In the May 2006 issue of Vogue, writer and novelist Plum Sykes memorably recounted her foray into the realm of design, when it came to marrying her sense of interior style with that of her new husband, Toby Rowland. “My taste is, undeniably, insanely feminine and 30s-inspired,” Skyes wrote at the time, while adding that Toby’s taste was “ultramasculine.” The two eventually figured it out though, as years later, they managed to build a gorgeous cottage in the English countryside with minimal discussion—although it seems like Sykes’s aesthetic won out in the end.

Of course, the question of how any couple combines two conflicting sense of interior style has always been a relevant one. According to Pew Research, the number of cohabiting couples in the United States only continues to be on the rise. With those statistics in mind, we decided to reach out to one of our favorite rising stars in interior design world to get her advice on moving-in matters.

“I often have clients who have varying tastes, but I like to think of it as a fun challenge,” says Alyssa Kapito, a New York City-based designer known for her white, bright, and light interiors. With over one hundred thousand followers on Instagram, it’s clear that Kapito’s aesthetic has widespread appeal.

As is true in any other aspect of a relationship, Kapito believes that communication is key. “The important thing is to make sure your partner knows that you really are happy to compromise in certain places upfront and vice versa,” Kapito says. “Everyone needs to feel like their opinions matter in their own home.”

For example, if your spouse loves color and you are more of a clean, white spaces kind of person, Kapito suggests: “Try throwing in a bit of color with a pillow and curtains or a piece of art,” she says. “In the end, those items won’t transform your space as much as an accent wall.”

What kind of other compromises has Kapito seen play out in real life? “We had a client who wanted a relaxing, clean bedroom, and his partner gravitated towards real color,” she recalls of one professional experience. “We did a gorgeous tone on tone scheme in a pale minty blue and it came out stunning. Going tone on tone has a real calming effect for color and makes it much more palatable for someone who is more of a neutralist. And in the end, both clients were thrilled.”

But between the initial commitment and settled space, there are a lot of steps that come in between. For instance, chances are, between the two of you, you’re going to own a lot of duplicates. (Think two bed frames, two couches, two coffee tables.)

“Inventory everything you both have and focus on the items that really work together,” Kapito suggests as a first step, when confronted with this common issue. “Sell whatever else doesn’t make sense anymore on sites like Craigslist or Chairish, and use the money from your sales to invest in one or two new pieces that can give your space some character.”

For those couples who are moving in together as newlyweds, there’s the added opportunity of a registry. “Modern registries allow you to register for so many different things from different places,” says Kapito, who is a big advocate for taking full and creative advantage of such an opportunity. “It used to be all bowls and mixers but now you can use your registry to get those things you always wanted that really make your home special. You can register for linens, furniture,  even art.”

However, there’s another important caveat when it comes to wedding registries. “You should register for the way you entertain,” Kapito says. “If you prefer wine and cheese to big formal dinner parties, focus on getting really nice stemware and some beautiful cheese boards over a 24-piece china service that you’ll never use.”

In other words, what you don’t add to a space is just as important as what you choose to include. “I think most people have a hard time seeing the bigger picture when it comes to design,’ Kapito muses. “They get really caught up with one item or another, but when you walk into a space, you rarely focus on one thing. Instead, you absorb it all at once. How things play together is so much more important than the details of one item. One chair or one lamp will not dictate your space.” Our final takeaway? Don’t let any single item spark an unnecessary fight.