: Paint colour.

“Fighting over paint colours is one of the most common arguments I see,” Julia says.

“Once, I had to supply 60 different samples because the clients could not agree on the colour scheme.

"Three months later, they decided two walls would be painted pink, as chosen by the husband, and the other two purple, as chosen by the wife.”

Julia’s solution: Let everyone pick their favourite colour and then go for a wallpaper that combines them all.

Get online and browse sites such as wallpaper- uk.com, which offers excellent clearance deals on rolls, with up to 60 per cent off.

LIGHTS CAN BLIND YOUR JUDGMENT

ONE of the most divisive aspects of home renovation is lighting. Or, more specifically, the colour of it.

“One couple I worked with spent months arguing if the colour of a light should be ‘warm’ or ‘cold’,” says Julia.

“We even had a test run on site to show them the difference.

“But they both stuck to their completely opposite opinions.

“In the end, the person who finally let go was the one paying the bill.”

Julia’s solution: Opt for a smart bulb, which is an LED light that allows for customised lighting and is typically controlled by an app on your phone.

Go from warm to cool at the touch of a button.

Some cost as little as £10.

BUDGETS TRIGGER BICKERING

SOME people are happy to shell out on the finest finishes, while others prefer to stick to a strict budget.

But what happens when you are on different money pages?

“Cost is an argument I see time and again,” Julia says.

“I had a client who opted for one shade of white on all doors in the house.

“Two weeks later, he agreed to pay £3,000 extra to have them painted again in an almost identical shade of white, but from a designer paint range.

“The wife wanted an ‘expensive’ white.”

Julia’s solution: It’s possible to achieve an expensive effect without the price tag.

Go to Homebase or a Dulux Decorator Centre and they will scan the colour of your desired designer paint to create the closest possible match at a fraction of the price.

TAPS CAN LEAD TO SPATS

BATHROOMS can be a minefield when it comes to making sure everyone gets what they want — and Julia sees a lot of tension over finishes.

She says: “One guy chose to save some money by using copper in the master bathroom and chrome in the rest.

“His wife was pregnant when the project started and gave birth mid-way through, so never really came to see the progress.

“After they moved in, I got a message from the husband saying, ‘Change the damn taps to copper everywhere, please.

“If I spend another two days arguing over this I will move out’.”

Julia’s solution: You can achieve a beautiful, high-end bathroom look that everyone will be happy with for pennies.

Simply upcycle surfaces around fittings with foil wrap or sticky back plastic, which you can find at any good homeware shop.

It’s easy to apply and an inexpensive way to get a ‘wow’ without a row.

TV OR NOT TV?

TELEVISIONS are a must in virtually all houses. But how many is too many?

Julia has seen plenty of couples bicker over which rooms to have them in, with the bedroom often the most divisive place.

She explains: “One pair of clients could not agree on where to put their TVs, so we ended up cabling everywhere in the hope they would have options, including their bedroom.

“They still couldn’t work it out and ended up leaving cables in the walls with no TVs attached.”

Julia’s solution: If you disagree about having a TV in a certain room, compromise by disguising it when it is not in use.

A great way to do this is to apply what is called mirror see- through privacy film (prices from £14.99 on Amazon) to the screen.

When the TV is off, it gives the appearance of a mirror. But when the set comes on and light shines through the film, you will see the screen . . . from stunning mirror to functional TV in seconds.

SIZE DOES MATTER

SOMETIMES the sheer scale of the project you are taking on is too much and also leads to blow-ups.

Julia says: “People underestimate how full-on renovations can be.

“One husband and wife wanted to restore a listed property to its original glory.

“But as the pressure mounted, they began arguing so badly the wife stopped coming.

“We never saw her again.

“They never moved in and sold the house six months after completion.”

Julia’s solution: Ask someone who has been through a similar project before, whether a neighbour, friend or someone on a Facebook group, to give you an honest account of what to expect.

SILENCE IS GOLDEN

SPENDING a huge chunk of your renovation budget on a fancy sound system can lead to many a cross word.

Julia says: “From my experience, no wife ever sees the value in spending a fortune on speakers and sound systems.

“I’ve seen many men fall foul of their other half’s acid tongue by suggesting pricey audio equipment (usually to impress their friends).

“More often than not, the wife wins that one.”

Julia’s solution: These days, you can play audio from your phone straight to a smart TV, or your Alexa or Google Home app, so there’s not really a need for fancy sound systems.

But if it’s a deal breaker, sites such as richersounds.com sell a lot of ex-display models with up to 50 per cent off.

STORAGE WARS

DEPENDING on the size of the property you are renovating, creating extra space for storage often causes conflict.

Julia says “Lack of space for all those extra clothes, shoes and trinkets is often a reason for arguments.

“I had one couple with a utility room and they couldn’t agree on how to use it.

“They just kept fighting about whether to put clothes in there, or other bits.

“Without adequate wardrobe space or compartments for everyone’s things, people often fight over where items will end up.”

Julia’s solution: There are many great ways to create extra storage. It’s up to you how you use it.

Ikea does excellent modular furniture packs at very reasonable prices.
Its Pax systems are great.

What look like straightforward wardrobes (from £45) can actually include many compartments to maximise space.”