Talking About Interior Design on Hinge Can Lead to Better Matches—Here’s Why

Asked about Hinge’s intentions behind the prompt, Jarryd Boyd, the company’s senior director of communications, tells me that it’s part of its mission to “help people be clear about who they are, who they like, and why they like them.” According to in-app surveys, Hinge users who use prompt polls like the dream house one are 39 percent more likely to go on a date.

“For daters who love interior design, our prompt poll ‘A dream home must include’ can be a fun and dynamic way to share this side of yourself while connecting with people who share or support your taste,” Boyd says. “We see users approach this prompt in many different ways, such as highlighting their preferred design choices and sharing little details that make a house feel like a home to them.”

Design Is a Fun Conversation Starter

We’ve all experienced a dull dating app conversation or first date. It can become draining very quickly, and rarely does it make you feel excited about getting to know someone new. Discussing design, though, can not only be engaging but revealing. Jason Saft, founder of Staged to Sell Home, says after working with couples in private spaces for more than two decades, he definitely recommends looking for design compatibility clues in their photos, and then using that intel to make your conversations and meetups more personal.

“What better way to meet someone new than a shared love of Brutalism and the elusive Percival Lafer MP 97 lounge chair,” Saft says. “If you love vintage but don’t drink alcohol, wouldn’t you rather meet someone to go sourcing at an off-the-beaten-path flea market versus getting sauced in a loud bar on a first date?”

It Speaks to Your Personality

Your design desires can be a pretty great thing to tell someone up front too. Nicole Focano, principal interior designer at Workshop/APD, notes that it gives people a way to talk about their personality. Seeing someone with a similar style or taste also can indicate they have similar interests and generally disclose more than the typical first date questions. “I think it’s a very helpful insight into somebody’s personality outside of what’s your favorite color or what do you like to do for dinner?” Focano says.

Designers like Focano and Saft often pick up on personality traits the minute they walk into a home. It’s another way to read people—something designers are exceptionally good at. Focano has found that people who have an eclectic design style tend to love art and music or have a strong interest in history. Meanwhile, more modern and minimalist people might have a more business-forward mentality. It’s not one-size-fits-all, but it’s a unique way to see someone.

“Is their perfect environment a library, or is it a spa with a cold plunge?” Focano says. “A library could be somebody who is more into reading and less into TV, where an environment with a hangout and a cold plunge could be somebody who’s really into their health, fitness, and wellness.”

It Reveals What Really Matters

Your design preferences also can indicate so much about your goals, dreams, and values. After all, the way you design your sanctuary points to what relaxes and fulfills you. My love for conversation pits isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about valuing a dedicated space for loved ones to be together. It signals an emphasis on gathering, and even subconsciously, seeing that someone else values that is a good thing.

Speaking about their dream home, which they may or may not be able to achieve one day, can reveal what their biggest desires and values are. If money were no object and you could craft your dream space, what would it include?

“A shared love of an open-concept kitchen may mean you are both open and available to form a relationship that is rooted in interests and hobbies,” Saft says. “Those shared commonalities will help you form a stronger relationship to build on.”

It Can Raise Green (or Red) Flags

Embracing the things you have in common can be helpful in building a healthy relationship. This is especially true when you’re looking for someone to connect with on a deeper level. “If the home is a representation of one’s true self, seeing a potential mate’s private space is an ideal way to suss out the red and green flags,” Saft says. “While I try not to write people off so quickly, I do believe that there are clues—and red flags—out in the open, and it’s wise to pay attention to them.”

It Can Help You Learn to Compromise

Not every mismatched design opinion is a sticking point. A minimalist and maximalist can live in harmony the way so many other couples do: through compromise. Plus, if one partner is more of a blank slate and the other is pretty specific, that opportunity to take the reins can be kinder to the both of you.

“If you are on opposing sides of the design spectrum but truly respect each other’s preferences, you can embrace the deeper connection you share,” Saft says. “That extends past the perfect duvet set that you both agree on.”

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