You just bought your first place together, and want to upgrade your home from the leftover college hand-me-downs, to a cozy and modern place that looks like both of you. The problem is...

you have no idea where to start.

He likes bulky black leather furniture, and you like light and bright marble finishes. He wants a huge TV over the mantle, and you want your engagement pictures proudly displayed.

All couples go through this, and it's important to value each others decisions to come to a compromise. But sometimes you just need that outside perspective that will be able to bring it all together with a good mix of each personality.

I've listed below a few options of how to get that HGTV worthy home, while finding your home style as a couple and continuing to plan that wedding of yours!

1| ONLINE DESIGN SERVICES

There are online services (Laurel & Wolf, Havenly, Decorilla) that will take your room measurements and photos, and for a flat per-room fee will provide you with a virtual mock-up of your newly designed space. They will completely transform your room from a far. The flat fees are VERY affordable, and judging by the website images, the transformations are amazing!

This type of service is definitely gaining popularity, and I really want to try it! If you have worked with one of these online designer services, please let me know in the comments below how it worked out for you. I think it would be amazing to say that I had a designer redo my room, without needing to take out a loan to pay for it. And hey, if I can feel like a celebrity while doing it, I'm totally up for it. Needless to say, I am seriously considering their help in designing a few rooms in my new home.

2| BRAND SPECIFIC STYLISTS

Some of your favorite stores may offer free design services on site. For example, if you know you love everything West Elm, but are completely at a loss of how to incorporate it into your home, the West Elm stylists will be able to design a floor plan and curate a list of products just for you...Voila! No more stress of weeding through an entire website of products, and more time to plan that amazing honeymoon.

They offer in store and in home consultations where you will chat about style, wishlists, wants and needs, and then they do all the hard work of sourcing just the right pieces for you. You just need to approve it and press go! They will even show up on delivery day with accessories in hand to stage your home like a celebrity.

Don't we all just dream of that?!

SIDE NOTE: If you are local to Princeton, New Jersey, and love West Elm, let me know in the comments below and I'll personally get you set up with a stylist!

3| PINTEREST LIKE AN ANIMAL

There are so many resources out there, and so many beautiful pictures that you can reference when making a home that feels like you. You can easily go onto paint websites to figure out which gray is best for your room, or if this wallpaper will really work as well as you think it will. So if you are the type of person that is all for research and LOVES the hunt...Hey...more power to ya.

I go through phases where I like to look at EVERY option before making a decision, but more often than not I end up spinning in circles and ending up doing nothing instead. So while you may be MUCH better at making decisions than I am, this option is going to take time. Make sure you evaluate if it's worth it, you busy, multi-tasking lady!

I'm a strong believer in doing and buying what you LOVE, so in the end, whether you shop in the local antique shop, browse Pinterest until 1am, or end up hiring someone online or in-store to do the dirty work for you, enjoy the process of building a home and a life together.

That's really what it's all about, right?