(NU) - Some brides-to-bemight find it hard to think beyondthe intense planning that a wed-ding requires. But beyond thepomp and circumstance of the bigday, it’s important to think aheadto mergers -- not the corporatekind, but the merging of styles anddécor to set up a home the brideand groom will both love.

Forget Mars and Venus. Menare from the planet of mismatchedfurniture and floor coverings,while women accessorize theirhome with as much care and fi-nesse as they do their wardrobes.Ideally, decorating a first home to-gether begins with the furnitureand accessories near and dear toboth the bride and groom.

But if a bride-to-be can’t livewith her fiancé’s 1970s thrift storecoffee table and orange bean bagchair, chances are he won’t bethrilled with her antique oak hopechest and ornately carved sleighbed. Can these two conflictingschemes co-exist after the couplehas crossed the threshold?

Designer Home collectionsmake it easier than ever to meld fe-male and male sensibilities inhome décor by offering productsto suit a variety of styles. Bedding,furniture, fabrics, area rugs, floor-ing, storage accessories, tablelinens and window coverings areall designed to work in traditionaland more updated settings. Here,florals and neutrals work remark-ably well together, and tactile fab-rics add depth, style and colorful

nuance. No matter which room isthe newlyweds’ favorite, bed-rooms, baths and living rooms allcan be decked out in style. For the latest in designer styles for the home, couples can check outthe Liz Claiborne Home collectionon www.jcpenney.com andwww.qvc.com.• Setting the tone. Choose a col-or scheme together, and creative-ly arrange furniture and acces-sories around it. Find a neutralground to meld his love of earthtones, for example, with her loveof soft fabrics. A mélange of col-ors and fabrics -- on everythingfrom comforters to windowvalances -- will inspire looks ide-al for both Mr. and Mrs. • Splish, splash. Create an un-

derstated, clean look in the bath forhim, but add accessories with adash of color to satisfy a bride-to-be’s lively outlook. Bold showercurtains, wastebaskets and vanityitems inject freshness and person-ality.• Boudoir basics. Usher in anew home with a fresh set of bed-ding; couples can look for a vari-ety of styles and colors designedto be dressed up or left as is for aclassic look. Decorative pillows,shams, coverlets and throws com-plete the look and are a great wayfor wedding guests to add to thecouple’s cozy love nest. • Staples of style. If he loves amore modern style, but she wantsa retro feel, furniture options inleather, fine fabrics, hardwood andwicker can readily mesh both per-sonalities. • Merging moods. She’s ahomebody; he likes beaches andpicnics. For bedrooms and livingrooms, couples can combine sen-sibilities with bedding and furni-ture lines that bring the outside in,and vice versa. Try mixing a tablefrom one line with a chair from an-other -- mixing it up is a playfulway to punch up the personality ofa room.

Just like in the corporate world,mergers can either run smoothly orbe a headache. By considering thesensibilities the bride and groomshare -- rather than just the differ-ences -- creating a first home to-gether can be one merger full offringe benefits.

Before You Marry, Meld and Merge aPerfectly Accessorized Home

Home mergerS

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Liz Claiborne Home/NewsUSA

Creating a comfortable homewith your new spouse may require some compromise.